Surface-tunable, electrically conductive and inexpensive graphene platelets and their hydrophilic polymer nanocomposites
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Date
2020
Authors
Wang, R.
Aakyiir, M.
Qiu, A.
Oh, J.A.
Adu, P.
Meng, Q.
Ma, J.
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Journal article
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Polymer, 2020; 205(122851):1-8
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Abstract
A cost-effective method is essential for the applications of graphene platelets (GnPs) in polymer processing industry. Herein, a simple microwave expansion method was introduced to prepare graphene platelets (GnPs) of 11.7 ± 4.3 nm in thickness. By controlling the concentration of nitric acid, the surface of GnPs was tuned to be hydrophilic without causing severe damage to their structural integrity; the modified GnPs had thickness of 4.6 ± 2.1 nm, Raman ID/IG ratio of 0.09 and electrical conductivity of 570 S cm− 1. The platelets’ high crystallinity before and after the surface modification was proved by TEM and SAED analysis. A percolation threshold o felectrical conductivity was found to be 0.89 vol% for poly (vinyl alcohol)/modified GnP nanocomposites. The platelets at 0.5 vol% improved tensile strength by 91.1% and Young’s modulus by 66.7% due to relatively uniform dispersion and strong interfacial interactions with the matrix.
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Copyright 2020 Elsevier
Access Condition Notes: Accepted manuscript available after 1 October 2022