Polycopié de cours graphene and graphene oxide as nanofiller for polymer blends (Unité Fondamentale: Domaine Sciences et Technologie — Master/Doctorat LMD)

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites based on carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and layered silicates have been used for improved mechanical, thermal, electrical, and gas barrier properties of polymers [1-3]. The discovery of graphene with its combination of extraordinary physical properties and ability to be dispersed in various polymer matrices has created a new class of polymer nanocomposites. Graphene is an atomically thick, two-dimensional (2-D) sheet composed of sp2 carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure (Figure 1). It has been viewed as the building block of all other graphitic carbon allotropes of different dimensionality [4]. For example; graphite (3-D carbon allotrope) is made of graphene sheets stacked on top of each other and separated by 3.37 A˚. The 0-D carbon allotrope, fullerenes (buckyballs), can be envisioned to be made by wrapping a section of graphene sheet. The 1-D carbon allotropes, carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nano- ribbons, can be made by rolling and slicing graphene sheets, respectively. In reality, however, these carbon allotropes, with the exception of nanoribbons, are not synthesized from graphene.......