Preparation and Properties of Graphene/Nickel Composite Coating Based on Textured Surface of Aluminum Alloy

Thermal Expansion and Thermal Conductivity of Ni/Graphene Composite: Molecular Dynamics Simulation

In the present work, the thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficients of a new morphology of Ni/graphene composites are studied by molecular dynamics. The matrix of the considered composite is crumpled graphene, which is composed of crumpled graphene flakes of 2-4 nm size connected by van der Waals force. Pores of the crumpled graphene matrix were filled with small Ni nanoparticles. Three composite structures with different sizes of Ni nanoparticles (or different Ni content-8, 16, and 24 at.% Ni) were considered. The thermal conductivity of Ni/graphene composite was associated with the formation of a crumpled graphene structure (with a high density of wrinkles) during the composite fabrication and with the formation of a contact boundary between the Ni and graphene network. It was found that, the greater the Ni content in the composite, the higher the thermal conductivity. For example, at 300 K, λ = 40 W/(mK) for 8 at.% Ni, λ = 50 W/(mK) for 16 at.% Ni, and λ = 60 W/(mK) for 24 at.% Ni. However, it was shown that thermal conductivity slightly depends on the temperature in a range between 100 and 600 K. The increase in the thermal expansion coefficient from 5 × 10-6 K-1, with an increase in the Ni content, to 8 × 10-6 K-1 is explained by the fact that pure Ni has high thermal conductivity. The results obtained on thermal properties combined with the high mechanical properties of Ni/graphene composites allow us to predict its application for the fabrication of new flexible electronics, supercapacitors, and Li-ion batteries.

Electrodeposition of NiSn-rGO Composite Coatings from Deep Eutectic Solvents and Their Physicochemical Characterization

The present work describes, for the first time, the electrodeposition of NiSn alloy/reduced graphene oxide composite coatings (NiSn-rGO) obtained under pulse current electrodeposition conditions from deep eutectic solvents (choline chloride: ethylene glycol eutectic mixtures) containing well-dispersed GO nanosheets. The successful incorporation of the carbon-based material into the metallic matrix has been confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and cross-section scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A decrease in the crystallite size of the coating was evidenced when graphene oxide was added to the electrolyte. Additionally, the topography and the electrical properties of the materials were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The corrosion behavior in 0.5 M NaCl solution was analyzed through potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods for different immersion periods, up to 336 h, showing a slightly better corrosion performance as compared to pure NiSn alloy.

Quasi-Monocrystalline Graphene Crystallization on Liquid Copper Matrix

To access the properties of theoretical graphene, it is crucial to manufacture layers with a defect-free structure. The imperfections of the structure are the cause of deterioration in both electrical and mechanical properties. Among the most commonly occurring crystalline defects, there are grain boundaries and overlapping zones. Hence, perfect graphene shall be monocrystalline, which is difficult and expensive to obtain. An alternative to monocrystalline structure is a quasi-monocrystalline graphene with low angle-type boundaries without the local overlapping of neighboring flakes. The purpose of this work was to identify factors that directly affect the structure of graphene grown on a surface of a liquid metal. In the article the growth of graphene on a liquid copper is presented. Nucleating graphene flakes are able to move with three degrees of freedom creating low-angle type boundaries when they attach to one another. The structure of graphene grown with the use of this method is almost free of overlapping zones. In addition, the article presents the influence of impurities on the amount of crystallization nuclei formed, and thus the possibility to order the structure, creating a quasi-monocrystalline layer.