Electromechanical Behaviors of Graphene Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Review

In Situ Polymer-Solution-Processed Graphene-PDMS Nanocomposites for Application in Intracranial Pressure Sensors

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has emerged as a promising candidate for the dielectric layer in implantable sensors due to its exceptional biocompatibility, stability, and flexibility. This study introduces an innovative approach to produce graphene-reinforced PDMS (Gr-PDMS), where graphite powders are exfoliated into mono- and few-layer graphene sheets within the polymer solution, concurrently forming cross-linkages with PDMS. This method yields a uniformly distributed graphene within the polymer matrix with improved interfaces between graphene and PDMS, significantly reducing the percolation threshold of graphene dispersed in PDMS from 10% to 5%. As-synthesized Gr-PDMS exhibits improved mechanical and electrical properties, tested for potential use in capacitive pressure sensors. The results demonstrate an impressive pressure sensitivity up to 0.0273 kpa-1, 45 times higher than that of pristine PDMS and 2.5 times higher than the reported literature value. The Gr-PDMS showcases excellent pressure sensing ability and stability, fulfilling the requirements for implantable intracranial pressure (ICP) sensors.

Structure-Property-Processing Correlations of Graphene Bioscaffolds for Proliferation and Differentiation of C2C12 Cells

Graphene - an atomically thin layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice - has gained interest as a bioscaffold for tissue engineering due to its exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Graphene's structure and properties are tightly coupled to synthesis and processing conditions, yet their influence on biomolecular interactions at the graphene-cell interface remains unclear. In this study, C2C12 cells were grown on graphene bioscaffolds with specific structure-property- processing-performance (SP3) correlations. Bioscaffolds were prepared using three different methods - chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sublimation of silicon carbide (SiC), and printing of liquid phase exfoliated graphene. To investigate the biocompatibility of each scaffold, cellular morphology and gene expression patterns were investigated using the bipotential mouse C2C12 cell line. Using a combination of fluorescence microscopy and qRT-PCR, we demonstrate that graphene production methods determine the structural and mechanical properties of the resulting bioscaffold, which in turn determine cell morphology, gene expression patterns, and cell differentiation fate. Therefore, production methods and resultant structure and properties of graphene bioscaffolds must be chosen carefully when considering graphene as a bioscaffold for musculoskeletal tissue engineering.

Electrical, Piezoresistive and Electromagnetic Properties of Graphene Reinforced Cement Composites: A Review

Due to their excellent combination of mechanical and physical properties, graphene and its derivatives as reinforcements have been drawing tremendous attention to the development of high-performance and multifunctional cement-based composites. This paper is mainly focused on reviewing existing studies on the three material properties (electrical, piezoresistive and electromagnetic) correlated to the multifunction of graphene reinforced cement composite materials (GRCCMs). Graphene fillers have demonstrated better reinforcing effects on the three material properties involved when compared to the other fillers, such as carbon fiber (CF), carbon nanotube (CNT) and glass fiber (GF). This can be attributed to the large specific surface area of graphene fillers, leading to improved hydration process, microstructures and interactions between the fillers and the cement matrix in the composites. Therefore, studies on using some widely adopted methods/techniques to characterize and investigate the hydration and microstructures of GRCCMs are reviewed and discussed. Since the types of graphene fillers and cement matrices and the preparation methods affect the filler dispersion and material properties, studies on these aspects are also briefly summarized and discussed. Based on the review, some challenges and research gaps for future research are identified. This review is envisaged to provide a comprehensive literature review and more insightful perspectives for research on developing multifunctional GRCCMs.

A Simple and Cost-Effective Method for Producing Stable Surfactant-Coated EGaIn Liquid Metal Nanodroplets

Liquid metals show unparalleled advantages in printable circuits, flexible wear, drug carriers, and electromagnetic shielding. However, the efficient and large-scale preparation of liquid metal nanodroplets (LM NDs) remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a simple and efficient method for the large-scale preparation of stable eutectic gallium indium nanodroplets (EGaIn NDs). We compared different preparation methods and found that droplets with smaller particle sizes could quickly be produced using a shaking technique. The size of EGaIn NDs produced using this technique can reach 200 nm in 30 min and 100 nm in 240 min. Benefiting from the simple method, various surfactants can directly modify the surface of the EGaIn NDs to stabilize the prepared droplets. In addition, we discovered that shaking in an ice bath produced spherical nanodroplets, and after shaking for 30 min in a non-ice bath, rod-shaped gallium oxide hydroxide (GaOOH) appeared. Furthermore, the EGaIn NDs we produced have excellent stability-after storage at room temperature for 30 days, the particle size and morphology change little. The excellent stability of the produced EGaIn NDs provides a wider application of liquid metals in the fields of drug delivery, electromagnetic shielding, conductive inks, printed circuits, etc.