Scalable and versatile graphene functionalized with the Mannich condensate.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Graphene oxide (GO) is a precursor to graphene, but its applications are limited by poor solubility and processability.
• Developing stable, dispersible graphene derivatives is crucial for advanced material applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel functionalized graphene (JTPG) with enhanced solubility, stability, and mechanical properties.
• To investigate the potential of JTPG in fabricating high-performance polymer/graphene composites.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of JTPG via chemical conversion of GO using tea polyphenols (TP) and subsequent Mannich reaction.
• Characterization of JTPG using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
• Preparation and characterization of nitrile rubber/JTPG composites via solution compounding.

Main Results:

• JTPG demonstrated broad solubility, long-term stability, and single-layered dispersion in various solvents.
• JTPG hybrids exhibited high toughness (~275 MPa tensile strength, ~8% break strain) and electrical conductivity (~700 S/m).
• Nitrile rubber/JTPG composites showed a low percolation threshold (0.23 vol.%) and enhanced properties.

Conclusions:

• JTPG offers a scalable and versatile platform for creating high-performance graphene-based polymer composites.
• The unique properties of JTPG facilitate its use in advanced material fabrication due to its dispersibility and performance.
• This work presents a new pathway for scaling up the production of high-performance graphene-polymer hybrids.