Electrical and mechanical properties of carbon nanofiber/graphene oxide hybrid papers

Carbon nanofiber (CNF)/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid papers are prepared by vacuum filtration of mixed dispersion with varied CNF to GO weight ratios. The effects of GO content, precursor GO size and reduction on the structure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of hybrid papers are studied. The electrical conductivity of hybrid papers shows a decreasing trend before reduction, while it drastically increases after reduction with increasing GO content, a testament to the dominant role played by GO sheets. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of hybrid papers exhibit similar performance with respect to GO content, confirming the importance of GO sheets. The GO sheet size has a positive effect on mechanical properties of hybrid papers through better alignment and their role as the substrate.