Structure, morphology and electrical properties of graphene oxide: CuBiS reinforced polystyrene hybrid nanocomposites

Abstract

Polymer moieties are modified for various target applications. In the present study, an aromatic polymer polystyrene (PS) resin has been modified by loading an equal amount of graphene oxide (GO)/metal precursor copper bismuth sulphide (CuBiS) as hybrid filler. Casting of the polymer hybrid nanocomposites has been achieved by sonochemical blending. Different phases were found in the hybrid composites. X-ray diffraction confirms that the phase structure varies from amorphous to crystalline, in correlation to the decrease of the PS interlayer distance. Optical polarizing microscopy (OPM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveal a flocculated morphology. The flocculated regions are clearly distinguished at the topography due to the location of the hybrid entities, as confirmed by the AFM technique. The AFM micrographs reveal the interfacial phase regions of nanocomposites. The glass transition (Tg), melting (Tm) and degradation (Td) temperature of the nanocomposites improves in comparison with those of the pristine polystyrene, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. The temperature dependence of the AC and DC conductivity of both the pristine polystyrene and the 10 wt% of hybrid nanocomposite, follows the principle of hopping conduction process. The PS nanocomposites may be useful for the development of various domestic and industrial applications.