Electrical conductivity of poly(hydroxybutyrate-Co-hydroxyvalerate)/graphene biocomposites produced via different solvent

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is among the most promising polymers used in a variety of applications, owing to its low cost, biodegradability, and nontoxicity. However, PHBV is electrically insulating; hence, limits its use in biomedical applications. This study demonstrates a straightforward and environment-friendly method to fabricate and modify the electrical conductivity of PHBV-based biocomposites by incorporating graphene (G) as conductive filler. PHBV/G bicomposite films were fabricated using acetic acid as an alternative to conventional solvents such as chloroform. The electrical conductivity of the biocomposite films with various loadings of graphene (0-5 wt.%) was investigated by a two-point probe. It was discovered that, PHBV/G biocomposites at 5 wt.% graphene loading possess the highest electrical conductivity irrespective of the type of solvents used. Meanwhile, acetic acid casted PHBV/G biocomposite films have a greater electrical conductivity compared to chloroform casted PHBV/G biocomposite films.