Short answer: yes. Graphene is one of the best electrical conductors known. That’s why it is used to make 3D printing filament that conducts electricity. Below we explain why graphene conducts, how it compares with other materials, and what changes when you mix it into a plastic you can print.
Why does graphene conduct electricity?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a flat hexagonal (honeycomb) lattice, just one atom thick.
Each carbon atom has four outer electrons. In graphene, three of them form strong covalent bonds with the neighbouring carbon atoms. These are the same bonds that make graphene so strong. The fourth electron isn’t tied to any one atom. It is delocalised, meaning it is free to move across the whole sheet.
Those free electrons carry charge. When a voltage is applied, they flow across the lattice with very little resistance. That flow is electricity.
It’s the same reason graphite (pencil lead) conducts: graphite is simply millions of graphene layers stacked on top of each other. In a single graphene layer, though, the electrons move even more freely.
How good a conductor is graphene?
In the lab, graphene’s electron mobility, a measure of how easily electrons move through a material, is exceptionally high. It is far higher than in silicon, the material most electronics are built on. Under ideal conditions, a single sheet of pristine graphene conducts electricity better than copper.
There’s a catch, and it matters if you work with graphene products: those record numbers are for a perfect, single-layer sheet. Real-world graphene materials, such as the flakes and nanoplatelets used in coatings, inks and filaments, never behave like a flawless lab sample. How well they conduct depends on flake size, purity and, above all, how well the flakes connect to each other.
Does graphene oxide conduct electricity?
Not well. Graphene oxide (GO) has oxygen groups attached to its carbon lattice. These groups take up the free electrons that would otherwise carry current, so GO behaves more like an insulator. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) gets back some of the conductivity. When you buy a “graphene” product, the type of graphene matters.
What happens when you put graphene into plastic?
PLA, ABS and most other 3D printing plastics are electrical insulators. Add enough graphene, and something useful happens.
At low loadings, the graphene flakes are scattered and isolated, so the plastic still insulates. As the loading rises, the flakes start to touch and overlap. At a certain point, called the percolation threshold, they form a continuous network through the plastic, and the material becomes electrically conductive.
That is the principle behind conductive filament. Because graphene flakes are thin and flat, they can form that network more efficiently than many traditional carbon fillers.
What you can do with conductive graphene filament
Graphene-enhanced conductive filament lets you print parts that carry low currents and signals directly, with no separate wiring:
- Printed circuits and traces for low-power electronics, LEDs and prototypes
- Capacitive touch sensors, such as buttons, sliders and touch pads printed into a housing
- Strain and pressure sensors, because resistance changes as the part flexes
- Wearable tech, combining conductive paths with flexible parts
- Static dissipation and shielding for parts that sit near sensitive electronics
A practical note: conductive filament is not a replacement for copper wire. It suits signals, sensing and low-current work, not mains power. Resistance also depends on print orientation. Current usually flows more easily along a printed layer than across layers, so plan your trace direction accordingly.
Try it yourself
Our Graphene Conductive Filament is a graphene-enhanced PLA in 1.75mm and 2.85mm. It prints at 220–240°C on most FDM/FFF printers. Our processing guide covers settings and tips.
All orders ship from UK stock and are dispatched within 24 working hours.
If you need conductivity and toughness for structural parts, read Graphene vs Carbon Fibre Filament. For technical questions, ask our team.
FAQ
Is graphene a better conductor than copper?
A perfect single sheet of graphene can outperform copper in lab conditions. Bulk graphene materials and graphene composites conduct much less well than copper wire.
Why does graphene conduct but diamond doesn’t?
Both are pure carbon. In diamond, every one of each atom’s four outer electrons is locked into a bond, so none are free to carry current. In graphene, one electron per atom is delocalised and free to move.
Is conductive filament safe to use?
Yes, for low-voltage electronics and sensing projects. Don’t use it to carry mains voltage or high currents.