A new in-situ growth strategy to achieve high performance graphene-based cement material

Graphene-based materials have been recently adopted to improve the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. However, most of the current available methods show poor dispersion and high cost. The development of a cost-effective graphene-based cement material with uniform dispersion of graphene in the cement matrix remains challenging. In the present study, glucose is used as a low-cost carbon source to promote the in-situ growth of graphene in the cement material. The proposed method for the development of in-situ growth graphene on cement particles costs around 14% of the commercial ones. Further characterization of microscopic morphology and structure reveals that graphene is uniformly dispersed in the cement matrix, which benefits to promote hydration process, form denser microstructure and enhances the mechanical properties of cement paste. Compared to the pure cement paste, the compressive and flexural strength of the test groups with 3% carbon source increased by 38% and 48.9%, respectively. The developed new strategy is crucial to the rational design of superior graphene-based cement material and achieve multifunctional applications of cementitious materials.