A Study on High-Performance Thermally Conductive Natural Rubber Nanocomposite Films Reinforced with Hybrid Ag-Cu/rGO Nanoparticles

This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of silver–copper-decorated reduced graphene oxide (AgCu-rGO) hybrid nanofillers embedded in natural rubber (NR) to develop multifunctional nanocomposite (NC) films with enhanced thermal and optical properties. AgCu-rGO hybrids were synthesized by chemical reduction and dispersed in NR latex at varying loadings (0–0.2 phr). XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of NR and effective exfoliation of the hybrid fillers. Optical characterization revealed broad UV–visible absorbance (200–1100 nm) in AgCu-rGO/NRNCs, highlighting their potential in photothermal conversion and light-harvesting systems. Photoluminescence studies showed characteristic emission peaks from Ag and Cu nanoparticles and confirmed rGO dispersion, indicating strong hybrid filler contributions to optical activity. Thermal performance, evaluated using IR imaging under LED heating, showed significant temperature reductions for higher filler-loaded samples (AgCu5 and AgCu6), approaching the efficiency of commercial thermal pad (TP). Improved thermal conductivity compared to bare NR, attributed to synergistic heat transport through hybrid percolation networks. Reduced thermal resistance (Rth) and mitigation of thermal softening across moderate temperatures further validated the composites’ efficiency in electronic cooling. Overall, AgCu-rGO/NR nanocomposites would be considered as an alternative multifunctional thermally conductive nanocomposites with superior thermal and optical performance, offering strong potential in energy and flexible electronic applications.