Properties of free-standing graphene oxide/silver nanowires films and effects of chemical reduction and gamma irradiation

Abstract

The need for stable, chemical resistant and conductive materials is on the rise in recent times. Graphene shows promising electrical conductivity and chemical stability, but the production of a continual, conductive layer is limited and expensive. Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are both conducive and economically viable, but they are sensitive to water and oxygen. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) and AgNWs were synthesized and combined in different mass ratios (3:1, 2.5:1.5, and 1:1) to obtain chemically stable composites with improved electrical properties. Composites were reduced using ascorbic acid. With the increase of AgNWs to GO mass ratio, the surface of the free-standing composite film improved: the root mean square roughness was lowered from 376 nm for GO to 168 nm for the composite with the mass ratio of GO:AgNWs 1:1, while the sheet resistance was lowered from 146 × 106 Ω/□ to 4 Ω/□. For the first time, the effects of gamma irradiation on the structure of the composites were studied. Doses of 15, 25, and 35 kGy were applied.