Roll-to-roll graphene oxide radon barrier membranes

Abstract

Graphene oxide as a radon barrier in living environments was introduced by intercalating the polymer resin-coated layer inside a multilayer membrane with an area of 1 × 10 m and a thickness of 2.5 mm, prepared by the roll-to-roll method. A 5 μm-thick graphene oxide polymer resin (GOPR) layer was coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film (100 μm) between the two styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified bitumen asphalt layers fitted for construction sites. The inserted graphene oxide materials were characterized by means of infrared, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested weaker binding energies on the oxide surfaces and higher penetration energy barriers of graphene nanopores for radon (222Rn) than in the cases of the atmospheric gas molecules Ar, H2O, CO2, H2, O2, and N2. Theoretical calculations of the graphene nanopores supported the higher barrier energies of 222Rn than most ambient gases. The roll-to-roll prepared graphene materials exhibited good barrier properties for 222Rn as well as for the ambient gases. The purpose of our experimental and theoretical study is to provide a better understanding of using graphene-based materials to reduce the risk of carcinogenic radon gas in construction sites and residential buildings for practical applications.