Development of Graphene/ceramic composites with damage self-monitoring capabilities

Smart composite materials have become essential in 21st century lifestyle. These are found in phone batteries, diabetes sensors, thermo-jackets or aircraft blades. Composite materials combine structural and functional capabilities and the recent integration of graphene into ceramic and polymeric matrices could open new opportunities on the design novel composites. However, to materialize this goal we need to be able to design and build structures to take full advantage of graphene's (monoatomic layer of carbon) unique properties, such as it being the material of highest electrical conductivity or electron mobility. In this project a bottom up strategy to design new graphene/ceramic composite materials will be used, taking inspiration from biomaterials hierarchical structures. We will explore graphene oxide (chemically exfoliated graphite) suspensions processing in order to build 3D graphene networks which in turn will serve as scaffolds to host ceramic and ceramic based materials, taking advantage of novel technical ceramic manufacturing routes such as freeze casting or 3D printing to fabricate multi-materials and build devices. The challenge is to design, build up, and evaluate a new composite with damage sensing capabilities. The goal "a novel composite with damage self-monitoring capabilities" would for instance save unexpected break-up stop costs in a broad range of applications from energy to transportation.

In this project a wide variety of skills and techniques will be developed and used. The first stage of the project will deal with characterization and processing of materials and different techniques such as particle size distribution, zeta potential, XRD, SEM, TEM among others will be used. Skills in wet processing of graphene and ceramics together with their shaping by 3D printing and/or freeze casting will also be acquired and thus fundamental learning in rheology will be developed. Finally the achievement of the new composite will also demand training in mechanical and electrical characterization.

The project will establish external collaborations with the Centre of Advanced Structural Ceramics at Imperial College London, Queen Mary University London and collaborations with graphene and carbon based materials suppliers such as "GRAPHENEA" and "HAYDALE" may also arise. Moreover, across college collaborations may be also possible due to the multidisciplinary character of the research proposed.