A unified modeling framework for explaining the electrical resistivity trend of composites with nanostructures

Abstract

Theoretical models for 1-D nanowire networks with particulate fillers are provided to explain how the electrical conductivity increases or decrease with respect to the shape and dimension of the particulate filler. The present research aims at a comprehensive understanding of the size effect of secondary particulate fillers on the electrical conductivity of CNT polymer composites. The change of the resistivity of CNT polymer composites due to the size of particulate fillers could be interpreted via the combination of Voronoi geometry induced from Swiss cheese models and underlying fiber percolation theory. This indicates that there is the transition of phases in excluded-volume effects, i.e., the enhancement in conductivity was measured in cooperation with micro-sized second fillers whereas the decrease in conductivity was observed for nano-sized fillers.