Free-standing graphene oxide-poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes self-assembled at liquid/air interface

Graphene-based composites are appealing as a new class of materials that hold great promise for many applications. In this paper, highly ordered, homogeneous graphene oxide-poly(vinyl alcohol) (GO-PVA) with different content of PVA membranes and reduced graphene oxide-poly(vinyl alcohol) (RGO-PVA) membrane at 75% loading of PVA in the presence of hydrazine hydrate solution are prepared by the self-assemble process at liquid/air interface. The as-prepared membranes were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and four-probe resistance measurements. It was shown that the free-standing GO-PVA and RGO-PVA membranes are thickness controlled and area adjustable. The GO-PVA membranes have excellent transparent. The electrical conductivity of RGO-PVA membranes was up to 0.6 S/m by the chemical reduction of hydrazine hydrate. The membranes would be promising for practical applications in future nanotechnology.