Issue 38, 2009

Covalent polymer functionalization of graphenenanosheets and mechanical properties of composites

Abstract

For developing high performance graphene-based nanocomposites, dispersal of graphene nanosheets in polymer hosts and precise interface control are challenging due to their strong interlayer cohesive energy and surface inertia. Here we report an efficient method to functionalize graphene nanosheets. The initiator molecules were covalently bonded to the graphene surface via a diazonium addition and the succeeding atom transfer radical polymerization linked polystyrene chains (82 wt% grafting efficiency) to the graphene nanosheets. The prominent confinement effect arising from nanosheets resulted in a 15 °C increase in the glass transition temperature of polystyrene compared to the pure polymer. The resulting polystyrene nanocomposites with 0.9 wt% graphene nanosheets revealed around 70% and 57% increases in tensile strength and Young's modulus. The protocol is believed to offer possibilities for optimizing the processing properties and interface structure of graphene-polymer nanocomposites.

Graphical abstract: Covalent polymer functionalization of graphene nanosheets and mechanical properties of composites

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Apr 2009
Accepted
09 Jul 2009
First published
10 Aug 2009

J. Mater. Chem., 2009,19, 7098-7105

Covalent polymer functionalization of graphene nanosheets and mechanical properties of composites

M. Fang, K. Wang, H. Lu, Y. Yang and S. Nutt, J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 7098 DOI: 10.1039/B908220D

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