30 and 36.26%, respectively. Thus, the former composite exhibited higher while the latter showed lower PTC intensity. Similarly, the 55 wt % CB (90 nm)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite with large crystallinity exhibited higher PTC intensity than polypropylene (PP) composite at the same filler loading [30]. Recently, Dang et al. reported that the PP and HDPE composites with hybrid Selleck LDK378 fillers of CBs (50 nm) and carbon fibers at 8 vol % loading exhibit strong PTC intensity [32]. They attributed this to the ease of a conducting

network formation in the polymer matrix because of the large aspect ratio of carbon fibers. Analogously, hybridization of CBs (24 nm) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes also led to enhanced PTC intensity and reproducibility [31]. In this study, we aimed to improve electrical conduction behavior of TRG/PVDF composites by incorporating AgNWs. The AgNW/TRG/PVDF hybrid composites displayed interesting temperature-dependent electrical properties. PVDF is a GW-572016 molecular weight semicrystalline polymer with high thermal stability, excellent chemical resistance, and high piezoelectric property. Methods Materials Graphite flakes, ethylene glycol (EG), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), ferrite chloride (FeCl3), and poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). PVDF (Kynar 500) pellets

were purchased from Arkema Inc. (King of Prussia, PA, USA). Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was obtained from Shanghai Chemical Reagent Company (Shanghai, China). All chemicals were used as received without further purification. Synthesis Graphite oxide was prepared using a typical Hummers process [39] and can be readily exfoliated into monolayer GO sheets as displayed by atomic force microscopic (AFM) image (Figure  1a). The GO sheets were dispersed in DMF to generate a 2 mg/mL solution. AgNWs were synthesized according to the polyol

method [18]. Typically, PVP (0.2 g) and AgNO3 (0.2 g) Alanine-glyoxylate transaminase were dissolved in 20 ml EG at room temperature. Then, 60 μL of 0.5 mM FeCl3 solution (in EG) was pipetted, and the solution mixture was magnetically stirred for 5 min. Subsequently, the solution container was placed in an oil bath of 130°C and held at this temperature for 12 h. The obtained AgNW products were washed with ethanol for five times and then re-dispersed in DMF. The average diameter and length of nanowires were approximately 130 nm and 110 μm, respectively (Figure  1b,c), producing an average aspect ratio of approximately 850. Figure 1 AFM image of GO sheets and SEM micrographs of AgNWs. (a) AFM image of GO sheets deposited onto a mica substrate. The line profile across GO shows a sheet thickness of approximately 1 nm. (b, c) SEM micrographs of the as-synthesized AgNWs at low and high magnifications. The TRG/PVDF composites were prepared based on our previous strategy [16].