Polyethylene/graphene nanoplatelet nanocomposite-based insulating materials for effective reduction of space charge accumulation in high-voltage direct-current cables

Abstract

We have demonstrated a straightforward hydrophobic surface modification of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) through a defect-healing process to fabricate well-dispersed insulating low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/GNP nanocomposites and have confirmed their effective suppression of space charge accumulation. Without any organic modifiers, GNPs containing oxygen-based functional groups at the edges were successfully reduced at optimal high-temperature defect-healing condition and modified to have hydrophobic surface properties similar to those of the LDPE matrix. The degree of dispersion and the reproducibility of the mechanically melt-mixed LDPE/GNP nanocomposites were immediately analyzed by thickness-normalized optical absorption measurement. In the LDPE matrix, below the percolation threshold concentration, well-dispersed GNP fillers effectively acted as trapping sites under high electric fields, resulting in the successful suppression of packet-like space charge accumulation (field enhancement factor = 1 04 @ 0.1 wt% LDPE/GNP nanocomposite).