Flexible reduced graphene oxide/electroless copper plated poly(benzo)-benzimidazole fibers with electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance

In order to produce conductive poly(benzo)-benzimidazole (PBO) fibers with corrosive resistance, copper plating on the surface of PBO fibers was carried out via palladium-free activation by electroless plating, followed by partial reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coating via electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The morphology, element composition and crystal structure of copper plated PBO (Cu/PBO) fibers were studied by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Effect of deposition time on the deposition rate of copper, deposit weight and electrical resistance of Cu/PBO fibers was investigated. In addition, electrical conductivity and heat generation of Cu/PBO fibers were evaluated. The surface of PBO fibers is uniformly and densely covered with spherical copper particles and Cu/PBO fibers possess excellent conductivity with the electrical resistance of 2.98 × 10 ⁻³ Ω m for deposition time of 70 min. The corrosion resistance of reduced graphene oxide coated copper plated PBO (rGO/Cu/PBO) fibers was studied by Tafel analysis. The corrosion potential has a negative shift of 31 mV (from − 240.2 to − 209.2 mV) and I _corr reduces from 4.34 µA/cm ² for Cu/PBO fibers to 1.24 µA/cm ² for the rGO/Cu/PBO fibers. The results indicate that the rGO coatings on Cu/PBO fibers can protect copper coating against corrosion. The results indicate that rGO/Cu/PBO fibers possess excellent electrical conductivity and corrosive-resistance, which could be used as conductive flexible materials with corrosive resistance.