Electronic conductivity in metal-graphene composites: the role of disordered carbon structures, defects, and impurities

Abstract

This paper explores the transport properties of aluminum-carbon composite material via ab initio methods. Interfacial and electronic dynamics of the aluminum-graphene interface structure were investigated using models of amorphous graphene added to an aluminum matrix. We examine the impact on electronic conduction caused by the presence of nitrogen impurities within the interfacial amorphous graphene layer. We elucidate the conduction mechanisms by using a projection of the electronic conductivity into space.

Keywords

• conductivity
• Kubo-Greenwood formula
• space projected conductivity
• copper-carbon composite