CO2 Capture by Reduced Graphene Oxide Monoliths with Incorporated CeO2 Grafted with Functionalized Polymer Brushes

Abstract

The monolithic materials of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) can be used successfully in CO2 adsorption. Here, the incorporation of CeO2 particles with and without polymer brushes grafted from the particles showed that the structural properties could be changed, affecting the adsorption of CO2. Polymer brushes of (1) poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), (2) poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PVCL) and (3) poly[(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl) trimethylammonium chloride] (PMETAC) were grafted from CeO2 via reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The preparation of monoliths of rGO with different modified CeO2 particles led to different thermal properties (TGA), structural changes (BET isotherms) and CO2 adsorption. The responsive character of the CeO2@polymer was proven by the DLS and UV results. The responsive character of the particles incorporated into the rGO monolith affected not only the adsorption capacity but also the microstructure and values of the surface volume of the pores of the monolith. Monoliths with porosity values for better adsorption were affected by the responsive character of the polymer.

Carbon Dioxide Capture by Emerging Innovative Polymers: Status and Perspectives

“…Politakos and co‐workers reported the CO 2 adsorption performances of reduced GO (rGO) monolithic materials incorporated by CeO 2 particles which were grafted with functionalized polymer brushes by RAFT polymerization. [ 210 ] Polymer brushes of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PVCL), and poly [(2‐methacryloyloxy)ethyl) trimethylammonium chloride] (PMETAC) were grafted from the surface of the CeO 2 particles. The result shows that the rGO/CeO 2 /PVCL exhibited the highest CO 2 adsorption of 0.64 mmol g −1 , whereas the lowest value (of 0.5 mmol g −1 ) was obtained by the rGO/CeO 2 /PMETAC.…”