Abstract
In this study, a homogeneous and stable dispersion of graphene oxide (GO)/carbon nanotube (CNT) complexes (GCCs) was obtained by dispersing CNTs in an aqueous solution using GO in the absence of dispersing agents. Furthermore, carboxymethyl cellulose/GCC (CMC/GCC) nanocomposite films were prepared by a simple solution mixing-evaporation method. The dispersibility of the GCCs with different CNT contents was investigated by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The morphological and crystalline structures of the samples were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were conducted to identify the chemical composition of GO, CNTs, and GCCs. These results revealed that CNTs could be stably dispersed in water using GO. In addition, when CMC/GCC nanocomposite films were prepared by mixing CMC and GCCs, CNTs were uniformly dispersed in the CMC matrix. The tensile behavior was investigated using a universal testing machine. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the CMC/GCC nanocomposite films were significantly improved by up to about 121% and 122%, respectively, compared to those of pure CMC because of uniform and strong π-π interfacial interactions between CNTs and CMC polymer.
Highlights
Because of the increase in environmental pollution due to non-biodegradable synthetic polymers, such as emissions of toxic gases by incineration, and the resulting destruction of ecological systems, biodegradable polymers have attracted attention as alternatives for overcoming the limitations of synthetic polymers obtained from petrochemicals
The graphene oxide (GO)/ CNT complex-reinforced carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC/GCC) nanocomposite films were successfully prepared without using any dispersing agents by mixing a homogeneous dispersion of GO/CNT complexes with Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)
GO/CNT complexes in an aqueous solution were investigated, and the characteristics and mechanical properties of the carboxymethyl cellulose/GCC (CMC/GCC) nanocomposite films were explored
Summary
The dispersion stability of GO and GCCs with different CNT contents in DI water was analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The XRD patterns of the carbon materials (GO, CNTs, and GCC6) and the nanocomposite films (pure CMC, CMC/GO 1.0 wt%, and CMC/GCC with different amounts of CNTs) are shown, respectively. The XRD patterns of the CMC/GCC nanocomposite films were comparable to that of the pure CMC film, indicating that the GCCs were dispersed in the CMC matrix. Figs S1(a′) and 6(a′–c′) show the fracture surfaces of the pure CMC and CMC/GCC nanocomposite films, respectively. The fracture surface of the pure CMC film [Fig. S1(a′)] showed an uneven and dimpled structure, representing a typical ductile fracture surface, whereas the fracture surface of the GCC-added CMC nanocomposite films was smooth and less dimpled than that of the CMC film, indicating that the failure mode of the CMC/GCC nanocomposite films changed from ductile to brittle with increasing CNT content in the CMC matrix. The white arrows in the (b′′), (c′′), and (d′′) indicated the individual CNT
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