Effect of Graphene on Structure and Properties of Polymeric Multicomponent Nanocomposites

Abstract

Among different nanostructures, graphene analogues (Graphene oxides, reduce graphene oxide and graphene) are in the limelight for their unique layer dimension with high aspect ratio, easy processability, ease of chemical modification, high mechanical, thermal and antimicrobial properties. In case of packaging application, graphene based nanostructure materials are incorporated in the polymeric matrix to introduce high thermal, mechanical, gas-barrier and antimicrobial performances in the polymer nanocomposites. Moreover, the uses of renewable biopolymers instead of conventional non- biodegradable synthetic polymers reduce the risk of environmental pollution. Graphene oxide also plays an important role in anchoring in situ formed metal nanoparticles on its extended surface. Other layer nanostructures are also combined with graphene oxide to achieve the desirable properties. Therefore, the fabrication of graphene based hybrid nanostructures has opened a new dimension in making of potent filler for polymer nanocomposites. Incorporation of metal nanoparticles in graphene oxide reduces the probability of stacking with graphene sheets during reduction process as well as imparts multifunctional properties due to synergistic effects. Polymer nanocomposites are found to offer new possibilities in the field of high charge storage capacitors, electro-active materials and gate dielectrics. The polymer nanocomposites having various morphologies with hybrid graphene filler for packaging and energy storage applications is very limited in the literature. newlineThe main objectives of the present thesis are to design graphene based polymer nanocomposites for electronic and packaging application. To execute our aim, we have selected polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and starch as polymeric matrix to incorporate graphene based nanostructure materials. Here, we have fabricated the nano gold decorated reduced graphene oxide based polymethyl methacrylate (