An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix composites

High-quality graphene (HQG)-Cu composites demonstrate remarkable properties; however, there remains a scarcity of preparation methods that are both simple and efficient for large-scale industrial application. Herein, amorphous graphene-like carbon (AGLC) synthesized on Cu powders using affordable so...

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Main Authors: Guoqing Li, Wei Pan, Mengting Shi, Jingmei Tao, Xiaofeng Chen, Yichun Liu, Caiju Li, Jianhong Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425018587
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author Guoqing Li
Wei Pan
Mengting Shi
Jingmei Tao
Xiaofeng Chen
Yichun Liu
Caiju Li
Jianhong Yi
author_facet Guoqing Li
Wei Pan
Mengting Shi
Jingmei Tao
Xiaofeng Chen
Yichun Liu
Caiju Li
Jianhong Yi
author_sort Guoqing Li
collection DOAJ
description High-quality graphene (HQG)-Cu composites demonstrate remarkable properties; however, there remains a scarcity of preparation methods that are both simple and efficient for large-scale industrial application. Herein, amorphous graphene-like carbon (AGLC) synthesized on Cu powders using affordable solid carbon sources (SCS) was successfully converted into HQG inside the unconsolidated Cu skeletons by simple cold pressing combined with high-temperature hydrogen annealing technology. The HQG-Cu composites densified by spark plasma sintering exhibit repeatable high electrical and thermal conductivity (∼433 Wm−1K−1). Importantly, it demonstrates a remarkable enhancement of ∼23 % in thermal conductivity efficiency (per volume fraction of graphene). Compared with the original AGLC-Cu composites, the electrical conductivity of HQG-Cu composite has increased substantially, rising from 91.5 to 100.6 %IACS. Furthermore, such new design avoids the conflict between the high-temperature growth of HQG (above 1000 °C) and the welding of Cu powders (about 1000 °C). The conversion mechanism from SCS to HQG involving the competition between Cu catalysis and hydrogen etching is clearly revealed. Our research demonstrates the potential of SCS-converted HQG-Cu composites for industrial application, providing a promising avenue for further development of graphene-Cu composites.
format Article
id doaj-art-16da27e852b14fde974e6a2ffae4e404
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issn 2238-7854
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publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Journal of Materials Research and Technology
spelling doaj-art-16da27e852b14fde974e6a2ffae4e4042025-08-20T02:44:56ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-09-013818419010.1016/j.jmrt.2025.07.200An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix compositesGuoqing Li0Wei Pan1Mengting Shi2Jingmei Tao3Xiaofeng Chen4Yichun Liu5Caiju Li6Jianhong Yi7Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaCorresponding author.; Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaCorresponding author.; Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaHigh-quality graphene (HQG)-Cu composites demonstrate remarkable properties; however, there remains a scarcity of preparation methods that are both simple and efficient for large-scale industrial application. Herein, amorphous graphene-like carbon (AGLC) synthesized on Cu powders using affordable solid carbon sources (SCS) was successfully converted into HQG inside the unconsolidated Cu skeletons by simple cold pressing combined with high-temperature hydrogen annealing technology. The HQG-Cu composites densified by spark plasma sintering exhibit repeatable high electrical and thermal conductivity (∼433 Wm−1K−1). Importantly, it demonstrates a remarkable enhancement of ∼23 % in thermal conductivity efficiency (per volume fraction of graphene). Compared with the original AGLC-Cu composites, the electrical conductivity of HQG-Cu composite has increased substantially, rising from 91.5 to 100.6 %IACS. Furthermore, such new design avoids the conflict between the high-temperature growth of HQG (above 1000 °C) and the welding of Cu powders (about 1000 °C). The conversion mechanism from SCS to HQG involving the competition between Cu catalysis and hydrogen etching is clearly revealed. Our research demonstrates the potential of SCS-converted HQG-Cu composites for industrial application, providing a promising avenue for further development of graphene-Cu composites.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425018587Solid carbon sourcesAmorphous graphene-like carbonHigh-quality grapheneCu matrix composites
spellingShingle Guoqing Li
Wei Pan
Mengting Shi
Jingmei Tao
Xiaofeng Chen
Yichun Liu
Caiju Li
Jianhong Yi
An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix composites
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Solid carbon sources
Amorphous graphene-like carbon
High-quality graphene
Cu matrix composites
title An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix composites
title_full An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix composites
title_fullStr An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix composites
title_full_unstemmed An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix composites
title_short An amorphous-crystallization strategy towards high-quality graphene for constructing highly conductive Cu matrix composites
title_sort amorphous crystallization strategy towards high quality graphene for constructing highly conductive cu matrix composites
topic Solid carbon sources
Amorphous graphene-like carbon
High-quality graphene
Cu matrix composites
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425018587
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