Optimizing the thermophysical qualities of innovative clay–rGO composite bricks for sustainable applications

This work concerned the development of a unique reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nano-filler to provide innovative opportunities in enhancing the thermophysical performance of clay composite bricks. Whereas, a series of clay–rGO composite bricks were produced, doped with various levels of rGO nanosheets (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 wt% clay). Each clay–rGO composite’s microstructure, shrinkage, morphology, density, porosity, and thermophysical characteristics were carefully investigated, and the thermal conductivity performance was optimized. Incorporation of different levels of rGO NPs to the clay matrix allowed all the peaks intensity to rise relative to the untreated one in the XRD pattern. Meanwhile, the inclusion of these doping resulted in a grew in the crystallite sizes and apparent porosity within the compositions. In this vein, shrinkage fracture of fabricated brick composites varied depending on dopants type and levels during the drying and firing processes. Moreover, there are some changes in chemical compositions, as well as wave shifts, suggesting that functional groups of rGO may have contributed to partially introduce carbonyl groups in clay–rGO composites. Besides, the porous topography and bulk density improved rapidly with respect to the plane of the rGO nanosheets within the composites. The differ-dense microstructure displayed in the SEM micrographs supports these outcomes. Remarkably, clay–(4%)rGO compound not only has an optimum thermal conductivity value (0.43 W/mK), but it also has a high heat capacity (1.94 MJ/m3K). These results revealed the exceptional features of rGO sheets such as large surface area with high porosity within the modified clay composites.