Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the Hummers and Offeman method from graphite. Two different types of functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) were synthesized by using GO. Hexamethylamine (HDA) substituted vertically to the graphene sheet (Ver-HDA-GS) was synthesized from HDA and epoxy group in GSs. Whereas, horizontally substituted hexadecanol (HDO) to the GS(Hor-HDO-GS) was synthesized from HDO and alcohol groups via reduced GO (RGO), respectively. The structures of the GO, RGO, Ver-HDA-GS, and Hor-HDO-GS were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). In addition, we examined the thermal stability and morphology. Atomic force microscope (AFM) disclosed that Ver-HDA-GS consisted of one-or two-layer graphene regions. However, the Ver-HDA-GS layers showed average thickness of 1.76 nm. The thermal stabilities of the FGSs were better than those of the GO and RGO. The Ver-HDA-GS was well dispersed in common solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), toluene, chloroform, and decalin.
4-Amino-N-hexadecylbenzamide-graphene sheets (AHB-GSs), used in the preparation of the polyimide (PI) nanocomposite films, were synthesized by mixing a dispersion of graphite oxide with a solution of the ammonium salt of AHB. The atomic force microscope image of functionalized-GS on mica and a profile plot revealed the average thickness of AHB-GS to be ~3.21 nm. PI films were synthesized by reacting 4,4'-biphthalic anhydride and bis(4-aminophenyl) sulfide. PI nanocomposite films containing various contents of AHB-GS over the range of 0-10 wt% were synthesized using the solution intercalation method. The PI nanocomposite films under different thermal imidization temperatures, 250 and 350 o C, were examined. The graphenes, for the most part, were well dispersed in the polymer matrix despite some agglomeration. However, micrometer-scale particles were not detected. The average thickness of the particles was <10 nm, as revealed from the transmission electron microscope images. Only a small amount of AHB-GS was required to improve the gas barrier, and electrical conductivity. In contrast, the glass transition and initial decomposition temperatures of the PI hybrid films continued to decrease with increasing content of AHB-GS up to 10 wt%. In general, the properties of the PI hybrid films heat treated at 350 o C were better than those of films heat treated at 250 o C.
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