Surface Engineering and Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Adsorption in Graphene Oxide (GO)-Based Polymer Nanocomposites for...

The rising atmospheric concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) poses a major environmental challenge, demanding the development of advanced materials for efficient CO₂ capture. Graphene Oxide (GO)-based polymer nanocomposites have emerged as promising candidates owing to their high surface area, modifiable functional groups, and mutually enhanced interactions between the polymer matrix and GO sheets. This study investigates the physicochemical mechanism of CO₂ adsorption in GO-based nanocomposites, emphasizing surface interaction, porosity modulation, and polymer compatibility. CO₂ adsorption is primarily governed by physisorption mechanisms, including van der Waals forces and dipole-quadrupole interactions between molecules and oxygen-containing functional groups (-OH, -COOH, CO) on the GO surface. Incorporating GO into polymer matrices, such as poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly-(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), or poly-(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), enhances CO₂ uptake by increasing surface heterogeneity and forming microporous structures. The strong interfacial bonding between GO and polymer chains ensures uniform dispersion, prevents GO agglomeration, and creates an interconnected adsorption network. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis, UV-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) characterization confirm the enhancement of CO₂ capture and surface chemistry that drives the adsorption performance. These findings highlight GO-based polymer nanocomposites as promising next-generation nanostructured sorbents for CO₂ capture technologies and sustainable material engineering.