of anisotropic crystal structure, signifying strong covalent intralayer and weak van der Waals interlayer interactions. The layered lattice structure of graphene and its derivatives in lube oil provide an effective lubrication and antiwear properties. [9][10][11][12][13] However, it is a hydrophobic material and dispersion in a polar hydrophilic lube is unfavorable. In the light of this, oxygen functionalization converts graphene into graphene oxide/reduced graphene oxide (GO/rGO), providing a hydrophilic nature. The GO/rGO is a derivative of graphene containing abundant oxygen functional groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, and ether on the basal plane of carbon sheet. [ 14 ] Oxygen functionalization and chemically modifi ed graphene sheet is widely utilized to engineer molecular selfassemblies of organic ingredient for wide range of applications. [15][16][17][18] The presence of hydrophilic oxygen containing groups and hydrophobic aromatic frameworks in GO/rGO makes it an amphiphilic copolymer system, retaining a 2D feature in solution. [ 19 ] Baoli et al. proposed successful grafting of graphene with polyaniline (PANI) through the self assembled amino-propylsilane monolayer and chemical oxidative graft polymerization. [ 20 ] Feng et al. and Fan et al. prepared graphene-PANI composite fi lms by electrochemical process for the use in supercapacitor electrodes. [ 21,22 ] In this composite, the van der Waals interaction dominates between graphene and the conductive polymer. It is well-known that the large surface area of graphene and strong van der Waals force causes severe aggregation in the composite matrix. Therefore, strong interfacial adhesion and compatibility between graphene and the matrix involves dispersion of graphene a prerequisite for its reliable performance. To address these issues, graphene must be functionalized using both covalent and noncovalent approaches. However, covalently bonded polyaniline-graphene hybrids are rarely reported. [ 23,24 ] Kumar et al. reported a chemically bonded graphene-polyaniline hybrid, in which a carboxylic acid ester group linked graphene and PANI. [ 23 ] Novel graphene-polyaniline hybrid based on the PANI nanofi ber was formed through van der Waals interaction. [ 24 ] An et al. reported amide groups linkage between graphene-polyaniline-grafted PANI nanofi bers and graphene. [ 25 ] Presently, there is no report of grafted graphene-polyaniline dispersed in a lube medium for tribology
Molecular-pillar-supported basal plane of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)is fabricated by polymerizing polyaniline (PANI). In the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200), the γ -radiolysis is used for modifying the functionalization and improving the structural symmetry of PANI and PEG grafted rGO (PANI-PEG-g-rGO). The PANI is covalently and noncovalently grafted onto the surface of the graphene sheets. Carboxyl groups of rGO are linked to the nitrogen atoms in the PANI backbone and an accompanying noncovalent interaction between alkyl chains of grafted PANI and hydrooxylated rGO is formed. ...