title: Electrically conductive nano graphite-filled bacterial cellulose composites.
abstract: A unique three dimensional (3D) porous structured bacterial cellulose (BC) can act as a supporting material to deposit the nanofillers in order to create advanced BC-based functional nanomaterials for various technological applications. In this study, novel nanocomposites comprised of BC with exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP) incorporated into the BC matrix were prepared using a simple particle impregnation strategy to enhance the thermal properties and electrical conductivity of the BC. The flake-shaped xGnP particles were well dispersed and formed a continuous network throughout the BC matrix. The temperature at 10% weight loss, thermal stability and residual ash content of the nanocomposites increased at higher xGnP loadings. The electrical conductivity of the composites increased with increasing xGnP loading (attaining values 0.75 S/cm with the addition of 2 wt.% of xGnP). The enhanced conductive and thermal properties of the BC-xGnP nanocomposites will broaden applications (biosensors, tissue engineering, etc.) of BC and xGnP.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Structures and Composites (AEWC) Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA; The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBİTAK), Tunus Cad, Kavaklıdere, Ankara 06100, Turkey. Electronic address: esra.erbas@maine.edu.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erbas Kiziltas
authors.affiliation: Advanced Structures and Composites (AEWC) Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA; Department of Forest Industry Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, University of Bartin, Bartin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiziltas
authors.affiliation: Energy Storage and Materials Research Department, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Nuri W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Emanetoglu
authors.affiliation: Advanced Structures and Composites (AEWC) Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blumentritt
authors.affiliation: Advanced Structures and Composites (AEWC) Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000091:Acetobacter / Q000737:chemistry; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Bacterial cellulose; Electrical conductivity; Exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets; Morphology; Thermal stability