An aggregation-mediated assembly of graphene oxide on amine-functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres for core–shell structures with controlled electrical conductivity

Abstract

We present a novel method for regulating the shell thickness of core–shell microspheres consisting of a polymer core and graphene oxide (GO) or a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) shell. A strategy of pH-induced instability of GO and its gradual assembly with the core particles is employed. Interestingly, the thickness of the shell gradually increases from around 20 to 70 nm as the pH of the suspension decreases from 10 to 3 during the assembly process, which significantly changes the electrical properties of the core–shell microspheres. We fabricated core–shell microspheres with a broad range of electrical conductivities from 1.79 to 31.43 S m⁻¹.