Nano-scaled graphene plate films and articles
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a nano-scaled graphene article comprising a non-woven aggregate of nano-scaled graphene platelets wherein each of the platelets comprises a graphene sheet or multiple graphene sheets and the platelets have a thickness no greater than 100 nm (preferably smaller than 10 nm) and platelets contact other platelets to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article. The article has an exceptional thermal conductivity (typically greater than 500 Wm −1 K −1 ) and excellent electrical conductivity (typically greater than 1,000 S/cm). Thin-film articles of the present invention can be used for thermal management in micro-electronic devices and for current-dissipating on an aircraft skin against lightning strikes.
1. A nano-scaled graphene article comprising a compressed, close packed, non-woven aggregate of nano-scaled graphene platelets wherein each of the platelets comprises a graphene sheet and the platelets have a thickness no greater than 100 nm, and wherein platelets contact other platelets to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article.
2. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein said article has a thickness smaller than 50 μm and the platelets have a thickness smaller than 10 nm.
3. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein said article has a thickness smaller than 1 μm and the platelets have a thickness smaller than 10 nm.
4. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein said article has a thickness smaller than 100 nm.
5. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein said article has a thermal conductivity greater than 1,000 Wm −1 K −1 .
6. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein said article has a thermal conductivity greater than 1,500 Wm −1 K −1 .
7. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein said article has an electrical conductivity greater than 3,000 S/cm.
8. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein said article has an electrical conductivity greater than 3,000 S/cm and a thermal conductivity greater than 1,000 Wm −1 K −1 .
9. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 further comprising a desired amount of a nano-scaled filler, having at least one dimension smaller than 100 nm, selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanotube, carbon nano fiber, carbon black, metal nano-powder, and combinations thereof, wherein said amount is no less than 0.1% by weight based on the total weight of said nano-scaled filler and the nano-scaled graphene platelets.
10. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 9 wherein said nano-scaled filler occupies a weight fraction no greater than 20%.
11. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 9 wherein, when the article contains a matrix or binder material, the compressed aggregate is infiltrated or impregnated by the matrix or binder material.
12. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 9 further comprising a matrix or binder material that impregnates or infiltrates said article to form a composite article, wherein said binder or matrix material is selected from a carbon, graphite, metal, glass, or ceramic material.
13. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 12 wherein said composite article has an electrical conductivity greater than 200 S/cm or a thermal conductivity greater than 300 Wm −1 K −1 .
14. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 12 wherein said composite article has an electrical conductivity greater than 300 S/cm or a thermal conductivity greater than 500 Wm −1 K −1 .
15. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 12 wherein the weight fraction of the platelets is not less than 75%.
16. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein the platelets are over-lapping.
17. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 1 wherein, when the article contains a matrix or binder material, the compressed aggregate is infiltrated or impregnated by the matrix or binder material.
18. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 17 wherein the article further comprises a matrix or binder material that impregnates or infiltrates said article to form a composite article, wherein said binder or matrix material is selected from a carbon, graphite, metal, glass, or ceramic material.
19. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 18 wherein said composite article has an electrical conductivity greater than 200 S/cm or a thermal conductivity greater than 300 Wm −1 K −1 .
20. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 18 wherein said composite article has an electrical conductivity greater than 300 S/cm or a thermal conductivity greater than 500 Wm −1 K −1 .
21. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 18 wherein the weight fraction of the platelets is not less than 75%.
22. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 1 wherein the aggregate is a thin film having a thickness no greater than 100 μm or paper.
23. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 1 wherein the aggregate is formed by dispersing separated platelets in a liquid medium and re-assembling the platelets in a layer by removing the liquid medium.
24. A nano-scaled graphene platelet-containing article comprising a compressed, close packed, non-woven aggregate of nano-scaled graphene platelets to form an electrical network of platelets in contact with other platelets to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article wherein the article has an electrical conductivity no less than 200 S/cm or a thermal conductivity no less than 400 Wm −1 K −1 .
25. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 24 wherein the article has an electrical conductivity no less than 1,000 S/cm or a thermal conductivity no less than 500 Wm −1 K −1 .
26. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 24 further comprising a matrix or binder material that impregnates or infiltrates said article to form a composite article.
27. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 26 wherein said composite article has an electrical conductivity greater than 1,000 S/cm or a thermal conductivity greater than 500 Wm −1 K −1 .
28. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 26 wherein said composite article has an electrical conductivity greater than 2,000 S/cm or a thermal conductivity greater than 1,000 Wm −1 K −1 .
29. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 26 wherein said binder or matrix material is selected from a resin, carbon, graphite, metal, glass, or ceramic material.
30. The nano-scaled graphene article as defined in claim 24 further comprising a desired amount of a nano-scaled filler selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanotube, carbon nano fiber, carbon black, metal nano-powder, and combinations thereof wherein said amount is no less than 0.1% by weight based on the total weight of said nano-scaled filler and the nano-scaled graphene platelets.
31. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 24 wherein the weight fraction of the platelets is not less than 75%.
32. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 24 wherein, when the article contains a matrix or binder material, the matrix or binder material infiltrates or impregnates the compressed aggregate.
33. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 32 wherein the weight fraction of the platelets is not less than 75%.
34. The nano-scaled graphene article of claim 24 wherein the aggregate is a thin film having a thickness no greater than 100 μm or paper.
35. A nano-scaled graphene article comprising a compressed, close packed, non-woven aggregate of nano-scaled graphene platelets wherein the aggregate is formed by dispersing nano-scaled graphene platelets in a liquid medium and re-assembling the platelets in a layer by removing the liquid medium, each of the platelets comprises a graphene sheet and the platelets have a thickness not greater than 100 nm, and wherein the compressed aggregate is infiltrated by a binder or matrix material, and the aggregate may additionally include a filler, and wherein the weight fraction of the platelets is not less than 75%.