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Graphene/fly ash geopolymeric composites as self-sensing structural materials

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Mohamed Saafi
  • Leung Tang
  • Jason Fung
  • Mahbubur Rahman
  • Fiona Sillars
  • John Liggat
  • Xiangming Zhou
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Article number065006
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2014
<mark>Journal</mark>Smart Materials and Structures
Issue number6
Volume23
Number of pages10
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date16/04/14
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The reduction of graphene oxide during the processing of fly ash-based geopolymers offers a completely new way of developing low-cost multifunctional materials with significantly improved mechanical and electrical properties for civil engineering applications such as bridges, buildings and roads. In this paper, we present for the first time the self-sensing capabilities of fly ash-based geopolymeric composites containing in situ reduced graphene oxide (rGO).
Geopolymeric composites with rGO concentrations of 0.0, 0.1 and 0.35% by weight were prepared and their morphology and conductivity were determined. The piezoresistive effect of the rGO-geopolymeric composites was also determined under tension and compression. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicate that the rGO sheets can easily be
reduced during synthesis of geopolymers due to the effect of the alkaline solution on the functional groups of GO. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the majority of pores and voids within the geopolymers were significantly reduced due to the addition of rGO. The rGO increased the electrical conductivity of the fly ash-based rGOgeopolymeric
composites from 0.77 S m−1 at 0.0 wt% to 2.38 S m−1 at 0.35 wt%. The rGO also
increased the gauge factor by as much as 112% and 103% for samples subjected to tension and compression, respectively.

Bibliographic note

Acceptance: 17/03/2014