Recycled polystyrene/polyvinylpyrrolidone/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for optoelectronic devices

From waste to energy storage: post-consumer waste expanded polystyrene/rGO composite as a high performance self-standing electrode for coin cell supercapacitors

“… 21 The presence of both symmetric and asymmetric vibrations of the methylene group present in the EPS can be identified by the presence of peaks at (2918, 2851) cm −1 . 22 The stretching vibrations of C–H bands at (3061, 3024) cm −1 are associated with the polystyrene. 23 It is worthy to note that these peaks are not observed in the FT-IR spectrum of the rGO.…”

“…After 400 °C, both EPS and EPS/rGO samples undergo thermal degradation and beyond 450 °C, EPS decomposed completely into its monomers, dimers and trimers. 9 …”

“… 10 A polystyrene/rGO composite prepared by a casting technique showed electrical conducting properties (conductivity in the range of 10 −11 to 10 −6 S m −1 ) thus can be used in electronic devices. 9 The conductivity of the polystyrene/rGO composite was improved to 22.68 S m −1 while prepared via a two-step in situ reduction. These results confirmed that the rGO formed a connected network with the polymer matrix to improve the conductivity and this composite can be a potential candidate for the application of electronic and energy storage devices.…”

“…10 Such a process of incorporating the conducting material into the polymer matrix is a ground-breaking technique which is also beneficial to improve the mechanical, thermal, optical and electrical properties of the desired composite. 9,11 The adhesive and charge transfer properties of the polymer were significantly improved via π–π interaction of phenyl rings present in the graphene. 12,13 Many attempts including in situ polymerization, in situ reduction, solution blending, and melt blending were made for the preparation of polymer/graphene composites.…”

“…into it. 9 The incorporation of the carbon materials into the non-conductive plastic materials is an effective way to make the conductive polymer composites. 10 Such a process of incorporating the conducting material into the polymer matrix is a ground-breaking technique which is also beneficial to improve the mechanical, thermal, optical and electrical properties of the desired composite.…”