Pickering emulsion-fabricated polystyrene–graphene oxide microspheres and their electrorheology

Graphene oxide (GO) was used as a solid surfactant, and core–shell structured polystyrene (PS)–GO microspheres were fabricated using the Pickering emulsion polymerization method. The resulting electro-responsive ‘smart’ microspheres were dispersed in silicone oil and their electrorheological characteristics were measured using a rotational rheometer under an applied electric field and correlated with their dielectric properties. The GO was found to impart electro-responsive properties to the polymer composite suspension under an applied electric field.