Electrical and optical percolations in PMMA/GNP composite films

Abstract

Effects of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) addition on the electrical conductivity and optical absorbance of poly(methyl methacrylate)/graphene nanoplatelet (PMMA/GNP) composite films were studied. Optical absorbance and two point probe resistivity techniques were used to determine the variations of the optical and electrical properties of the composites respectively. Absorbance intensity A and surface resistivity R-s of the composite films were monitored as a function of GNP mass fraction (M) at room temperature. Absorbance intensity values of the composites were increased and surface resistivity values were decreased by increasing the content of GNP in the composite. Electrical and optical percolation thresholds of composite films were determined as M-sigma = 27.5 wt.% and M-op = 26.6 wt.% respectively. The conductivity and the optical results were attributed to the classical and site percolation theories respectively. Optical ((op)) and electrical ((sigma)) critical exponents were calculated as 0.40 and 1.71 respectively.