Experimental and theoretical study of the influence of the state of dispersion of graphene on the percolation threshold of conductive graphene/polystyrene nanocomposites.

The effect of the dispersed state of graphene is studied as a factor influencing the electrical percolation threshold of graphene/polystyrene nanocomposites. We find the percolation threshold of our nanocomposites, prepared with graphene dispersions with different thermodynamic stabilities, degrees of exfoliation, and size polydispersities, to range from 2 to 4.5 wt %. Connectedness percolation theory is applied to calculate percolation thresholds of the corresponding nanocomposites, based on the premise that size polydispersity of graphene platelets in the corresponding solutions must have a strong influence on it. Theory and experimental results agree qualitatively.