Pristine graphene has long been considered an ideal additive for porous materials due to its extraordinary properties, yet it remains elusive in most composite work due to its lack of dispersibility. We take advantage of this aspect of graphene and, rather than consider it a detriment, use it to our favor. Graphite spontaneously exfoliates at the high-energy water/oil interface into graphene sheets that are only a few layers thick, then use these pristine sheets to stabilize water-in-oil emulsions. By using and then polymerizing a monomer oil phase, we create porous composites containing graphene-lined hollow spheres. The overlapping graphene sheets enhance compressive strength and form a percolating network that imparts electrical conductivity to the foam. In this way, graphene acts as a functional, two-dimensional surfactant. Replacing fractions of monomer oil phase with a non-polymerizable solvent results in foams which are more porous and less dense, yet retain the conductivity and compressive properties resulting from incorporating graphene into the polymer structure.

Graphene-stabilized, electrically conductive polymerized high internal phase emulsions

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.