Investigating the impact of copper-functionalized graphene oxide on the mechanical and electrical properties of cement composites

This study investigates the enhancement of copper-functionalized graphene oxide (Cu-GO) on cement composites. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and functionalized with copper ions to improve its electrical conductivity. The experiment consisted of uniaxial compressive strength tests to evaluate strength enhancement and electrical resistance measurements to assess conductivity improvement. The results showed that Cu-GO was well-dispersed within the cement matrix, maintaining the dispersibility of GO while increasing the compressive strength by 11 %. The electrical resistivity of the composites decreased by 52 %, indicating a significant enhancement in electrical properties. Furthermore, the study included experiments to monitor changes in resistivity due to cracking. During the compression fracture process, substantial changes in resistivity were observed just before failure, demonstrating the high sensitivity of Cu-GO composites to crack development. These findings indicate that Cu-GO improves both the mechanical strength and electrical properties of cement composites, presenting a promising potential of using Cu-GO composites on structural health monitoring with further studying. With these results, this study expects Cu-GO to be an ideal option for next-generation smart city construction material.