Embodiments may relate to a microelectronic package comprising: a die and a package substrate coupled to the die with a first interconnect on a first face. The package substrate comprises: a second interconnect and a third interconnect on a second face opposite to the first face; a conductive signal path between the first interconnect and the second interconnect; a conductive ground path between the second interconnect and the third interconnect; and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection material coupled to the conductive ground path. The ESD protection material comprises a first electrically-conductive carbon allotrope having a first functional group, a second electrically-conductive carbon allotrope having a second functional group, and an electrically-conductive polymer chemically bonded to the first functional group and the second functional group permitting an electrical signal to pass between the first and second electrically-conductive carbon allotropes.