The objective of this research was to develop highly effective conductive polymer composite (CPC) materials for flexible piezoresistive sensors, utilizing hollow three-dimensional graphitic shells as a highly conductive particulate component. Polystyrene (PS), a cost-effective and robust polymer widely used in various applications such as household appliances, electronics, automotive parts, packaging, and thermal insulation materials, was chosen as the polymer matrix. The hollow spherical three-dimensional graphitic shells (GS) were synthesized through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles serving as a support, which was removed post-synthesis and employed as the conductive filler. Commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used as a reference one-dimensional graphene material. The main focus of this study was to investigate the impact of the GS on the piezoresistive response of carbon/polymer composite thin films. The distribution and arrangement of GS and CNTs in the polymer matrix were analyzed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, while the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the composites were also evaluated. The results revealed that the PS composite films filled with GS exhibited a more pronounced piezoresistive response as compared to the CNT-based composites, despite their lower mechanical and thermal performance.

Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials Polish Academy of Sciences M Curie Skłodowskiej 34 41 819 Zabrze Poland

Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine General Naumov Str 17 03164 Kyiv Ukraine

Faculty of Biomedical Engineering Silesian University of Technology Roosevelta 40 Street 41 800 Zabrze Poland

Institute of Environmental Technology Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies VSB Technical University of Ostrava 17 Listopadu 15 708 33 Ostrava Czech Republic

International Polish Ukrainian Research Laboratory ADPOLCOM 41 800 Zabrze Poland

Key Laboratory of Advanced Carbon Materials and Wearable Energy Technologies of Jiangsu Province Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials Innovations College of Energy Soochow University Suzhou 215006 China

Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden P O Box 270116 D 01171 Dresden Germany

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