• Carbon letters
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• v.20
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• pp.53-61
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• 2016

The reportedly synergistic effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene hybrids have prompted strong demand for an efficient modifier to enhance their dispersion. Here, we investigated the ability of poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) to overcome the van der Waals interaction of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) and graphene by employing a simple wrapping process involving ultrasonication and subsequent centrifugation of PAN/MWCNT/graphene solutions. The physical wrapping of MWCNTs and graphene with PAN was investigated for various PAN concentrations, in an attempt to simplify and improve the polymer-wrapping process. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the wrapping of the MWCNTs and graphene with PAN layers. The interaction between the graphitic structure and the PAN molecules was examined using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The obtained results revealed that the cyano groups of the PAN molecules facilitated adhesion of the PAN molecules to the MWCNTs and graphene for polymer wrapping. The resulting enhanced dispersion of MWCNTs and graphene was verified from zeta potential and shelf-life measurements.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.581-585
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• 2014

We conducted investigation on the hybridization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT : PSS) with graphene derivative (G-PSS), which has been prepared by wrapping reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with PSS. In situ polymerization of PEDOT/PSS in the presence of G-PSS afforded the PEDOT/PSS and graphene hybrid (GP). The analysis of XPS, IR and Raman spectroscopies for GP showed that PEDOT/PSS was successfully synthesized and hybridized with graphene. Compared to the G-PSS, GP showed an enhanced electrical conductivity of $4.46{\times}10^2S/m$ with a good wter-dispersity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

In this study $TiO_2$/reduced graphene oxide ($TiO_2/rGO$) bipyramid with tunable nanostructure was fabricated by two-step solvothermal process and subsequent heat-treatment in air. The as-synthesized anatase $TiO_2$ nanocrystals possessed morphological bipyramid with exposed dominantly by (101) facets. Polyethylenimine was utilized during the combination of $TiO_2$ and graphene oxide (GO) to tune the surface charge, hindering the restack of graphene during solvothermal process and resulting in 1 to 5 layers of rGO wrapped on $TiO_2$ surface. After a further calcination, a portion of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with a diameter about 2 nm were produced owing to the oxidizing and cutting of rGO on $TiO_2$. The as-prepared $TiO_2/rGO$ hybrid showed a highly photocatalytic activity, which is about 3.2 and 7.7 times enhancement for photodegradation of methyl orange with compared to pure $TiO_2$ and P25, respectively. We assume that the improvement of photocatalysis is attributed to the chemical bonding between rGO/CQDs and $TiO_2$ that accelerates photogenerated electron-hole pair separation, as well as enhances light harvest.