Graphene-Reinforced Copper Matrix Composites as Electrical Contacts

Abstract

Graphene is an effective reinforcement for metal matrix composites due to its excellent mechanical properties, high specific surface area, chemical inertness, and thermal stability. Nonetheless, homogeneous dispersion of graphene toward high-performance copper matrix composites remains a challenge due to the poor wettability and density contrast between the copper matrix and graphene. Herein, we develop an in situ surface modification strategy for the synthesis of high-quality graphene-like carbon (GLC)-encapsulated monodispersed copper particles, which are then vacuum hot pressed to manufacture graphene-reinforced copper matrix composites. This approach offers a low-cost, efficient method for mass-producing graphene-reinforced copper matrix composites and other graphene-based composites on an industrial scale. In the actual electrical contact performance test, the service life of our graphene-reinforced copper matrix composites as electrical contacts is about 3 times longer than that of the commercial pure copper electrical contacts, demonstrating the superior ability to address the electrical contact issues in electrical engineering systems.