Center for Bio-Artificial Muscle and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
Nat Commun. 2012 Jan 31;3:650. doi: 10.1038/ncomms1661.
The extraordinary properties of graphene and carbon nanotubes motivate the development of methods for their use in producing continuous, strong, tough fibres. Previous work has shown that the toughness of the carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer fibres exceeds that of previously known materials. Here we show that further increased toughness results from combining carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide flakes in solution-spun polymer fibres. The gravimetric toughness approaches 1,000 J g(-1), far exceeding spider dragline silk (165 J g(-1)) and Kevlar (78 J g(-1)). This toughness enhancement is consistent with the observed formation of an interconnected network of partially aligned reduced graphene oxide flakes and carbon nanotubes during solution spinning, which act to deflect cracks and allow energy-consuming polymer deformation. Toughness is sensitive to the volume ratio of the reduced graphene oxide flakes to the carbon nanotubes in the spinning solution and the degree of graphene oxidation. The hybrid fibres were sewable and weavable, and could be shaped into high-modulus helical springs.
石墨烯和碳纳米管的非凡性质促使人们开发出将它们用于生产连续、强韧纤维的方法。以前的工作表明，碳纳米管增强聚合物纤维的韧性超过了以前已知的材料。在这里，我们表明，通过在溶液纺丝聚合物纤维中结合碳纳米管和还原氧化石墨烯薄片，可以进一步提高韧性。其重量韧性接近 1000 J/g，远远超过蜘蛛牵引丝（165 J/g）和凯夫拉（78 J/g）。这种韧性的提高与在溶液纺丝过程中观察到的部分对齐的还原氧化石墨烯薄片和碳纳米管的互联网络的形成一致，这种网络可以使裂纹偏转并允许消耗能量的聚合物变形。韧性对纺丝溶液中还原氧化石墨烯薄片与碳纳米管的体积比以及石墨烯氧化程度敏感。混合纤维具有可缝合和可编织性，并可以成型为高模量螺旋弹簧。
