Facile Synthesis of Diamino-Modified Graphene/Polyaniline Semi-Interpenetrating Networks with Practical High Thermoelectric Performance

Abstract

p-Phenediamino-modified graphene (PDG) has been newly synthesized via a facile green one-step chemical route as a functionalized graphene-based additive to copolymerize with aniline for fabricating innovative PDG/polyaniline conducting polymer composites containing very special semi-interpenetrating networks (S-IPNs). The S-IPNs not only provide additional pathways by creating chemically bonded PDG and PANI for smoothly transporting carriers but greatly reduce the amount of graphene required to less than a few percent could effectively improve the overall electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thus the thermoelectric (TE) performance. The found optimized TE figure of merit (ZT) of 0.74 approaches a practical high level which is comparable or much higher than previously reported ones for TE polymers.

Recent Advances in Organic Thermoelectric Materials: Principle Mechanisms and Emerging Carbon-Based Green Energy Materials

“…Lin et al [161] fabricated diamino-modified graphene/PANi composites capable of practical high thermoelectric performance. In brief, p-phenediamino was used to modify the graphene (PDG) via a facile one-step chemical method.…”

Nitrogen-rich graphitic-carbon@graphene as a metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

“…Practically, the surface area of graphene-based materials is much lower than the theoretical value which is due to the self-stacking nature through π-π interaction. 3D structure engineering 35 , 36 through composite making with polymer derived carbon 37 – 40 is not only an advantageous strategy to prevent the self-stacking of graphene but also it facile to the electrochemical ORR 37 , 38 , 41 .…”

Reduced Graphene Oxide–Epoxy Grafted Poly(Styrene-Co-Acrylate) Composites for Corrosion Protection of Mild Steel

“…However, because of strong van der Waals forces and high specific ratio, G, GO or rGO tend to easily aggregate each other, which greatly limits their functional development and industrial applications [5][6][7]. The chemical modification of G, GO or rGO is an efficient method to limit the aggregation, and at the same time, the anticorrosion performance of the nanocomposite coating is enhanced [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

“…However, because of strong van der Waals forces and high specific ratio, G, GO or rGO tend to easily aggregate each other, which greatly limits their functional development and industrial applications [5][6][7]. The chemical modification of G, GO or rGO is an efficient method to limit the aggregation, and at the same time, the anticorrosion performance of the nanocomposite coating is enhanced [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].GO-PMMA(polymethyl methacrylate) composites were prepared by Chang in the presence of carboxyl compounds, which prevents the agglomeration of graphene in acrylate resin, and the anticorrosion property is twenty-seven times higher than that of pure PMMA film [20]. Polyaniline/4-aminobenzoic acid was also employed by Chang to modify graphene, and the PANI(polyaniline)-G composite with 0.5 wt.% content can reduce the diffusion rate of water and oxygen to 22% and 24% [21].…”