Temperature activation of electrical conductivity and self-healing in silicone rubber/graphite nanoplatelets composites

TL;DR

This paper reports on silicone rubber/graphite nanoplatelets composites that become electrically conductive at higher temperatures and can self-heal through thermal annealing, offering potential for smart, self-healing conductive materials.

Contribution

It introduces a novel silicone rubber nanocomposite with temperature-activated conductivity and self-healing properties, synthesized via liquid mixing.

Findings

Electrical conductivity transitions from insulator to conductor with temperature.

Composite can be healed by thermal annealing.

Potential applications in smart self-healing electronic devices.

Abstract

The development of silicone rubber nanocomposite with electrical conductivity activated by temperature and self-healing capabilities has been reported. Silicon rubber (SR) filled with graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) was synthesized via a liquid mixing method. The electrical conductivity of the SR/GNPs composite showed a transition from insulating to conducting state with increasing the temperature. The SR/GNPs composite can be healed by simple thermal annealing.