title: Quantitative Study of Interface/Interphase in Epoxy/Graphene-Based Nanocomposites by Combining STEM and EELS.
abstract: A quantitative study of the interphase and interface of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)/epoxy and graphene oxide (GO)/epoxy was carried out by combining scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). The interphase regions between GNPs and epoxy matrix were clearly identified by the discrepancy of the plasmon peak positions in the low energy-loss spectra due to different valence electron densities. The spectrum acquisitions were carried out along lines across the interface. An interphase thickness of 13 and 12.5 nm was measured for GNPs/epoxy and GO/epoxy, respectively. The density of the GNPs/epoxy interphase was 2.89% higher than that of the epoxy matrix. However, the density of the GO/epoxy interphase was 1.37% lower than that of the epoxy matrix. The interphase layer thickness measured in this work is in good agreement with the transition layer theory, which proposed an area with modulus linearly varying across a finite width. The results provide an insight into the interphase for carbon-based polymer composites that can help to design the functionalization of nanofillers to improve the composite properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay , Grande Voie des Vignes, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay , Grande Voie des Vignes, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Ann-Lenaig
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hamon
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay , Grande Voie des Vignes, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haghi-Ashtiani
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay , Grande Voie des Vignes, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay , Grande Voie des Vignes, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Benhui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay , Grande Voie des Vignes, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Delong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Mécanique des Sols, Structures et Matériaux (MSSMat), CNRS UMR 8579, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay , Grande Voie des Vignes, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
keywords: EELS; GNPs; GO; STEM; epoxy; interphase