Fabricating electroconductive cotton textiles using graphene

In this work, design parameters were investigated for enhancing the conductivity of graphene-coated cotton textiles. Graphene oxide (GO) was immobilized on cotton fabric through a conventional "dip and dry" method. The GO-coated fabrics were then immersed in an aqueous solution of reducing agent, which converted the GO into graphene. The effect of various parameters such as type of reducing agent (NaBH4, N2H4, C6H8O6, Na2S2O4 and NaOH) and its concentration, reduction time and number of coating process on conductivity of the fabrics was studied. The mechanical performance of the fabrics was also investigated. The results showed that the best conductivity and mechanical performance were obtained using Na2S2O4 as a reducing agent. The reaction time of 30 min at 95 degrees C was enough for complete reduction of the GO. Electrical conductivity increased by approximately three orders of magnitude with the increase in the number of coating process from 1 to 20 cycles. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.