Ultralight‐Weight Graphene Aerogels with Extremely High Electrical Conductivity. Issue 41 (12th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: dos Santos‐Gómez, Lucía; García, José R.; Montes‐Morán, Miguel A.; Menéndez, José Angel; García‐Granda, Santiago; Arenillas, Ana
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 17:Issue 41(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-09-12
• Subjects: electrical conductivity -- graphene aerogels -- porosity; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202103407
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: The integration of 2D graphene sheets into a porous and macroscopic structure is extremely attractive for application in several electrochemical fields. In this regard, for the first time, the synthesis of 3D graphene aerogels is reported by using a rapid, easy, cost‐effective, and scalable at industrial level methodology. These aerogels integrate the intrinsic properties of graphene with a high pore volume. To achieve this ultraporous graphene network, resorcinol/formaldehyde polymer with controllable porosity is employed as a binder and a cross‐linker material, and a graphene oxide solution provides the graphene building blocks. Two series of materials with and without catalyst for resorcinol/formaldehyde reaction and with different synthesis conditions and graphene contents are studied. The resulting graphene aerogels present low density, large macroporosity, and electrical conductivity values as high as 852 S m −1, with 97.58% of porosity, which is the highest value of electrical conductivity reported so far in the literature for ultralight‐weight graphene aerogels. Abstract : Here a new material that combines a very high electrical conductivity (>850 S m −1 ) with an extremely high porosity (>97%) is discussed. These materials are obtained by a microwave‐assisted process that greatly reduces synthesis times. This combination of properties greatly exceeds those known so far in the literature for any material, widening the possible applications.