Ultra-high gas barrier and enhanced mechanical properties of corn cellulose nanocomposite films filled with graphene oxide nanosheets

Abstract

A facile and environmentally friendly route has been put forward for fabricating regenerated cellulose-based composite films (RC) with graphene oxide addition (GO). Nanocomposite films prepared through the solution blending method of cellulose solutions to a reversible ion solvent system of dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene, carbon dioxide (DMSO/DBU/CO2) that contained a nano-additive of GO dispersion in DMSO. The results demonstrated that the addition of GO had a significant impact on the structural, mechanical, and gas barrier properties of the films. SEM and XRD results showed that GO was dispersed in cellulose solution uniformly. The evident red-shift of the characteristic functional groups in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra also indicated the interaction between GO and cellulose matrix. With 5 wt % GO, the oxygen permeability coefficient of corn cellulose films decreased from 1.59 × 10−12 cm3 cm cm−2 s−1 Pa−1 to 1.8 × 10−15 cm3 cm cm−2 s−1 Pa−1. Meanwhile, the thermal stability of corn cellulose film improved with the incorporation of GO.