Structural rearrangement and dispersion of functionalized graphene sheets in aqueous solutions
Surfactants are widely used for dispersing graphene and functionalized graphene sheets (FGS) in colloidal suspensions, but there have been few studies of the structure of the dispersed graphene-surfactant complexes in suspension and of their time evolution. Here, we combine experimental study of efficiencies of ionic surfactants/polymers in suspending FGS in water with characterization using atomic force microscopy, small angle neutron scattering, and molecular simulations to probe the detailed structures of FGSs. A systematic study of FGS dispersions using ionic surfactants with varying chain lengths revealed that the effective charge density of surfactant layer defines the concentration of dispersed FGS while the strength of interfacial binding defines the stability of graphene dispersion over long time aging. Ionic surfactants with strong interfacial binding and large molecular weight increase the dispersing power by over an order of magnitude.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1337291
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA--113083; KC0203020
- Journal Information:
- Colloids and Interface Science Communications, Journal Name: Colloids and Interface Science Communications Journal Issue: C Vol. 8; ISSN 2215-0382
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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