title: Highly conductive poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-reduced graphene oxide composite prepared by self-assembly of PMMA latex and graphene oxide through electrostatic interaction.
abstract: We report a simple, environmentally friendly approach for preparing highly conductive poly(methyl methacrylate)-reduced graphene oxide (PMMA-RGO) composites by self-assembly of positively charged PMMA latex particles and negatively charged graphene oxide sheets through electrostatic interactions, followed by hydrazine reduction. The PMMA latex was prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization using a cationic free radical initiator, which created the positive charges on the surface of the PMMA particle. By mixing PMMA latex with a graphene oxide dispersion, positively charged PMMA particles easily assembled with negatively charged graphene oxide sheets through electrostatic interaction. The obtained PMMA-RGO exhibited excellent electrical properties with a percolation threshold as low as 0.16 vol % and an electrical conductivity of 64 S/m at only 2.7 vol %. Moreover, the thermomechanical properties of PMMA-RGO were also significantly improved. The storage modulus of PMMA-RGO increased by about 30% at 4.0 wt % RGO at room temperature while the glass transition temperature of PMMA-RGO increased 15 °C at only 0.5 wt % RGO.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of Ulsan, Daehakro 102, Namgu, Ulsan 680-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Viet Hung
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Thanh Truong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Eui Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chung