Graphene

Nanocomposites

Jasnoor Singh
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
The University of Auckland

What is graphene?
Graphene: Single atom thick layer
of carbon in the form of a 2-D
hexagonal lattice

Properties
Youngs Modulus
Ultimate Strength
Thermal
Conductivity
Electrical
Conductivity
Optical
Transparency
Specific Surface
Area

2015 The University of Auckland

1 TPa
130 GPa
5000 W/m.K
6000 S/cm
98%
2630 m2/g

How to synthesise graphene?

Methods

Liquid Phase
Exfoliation

Description

Exfoliation of expanded graphite in the co-solvent with

N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water

Chemical
Vapour
Deposition
(CVD)
Carbon
Nanotube
Unzipping
Epitaxial
Growth
on Silicon
Carbide

Gaseous hydrocarbon reactants are deposited on the

surface of a substrate or transition metal surface at
~1000C

Micromechanic
al Exfoliation

An adhesive tape is used to detach graphene from a

graphite crystal

Chemical
Reduction of
Graphite Oxide

Reduction of a colloidal suspension of exfoliated

Graphene Oxide (GO) sheets in water with hydrazine
hydrate

2
3
4

Unzipping Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) using high strain rate

deformation at a temperature of 150 K
Thermal decomposition of silicon carbide (SiC) at high
temperature in a vacuum or in argon gas

2015 The University of Auckland

How to synthesise graphene?

1
2
3
4

Methods

Scalabili
ty

Cost

Quality

Liquid Phase
Exfoliation

High

Low

Moderat
e

Moderat
e

High

High

Moderat
e

Low

High

Unknow
n

High

High

Chemical
Vapour
Deposition
(CVD)
Carbon
Nanotube
Unzipping
Epitaxial
Growth
on Silicon
Carbide

Micromechanic
al Exfoliation

Low

High

High

Chemical
Reduction of
Graphite Oxide

High

Low

Low

2015 The University of Auckland

How to prepare graphene nanocomposites?

SOLUTION
1 SOLUTION
BLENDING
BLENDING
Graphe
ne
Graphene
Nanocompo
site

Solve
nt

Sonication

Washed Nanocompos
ite
Drie
Film
d

MELT
2 MELT
COMPOUNDING
COMPOUNDING

Solid Liquefie
d
Polym
er

Graphene
Nanocomposit
e

Molte
n
Polym
er

Powder
ed
Graphe
ne

Mixing
High Shear
Forces

Polyme
r
Solutio
n

Graphe
ne
Solution
Solvent
Evaporatio
n

Nanocompo
site
Solution

Dissolve
d

IN-SITU
3 IN-SITU
POLYMERISATION
POLYMERISATION
Graphe
ne

Monom
er

Graphene
Nanocomposit
e

2015 The University of Auckland

Solven
t

Catalys
t
Ultrasonicatio
n
5

Which is the best suitable method?

SOLUTION
SOLUTION
BLENDING
BLENDING

MELT
MELT BLENDING
BLENDING

IN-SITU
IN-SITU
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERIZATION

ADVANTAGES
Simplicity
Large-scale
production
Good level of
dispersion

No solvent
required
More economical
than solution
blending

Simplicity
Scalability
Low Cost
Environment
friendly
High level of
dispersion

DISADVANTAGES
Graphenes
insolubility in
organic solvents
Not economical

Surface
functionalization
necessary
Low level of
dispersion

2015 The University of Auckland

Bulkpolymerization
difficult process

What are its potential applications?

DNA
DNA
Sequenc
Sequenc
ing
ing

Aircraft
Aircraft

Energy
Energy
Storage
Storage

Comput
Comput
er
er Chips
Chips

Prosthet
Prosthet
ics
ics

Super
Super
Capacito
Capacito
rs
rs

Flame
Flame
Retarda
Retarda
nts
nts

Sensors
Sensors

Solar
Solar
Panels
Panels

Drug
Drug
Delivery
Delivery

2015 The University of Auckland

Water
Water
Filtratio
Filtratio
n
n

Flexible
Flexible
Screens
Screens

Fuel
Fuel
Cells
Cells

What are the challenges faced?

Commercialisation
Scalabil
ity

Cost

Qualit
y

Uniform layer of graphene

Aspect
Ratio
Effective dispersion of
graphene

Maintaining aspect ratio

Wrinkles

Toxicity and environmental

impact

2015 The University of Auckland

Future Scope

Ecological Impact

Mass Production

Hybrid
Nanocomposites

Explore Practical
Applications

2015 The University of Auckland

References
Nanotechnology primer: graphene - properties, uses and applications, 2014.
Graphene-based transparent flexible electrodes for polymer solar cells, 2012.
High-quality production of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation of expanded graphite, 2013.
Synthesis of graphene-based nanosheets via chemical reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide,
2007.
Selected Topics in Physics: Physics of Nanoscale Carbon, 2011.
Chemical-free graphene by unzipping carbon nanotubes using cryo-milling, 2015.
Impermeability of graphene and its applications, 2013.
A Comprehensive Review of Graphene Nanocomposites: Research Status and Trends, 2013.
Graphene-based nanocomposites: preparation, functionalization, and energy and
environmental applications, 2013.
Nanocomposites of graphene/polymers: a review, 2015.
Graphene-polymer nanocomposites for structural and functional applications, 2014.
Preparation, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticle-Decorated
Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite, 2015.
Nanoclay based graphene polyaniline hybrid nanocomposites: promising electrode materials
for supercapacitors, 2015.
General Electric.

2015 The University of Auckland

1
0

Thank
you!