Piezoresistive Materials from Directed Shear‐Induced Assembly of Graphite Nanosheets in Polyethylene

Abstract A three‐dimensional conductive nanocomposite with an ordered conductive network and low percolation threshold has been successfully prepared by blending graphite nanosheets (GNs) with polyethylene on a two‐roll mill. The conductive nanosheets orient intensively in the composite, leading to highly anisotropic properties. The nanocomposite with the fraction of conductive nanosheets closest to the percolation threshold possesses a sharp positive pressure coefficient of resistivity, in which the abrupt transition can be attributed to compressive‐stress‐induced deformation of the conductive network. Such piezoresistive effects depend strongly on filler morphology, filler spatial arrangement, and filler concentration.