Noncovalent Functionalization of Graphene Nanosheets with Cluster-Cored Star Polymers and Their Reinforced Polymer Coating

Abstract

A noncovalent and phase-transfer-assisted method is developed for the fabrication of polymer-functionalized graphene, in which a series of cluster-cored star polymers (CSPs) containing a polyoxometalate core and polystyrene (PS) arms are used as modifiers. Through the electron transfer interaction between polyoxometalate and graphene, the CSPs can strongly adsorb on graphene nanosheets and transfer them from aqueous media to organic solvents like chloroform, forming individually dispersed graphene. Moreover, the CSP-functionalized graphene is well compatible with additional polymer matrices and can serve as a reinforcing nanofiller for polymer composites. A 0.2 wt% loading of them in PS coating achieves a 98.9% high enhancement in Young's modulus.

Inorganic‐Macroion‐Induced Formation of Bicontinuous Block Copolymer Nanocomposites with Enhanced Conductivity and Modulus

“…However, phase transitions induced by multi‐charged ions, particularly the formation of bicontinuous structures, have been rarely reported, although multi‐charged ions are preferable for achieving a strong electrostatic cohesion. Polyoxometalates (POMs) comprise a large class of molecularly well‐defined metal–oxide clusters, and have been widely used as versatile inorganic moieties to prepare hybrid polymer materials . Moreover, POMs are typical inorganic macroions owing to their very high negative charges from 2 to more than 40 and nanoscale dimensions with diameters from 0.5 to 6 nm.…”

“…[1,22,23] However,p hase transitions induced by multi-charged ions,p articularly the formation of bicontinuous structures,h ave been rarely reported, although multi-charged ions are preferable for achieving as trong electrostatic cohesion. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Moreover,POMs are typical inorganic macroions [39] owing to their very high negative charges from 2t o more than 40 and nanoscale dimensions with diameters from 0.5 to 6nm. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Moreover,POMs are typical inorganic macroions [39] owing to their very high negative charges from 2t o more than 40 and nanoscale dimensions with diameters from 0.5 to 6nm.…”

“…Polyoxometalates (POMs) comprise al arge class of molecularly well-defined metal-oxide clusters, [24,25] and have been widely used as versatile inorganic moieties to prepare hybrid polymer materials. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Moreover,POMs are typical inorganic macroions [39] owing to their very high negative charges from 2t o more than 40 and nanoscale dimensions with diameters from 0.5 to 6nm. Herein, we present af acile approach based on electrostatic control to access bicontinuous morphologies from lamellar poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) in aP OM-induced process,w hich led to nanocomposites with enhanced conductivity and modulus (Scheme 1).…”

Effect of flake size on thermal properties of graphene oxide/poly(methyl methacrylate) composites prepared via in situ polymerization

“…A key challenge in preparing high‐performance graphene/polymer composites is the homogenous dispersion of graphene in polymer matrices . However, graphene is difficult to disperse in polymer due to its strong interlayer van der Waals and π‐π interactions . As one of the most important derivatives of graphene, graphene oxide (GO) consists of a wide variety of oxygen functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl, epoxide, carbonyl, and carboxylic functional groups) .…”

Molecularly templated reaction for forming poly(dimethyl siloxane)–graphene oxide composite elastomers

“…Commonly, GO is prepared using the modified Hummers method, which combines chemical functionalization with physical exfoliation through vigorous stirring or sonication of high‐purity graphite precursors . Through this process, the resulting GO sheets can be exploited in other chemical reactions in the field of polymer composites, such as functionalizing the surface of GO to increase its compatibility with a polymer matrix or attaching reactive functional groups on the surface of GO for in situ polymerization …”