Roll-to-roll graphene oxide radon barrier membranes

Graphene oxide as a radon barrier in living environments was introduced by intercalating the polymer resin-coated layer inside a multilayer membrane with an area of 1 × 10 m and a thickness of 2.5 mm, prepared by the roll-to-roll method. A 5 μm-thick graphene oxide polymer resin (GOPR) layer was coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film (100 μm) between the two styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified bitumen asphalt layers fitted for construction sites. The inserted graphene oxide materials were characterized by means of infrared, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested weaker binding energies on the oxide surfaces and higher penetration energy barriers of graphene nanopores for radon (²²²Rn) than in the cases of the atmospheric gas molecules Ar, H₂O, CO₂, H₂, O₂, and N₂. Theoretical calculations of the graphene nanopores supported the higher barrier energies of ²²²Rn than most ambient gases. The roll-to-roll prepared graphene materials exhibited good barrier properties for ²²²Rn as well as for the ambient gases. The purpose of our experimental and theoretical study is to provide a better understanding of using graphene-based materials to reduce the risk of carcinogenic radon gas in construction sites and residential buildings for practical applications.