Ambient-Temperature Waterborne Polymer/rGO Nanocomposite Films: Effect of rGO Distribution on Electrical Conductivity

Abstract

Electrically conductive polymer/rGO (reduced graphene oxide) films based on styrene and n-butyl acrylate are prepared by a variety of aqueous latex based routes involving ambient temperature film formation. Techniques based on miniemulsion polymerization using GO as surfactant and "physical mixing" approaches (i.e., mixing an aqueous polymer latex with an aqueous GO dispersion) are employed, followed by heat treatment of the films to convert GO to rGO. The distribution of GO sheets and the electrical conductivity depend strongly on the preparation method, with electrical conductivities in the range 9 × 10 −4 to 3.4 × 10 2 S/m. Higher electrical conductivities are obtained using physical mixing compared to miniemulsion polymerization, which is attributed to the former providing a higher level of self-alignment of rGO into larger linear domains. The present results illustrate how the distribution of GO sheets within these hybrid materials can to some extent be controlled by judicious choice of preparation method, thereby providing an attractive means of nanoengineering for specific potential applications.

Synthesis of diamine functionalised graphene oxide and its application in the fabrication of electrically conducting reduced graphene oxide/polymer nanocomposite films

“…8,9 Such amphiphilic character has recently been exploited to synthesise colloidally stable polymer particles using GO as a sole surfactant in miniemulsion polymerisation. [9][10][11][12][13][14] Using miniemulsion polymerisation, we have previously shown that the surfactant ability of GO can be utilised to synthesise polymer/GO nanocomposites where polymer particles are decorated with GO sheets. 9,10 Based on this approach, decoration or localisation of GO sheets around polymer particles greatly overcomes the restacking affinity of GO sheets.…”

“…[9][10][11][12][13][14] Using miniemulsion polymerisation, we have previously shown that the surfactant ability of GO can be utilised to synthesise polymer/GO nanocomposites where polymer particles are decorated with GO sheets. 9,10 Based on this approach, decoration or localisation of GO sheets around polymer particles greatly overcomes the restacking affinity of GO sheets. This approach can be used to fabricate polymer/GO nanocomposite lms with controlled GO morphology mediated by the self-assembly of the GO sheets leading to their homogeneous distribution throughout the lm.…”

“…This approach can be used to fabricate polymer/GO nanocomposite lms with controlled GO morphology mediated by the self-assembly of the GO sheets leading to their homogeneous distribution throughout the lm. 10 There is a considerable drive to functionalise GO in order to improve its surface, chemical, electronic and mechanical properties for various applications. For example, methylene dianiline-functionalised GO/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites have been shown to promote bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and thereby signicantly enhance their differentiation into osteoblasts (bone cells) compared to GO/PCL nanocomposites.…”

Sensible graphene oxide differentiates macrophages and Leishmania: a bio-nano interplay in attenuating intracellular parasite

“…1D; black curve). 32,[35][36][37][38] In reference to GO, the G band in AGO showed a marginal shi from 1604 to 1597 cm À1 , which may be due to the electrondonating nature of EDA in AGO or restoration of the sp 2 domain ( Fig. 1D; red curve).…”

Preparation of Methacrylate Polymer/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Particles Stabilized by Poly(ionic liquid) Block Copolymer via Miniemulsion Polymerization

“…[26] We have successfully prepared nanoparticles "armored" with GO sheets via miniemulsion copolymerization of styrene and butyl acrylate using GO as sole surfactant, exploiting the amphiphilic properties of GO, followed by thermal reduction of GO to rGO. [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] The synthesis of polymer/rGO nanocomposites employing aromatic monomers such as styrene utilizing π-π interactions has been demonstrated. [26,31,[38][39][40] Preparation of polymer/rGO nanocomposites with other monomers such as acrylates, utilizing modification of rGO, has also been reported.…”