{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]],"date-time":"2026-01-20T12:40:43Z","timestamp":1768912843752,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,24]],"date-time":"2020-09-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1600905600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["FCT"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FCT"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Graphene and its derivatives have shown outstanding potential in many fields and textile\/composites industry are not an exception. Giving their extraordinary properties, Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) are excellent candidates for providing new functionalities to fibers and composites. In this work, natural fabrics (flax) were functionalized with chitosan (CS) based polymeric formulations of GNPs to develop fibrous systems with electrical properties as well as other functionalities. One of the greatest disadvantages of using carbon-based materials for fabrics\u2019 impregnation is their difficult dispersion. Therefore, several polymers were used as matrices, binding and dispersive agents including chitosan, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and glycerol. All the systems were characterized using several techniques that demonstrated the presence and incorporation of the GNPs onto the composites. Besides their characterization, considering their use as smart materials for monitoring and sensing applications, electrical properties were also evaluated. The highest value obtained for electrical conductivity was 0.04 S m\u22121 using 2% of GNPs. Furthermore, piezoresistive behavior was observed with Gauge Factor (GF) of 1.89 using 0.5% GNPs. Additionally, UV (ultraviolet) protection ability and hydrophobicity were analyzed, confirming the multifunctional behavior of the developed systems extending their potential of application in several areas.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym12102189","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,25]],"date-time":"2020-09-25T01:39:33Z","timestamp":1600997973000},"page":"2189","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":51,"title":["The Potential of Graphene Nanoplatelets in the Development of Smart and Multifunctional Ecocomposites"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Pedro","family":"Pereira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7862-4687","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diana P.","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Joana C.","family":"Ara\u00fajo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5294-0112","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Armando","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Physics, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3303-6563","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Raul","family":"Fangueiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Costa, S.M., Ferreira, D.P., Ferreira, A., Vaz, F., and Fangueiro, R. (2018). Multifunctional Flax Fibres Based on the Combined Effect of Silver and Zinc Oxide (Ag\/ZnO) Nanostructures. Nanomater, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano8121069"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11957","DOI":"10.3390\/s140711957","article-title":"Wearable Electronics and Smart Textiles: A Critical Review","volume":"14","author":"Stoppa","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sensors"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11017","DOI":"10.1039\/C7NR02322G","article-title":"Enhanced electrical conductivity and piezoresistive sensing in multi-wall carbon nanotubes\/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposites via the construction of a self-segregated structure","volume":"9","author":"Wang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nanoscale"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5310","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.201400633","article-title":"Fiber-Based Wearable Electronics: A Review of Materials, Fabrication, Devices, and Applications","volume":"26","author":"Zeng","year":"2014","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1007\/s10570-016-1107-7","article-title":"Investigation on functionalization of cotton and viscose fabrics with AgNWs","volume":"24","author":"Giesz","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cellulose"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ferreira, D.P., Ferreira, A., and Fangueiro, R. (2018). Searching for Natural Conductive Fibrous Structures via a Green Sustainable Approach Based on Jute Fibers and Silver Nanoparticles. Polymers, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym10010063"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mser.2018.03.001","article-title":"Electrically conducting fibres for e-textiles: An open playground for conjugated polymers and carbon nanomaterials","volume":"126","author":"Lund","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. R Rep."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cataldi, P., Athanassiou, A., and Bayer, S.I. (2018). Graphene Nanoplatelets-Based Advanced Materials and Recent Progress in Sustainable Applications. Appl. Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/app8091438"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2579","DOI":"10.1002\/app.39480","article-title":"Melt spinning of conductive textile fibers with hybridized graphite nanoplatelets and carbon black filler","volume":"130","author":"Nilsson","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compscitech.2017.04.019","article-title":"Graphene nanoplatelets coated glass fibre fabrics as strain sensors","volume":"146","author":"Moriche","year":"2017","journal-title":"Compos. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matdes.2018.05.040","article-title":"Wearable strain sensors based on electrically conductive natural fiber yarns","volume":"154","author":"Souri","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mater. Des."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1080\/19475411.2020.1716094","article-title":"Mechanical characterization of functional graphene nanoplatelets coated natural and synthetic fiber yarns using polymeric binders","volume":"11","author":"Mohan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Smart Nano Mater."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6317","DOI":"10.1021\/acsami.5b00695","article-title":"Highly Stretchable and Wearable Graphene Strain Sensors with Controllable Sensitivity for Human Motion Monitoring","volume":"7","author":"Park","year":"2015","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34502","DOI":"10.1021\/acsami.8b13018","article-title":"High-Performance Graphene-Based Natural Fiber Composites","volume":"10","author":"Sarker","year":"2018","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbpol.2016.05.060","article-title":"Porphyrin dye into biopolymeric chitosan films for localized photodynamic therapy of cancer","volume":"151","author":"Ferreira","year":"2016","journal-title":"Carbohydr. Polym."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S1381-5148(00)00038-9","article-title":"A review of chitin and chitosan applications","volume":"46","author":"Kumar","year":"2000","journal-title":"React. Funct. Polym."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"862","DOI":"10.1007\/s42452-020-2641-3","article-title":"A review on graphene strain sensors based on fiber assemblies","volume":"2","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"SN Appl. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1933","DOI":"10.1364\/JOSAA.21.001933","article-title":"Revised Kubelka\u2014Munk theory. I. Theory and application","volume":"21","author":"Yang","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Opt. Soc. Am."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Gon\u00e7alves, B. (2015). Desenvolvimento de uma Matriz de Sensores Piezoresistivos Baseados em T\u00e9cnicas de Impress\u00e3o, University of Minho."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8577","DOI":"10.3390\/s130708577","article-title":"Gauge factor and stretchability of silicon-on-polymer strain gauges","volume":"13","author":"Yang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sensors"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compscitech.2015.01.006","article-title":"Mechanical vs. electrical hysteresis of carbon nanotube\/styrene-butadiene-styrene composites and their influence in the electromechanical response","volume":"109","author":"Costa","year":"2015","journal-title":"Compos. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"740","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radphyschem.2012.03.024","article-title":"Effect of \u03b3-irradiation on the gauge factor of two-dimensional island platinum films","volume":"81","author":"Bishay","year":"2012","journal-title":"Radiat. Phys. Chem."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1240","DOI":"10.1002\/jrs.2273","article-title":"Characterization of pottery from the Republic of Macedonia I: Raman analyses of Byzantine glazed pottery excavated from Prilep and Skopje (12th\u201314th century)","volume":"40","author":"Tanevska","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Raman Spectrosc."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2014.12.006","article-title":"Advanced physico-chemical characterization of chitosan by means of TGA coupled on-line with FTIR and GCMS: Thermal degradation and water adsorption capacity","volume":"112","author":"Corazzari","year":"2015","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thanakkasaranee, S., Kim, D., and Seo, J. (2018). Preparation and Characterization of Poly (ether-block-amide)\/Polyethylene Glycol Composite Films with Temperature-Dependent Permeation. Polymers, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym10020225"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5953","DOI":"10.3390\/ma8095284","article-title":"Development of Graphene Nano-Platelet Based Counter Electrodes for Solar Cells","volume":"8","author":"Ahmad","year":"2015","journal-title":"Materials"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.4028\/www.scientific.net\/KEM.812.66","article-title":"Smart and Sustainable Materials for Military Applications Based on Natural Fibres and Silver Nanoparticles","volume":"812","author":"Ferreira","year":"2019","journal-title":"Key Eng. Mater."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5757","DOI":"10.1007\/s11664-019-07376-3","article-title":"Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene-Based Inks for Spray-Coating Applications","volume":"48","author":"Saidina","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Electron. Mater."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Al-Madeed, M.A., Ponnamma, D., and Khanam, P.N. (2015). Electrical Properties of Graphene Polymer Nanocomposites. Springer."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"885","DOI":"10.3144\/expresspolymlett.2018.76","article-title":"A study on the effects of graphene nano-platelets (GnPs) sheet sizes from a few to hundred microns on the thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of polypropylene (PP)\/GnPs composites","volume":"12","author":"Jun","year":"2018","journal-title":"Express Polym. Lett."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compscitech.2019.107883","article-title":"Conductive graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs)\/polyethersulfone (PES) composites with inter-connective porous structure for chemical vapor sensing","volume":"184","author":"Zheng","year":"2019","journal-title":"Compos. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Ferreira, A.J.B. (2014). Development of a pressure Sensor Network System for Static and dynamic Pressure Measurements: Application to the limb\/Prosthesis Pressure Mapping, University of Minho."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sna.2012.01.041","article-title":"Electromechanical performance of poly(vinylidene fluoride)\/carbon nanotube composites for strain sensor applications","volume":"178","author":"Ferrreira","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators A Phys."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1172","DOI":"10.1007\/s10853-012-6855-7","article-title":"Mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomer styrene-butadiene-styrene\/multiwall carbon nanotubes composites","volume":"48","author":"Costa","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"1831","article-title":"Chemical properties of natural fiber composites and mechanisms of chemical modifications","volume":"24","author":"Gupta","year":"2012","journal-title":"Asian J. Chem."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3370","DOI":"10.1002\/app.25437","article-title":"A Novel Approach to Excellent UV Protecting Cotton Fabric with Functionalized MWNT Containing Water Vapor Permeable PU Coating","volume":"103","author":"Mondal","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kim, H., and Lee, S. (2019). Characterization of electrical heating textile coated by graphene nanoplatelets\/PVDF-HFP composite with various high graphene nanoplatelet contents. Polymers, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym11050928"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbon.2015.08.099","article-title":"Multifunctional cotton fabrics with graphene\/polyurethane coatings with far-infrared emission, electrical conductivity, and ultraviolet-blocking properties","volume":"95","author":"Hu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Carbon N. Y."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apsusc.2014.10.148","article-title":"Hydrophobic cotton textile surfaces using an amphiphilic graphene oxide (GO) coating","volume":"324","author":"Tissera","year":"2015","journal-title":"Appl. Surf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"1","article-title":"Study the effect of alkali treatment of natural fibers on the mechanical behavior of the composite unsaturated Polyester-fiber Alfa","volume":"21","author":"Benyahia","year":"2013","journal-title":"21\u00e8me Congr\u00e8s Fran\u00e7ais de M\u00e9canique"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jia, G., Plentz, J., Dellith, J., Dellith, A., Wahyuono, R.A., and Andr\u00e4, G. (2019). Large area graphene deposition on hydrophobic surfaces, flexible textiles, glass fibers and 3D structures. Coatings, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/coatings9030183"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"206","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpolymj.2014.09.022","article-title":"Advantages and disadvantages of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets to epoxy resins","volume":"61","author":"Prolongo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. Polym. J."}],"container-title":["Polymers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/12\/10\/2189\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:13:24Z","timestamp":1760177604000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/12\/10\/2189"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,24]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,10]]}},"alternative-id":["polym12102189"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/polym12102189","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4360"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4360","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,24]]}}}