Enhancing thermal performance of PVA films by doping 2D fluorographene nanosheet relying the self-assembly

Abstract

BackgroundThe low thermal conductivity of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films limits its applications in electrical appliances, sensors an other fields. The thermal properties of PVA modified by carbon nanomaterials were indistinctively improved due to low dispersion and incompatibility. MethodThe PVA/fluorographene nanosheets (PVA/FGN) films were prepared relying on hydrogen-bond using self-assembly. The thermal properties and structural changes of PVA/FGN films were systematically characterized. Significant findingsThe thermal conductivity and stability of PVA/FGN films were significantly improved. The thermal conductivity of PVA/FGN film added 3% FGN was 2.04 W/(m·K) and improved 7.29 times than that of PVA film. The hydrogen-bond between PVA and FGN was affirmed. The PVA/FGN-3 films have the highest crystallinity and showed homogeneous dispersion. The increased thermal conductivity, thermal stability and crystallinity of PVA/FGN films were owed to the hydrogen-bond between FGN and PVA and the strong mutual repulsion between fluorine atoms at the edge of FGN. The effective heat conductive network was formed in PVA/FGN films, which also shows that FGN can greatly improve heat transfer performance of PVA matrix. It provides an effective method for the preparation of environmental-friendly PVA composites.