Highly conductive graphene-based segregated composites prepared by particle templating

We use capillary-driven particle level templating and hot melt pressing to disperse few-layer graphene flakes within a polystyrene matrix to enhance the electrical conductivity of the polymer. The conducting pathways provided by the graphene located at the particle surfaces through contact of the bounding surfaces allow percolation at a loading of less than 0.01 % by volume. This method of distributing graphene within a matrix overcomes the need to disperse the sheet-like conducting fillers isotropically within the polymer, and can be scaled up easily. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York