Graphene-enhanced silver composites for electrical contacts: a review

The material choice for electrical contacts fundamentally governs the breaking performance, safety, and reliability of electrical switches. In recent years, amid a rapid escalation in infrastructure development, an upsurge in living standards, and advancements in scientific and technological realms, there has been a burgeoning demand for increased load capacity within power distribution systems, thereby imposing novel demands on electrical contact materials. The advent of two-dimensional graphene, with its exceptional electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical attributes, has piqued the interest of researchers in the electrical contact field. This has spurred further research and development into innovative graphene-enhanced electrical contact materials. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the progression made in graphene-enhanced silver-based electrical contact materials over the recent years. It particularly delves into the application of graphene in silver-based contact substances, encompassing the most recent developments in graphene-enhanced contacts, the underlying principles and processes governing arc generation and erosion, the arc-resistant mechanisms inherent to graphene-enhanced contact materials, and provides a forward-looking perspective on the potential future of graphene-based contact materials.