Electrical Properties of Poly(Monomethyl Itaconate)/Few-Layer Functionalized Graphene Oxide/Lithium Ion Nanocomposites.

Quimberly Cuenca-Bracamonte,Héctor Aguilar-Bolados,Mehrdad Yazdani-Pedram,Marianella Hernández Santana

doi:10.3390/polym12112673

Quimberly Cuenca-Bracamonte, Héctor Aguilar-Bolados + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12112673

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Abstract

Poly(monomethyl itaconate) is outstanding because it is a glassy and dielectric polymer obtained from sustainable feedstock. Consequently, the study of the properties of its nanocomposites has gained importance. Herein, the electrical properties of nanocomposites based on poly(monomethyl itaconate) and functionalized few-layer graphene oxide (FGO) in the presence and absence of lithium ions (Li+) are studied. Not only did the electrical conductivities of the nanocomposites present values as high as 10−5 Scm−1, but also the dielectric permittivity of nanocomposites with (FGO) content lower than the percolation threshold was twice that of the pristine polymer, without presenting a drastic increase of the loss tangent. By contrast, nanocomposites containing Li+ ions presented significant increases of the permittivity with concomitant increases of the loss tangent. Moreover, it was determined that the presence of Li+ ions influenced the charge transport in the composites because of its ionic nature.

Highlights

Polymers obtained from sustainable sources have gradually captured the attention of the scientific community [1]
An absorption band attributed to the stretching carbonyl of ester groups at 1720 cm−1 was observed, while that attributed to the stretching of carbonyl of carboxylic acid was observed as a shoulder at 1650 cm−1
There are no significant differences between the FTIR spectra of poly(monomethyl itaconate) (PMMI) and PMMI-Li+, suggesting that the polymer would not interact with the Li+ ions

Summary

Introduction

Polymers obtained from sustainable sources have gradually captured the attention of the scientific community [1]. That is mainly attributable to the environmental issues associated with the production of petroleum-based polymers, the pollution associated with the improper management of their disposal and the lack of recycling initiatives [2]. In this regard, an interesting sustainable feedstock for the production of polymers is itaconic acid, which stands out because it is produced by fungal fermentation of sugars [3]. The interest in the polymerization of itaconic acid and its derivative has caught the attention of researchers since the 50s [4,5], especially in regard to a sustainable approach [6]. This fact has awoken the Polymers 2020, 12, 2673; doi:10.3390/polym12112673 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers

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