Effect of hydroiodic acid-reduction of graphene oxide on electrical properties of polybenzimidazobenzophenanthroline/graphene oxide nanocomposites

• Published in: Macromolecular research Vol. 21; no. 11; pp. 1254 - 1262
• Main Authors: Choudhury, Arup, Park, Jeong-Hyun, Park, Soo-Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2013; 한국고분자학회
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Soft and Granular Matter; 고분자공학; microstructures; thermal properties; electrical properties; polymer nanocomposites; graphene
• ISSN: 1598-5032; 2092-7673
• DOI: 10.1007/s13233-013-1169-4

Polybenzimidazobenzophenanthroline (BBL)/graphene nanocomposites were prepared by the liquid-phase exfoliation of graphene oxide (GO) in a BBL-methanesulfonic acid solution, followed by chemical reduction with hydroiodic acid (HI). This method prevents the aggregation of GO during the reduction of the solution-cast BBL/GO nanocomposite film. The in situ generated graphene played an important role in improving the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites prepared by HI-reduction. The electrical conductivity of the HI-reduced BBL/GO nanocomposites (BBL/rGO HI ) was ∼2.5 orders of magnitude greater than that of the BBL/GO nanocomposites with 5 wt% GO content. Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the removal of oxygen functionalities from the GO surface after HI-reduction. Structural characterization of the nanocomposites by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy exhibited good exfoliation and dispersion of both GO and HI-reduced GO (rGO HI ) nanosheets within the BBL matrix. A reasonable improvement in the thermal stability of the HI-reduced nanocomposite was also observed.