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Nanomaterials
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Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites
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Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 54970

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ivo Kuřitka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, tr. Tomase Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Interests: nanocomposite; nanoparticles; spectroscopy; electronic; semiconductor; conductivity; photocatalysis; nanotechnology; LED device; sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the first scotch tape stripping experiment in 2004, graphene has been quickly accompanied by a significant publicity as a groundbreaking material which has the potential to change the world through a new technological revolution. Graphene and graphene-related materials have been the subject of serious research efforts; to date, about 140,000 articles touching this topic are available on Web of Science. There is not only an enormous hype surrounding this material, but real applications and products are starting to appear on the market and the mass industrialization of graphene is imminent.  

This Special Issue will attempt to cover the recent advances in designing graphene-based nanocomposite materials, focusing on the synthesis and preparation of functional materials and structures, and specifically emphasizing studies of process–structure–property–function relationships. The demonstration of the performance of a functional material or device should be included in each original research paper. Because the promised future of graphene-based materials is fast approaching, scale-up studies as well as research on fabrication processes and other practical issues related with the viable production or application of these materials are of growing importance and therefore highly attractive for publication in this issue as well. We welcome submissions of both original research papers and reviews on this topic.

Dr. Ivo Kuřitka
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • graphene
  • graphene oxide
  • reduced graphene oxide
  • nanocomposite
  • film
  • layered structure
  • device
  • coating
  • printing
  • fabrication

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 5264 KiB  
Article
Titanium Dioxide Grafted on Graphene Oxide: Hybrid Nanofiller for Effective and Low-Cost Proton Exchange Membranes
by Cataldo Simari, Ernestino Lufrano, Nicolas Godbert, Dimitrios Gournis, Luigi Coppola and Isabella Nicotera
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(8), 1572; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano10081572 - 10 Aug 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3065
Abstract
A nanostructured hybrid material consisting of TiO2 nanoparticles grown and stabilized on graphene oxide (GO) platelets, was synthesized and tested as nanofiller in a polymeric matrix of sulfonated polysulfone (sPSU) for the preparation of new and low-cost nanocomposite electrolytes for proton exchange [...] Read more.
A nanostructured hybrid material consisting of TiO2 nanoparticles grown and stabilized on graphene oxide (GO) platelets, was synthesized and tested as nanofiller in a polymeric matrix of sulfonated polysulfone (sPSU) for the preparation of new and low-cost nanocomposite electrolytes for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications. GO-TiO2 hybrid material combines the nanoscale structure, large interfacial area, and mechanical features of a 2D, layered material, and the hygroscopicity properties of ceramic oxides, able to maintain a suitable hydration of the membrane under harsh fuel cell operative conditions. GO-TiO2 was synthetized through a new, simple, one-pot hydrothermal procedure, while nanocomposite membranes were prepared by casting using different filler loadings. Both material and membranes were investigated by a combination of XRD, Raman, FTIR, thermo-mechanical analysis (TGA and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis) and SEM microscopy, while extensive studies on the proton transport properties were carried out by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements and pulse field gradient (PFG) NMR spectroscopy. The addition of GO-TiO2 to the sPSU produced a highly stable network, with an increasing of the storage modulus three-fold higher than the filler-free sPSU membrane. Moreover, the composite membrane with 3 wt.% of filler content demonstrated very high water-retention capacity at high temperatures as well as a remarkable proton mobility, especially in very low relative humidity conditions, marking a step ahead of the state of the art in PEMs. This suggests that an architecture between polymer and filler was created with interconnected routes for an efficient proton transport. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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24 pages, 5132 KiB  
Article
Study on Direct Synthesis of Energy Efficient Multifunctional Polyaniline–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite and Its Application in Aqueous Symmetric Supercapacitor Devices
by Hajera Gul, Anwar-ul-Haq Ali Shah, Ulrike Krewer and Salma Bilal
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(1), 118; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano10010118 - 08 Jan 2020
Cited by 57 | Viewed by 4613
Abstract
The synthesis of promising nanocomposite materials can always be tricky and depends a lot on the method of synthesis itself. Developing such synthesis routes, which are not only simple but also can effectively catch up the synergy of the compositing material, is definitely [...] Read more.
The synthesis of promising nanocomposite materials can always be tricky and depends a lot on the method of synthesis itself. Developing such synthesis routes, which are not only simple but also can effectively catch up the synergy of the compositing material, is definitely a worthy contribution towards nanomaterial science. Carbon-based materials, such as graphene oxide, and conjugative polymers, such as conductive polyaniline, are considered materials of the 21st century. This study involves a simple one pot synthesis route for obtaining a nanocomposite of polyaniline and graphene oxide with synergistic effects. The study was carried out in a systematic way by gradually changing the composition of the ingredients in the reaction bath until the formation of nanocomposite took place at some particular reaction parameters. These nanocomposites were then utilized for the fabrication of electrodes for aqueous symmetric supercapacitor devices utilizing gold or copper as current collectors. The device manifested a good capacitance value of 264 F/g at 1 A/g, magnificent rate performance, and capacitance retention of 84.09% at a high current density (10 A/g) when gold sheet electrodes were used as the current collectors. It also showed a capacitance retention of 79.83% and columbic efficiency of 99.83% after 2000 cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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18 pages, 3671 KiB  
Article
Effect of GO Additive in ZnO/rGO Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photosensitivity and Photocatalytic Activity
by Chatchai Rodwihok, Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan, Yen Linh Thi Ngo, Mahima Khandelwal, Seung Hyun Hur and Jin Suk Chung
Nanomaterials 2019, 9(10), 1441; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano9101441 - 11 Oct 2019
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 5392
Abstract
Zinc oxide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/rGO) are synthesized via a simple one-pot solvothermal technique. The nanoparticle–nanorod turnability was achieved with the increase in GO additive, which was necessary to control the defect formation. The optimal defect in ZnO/rGO not only increased ZnO/rGO surface [...] Read more.
Zinc oxide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/rGO) are synthesized via a simple one-pot solvothermal technique. The nanoparticle–nanorod turnability was achieved with the increase in GO additive, which was necessary to control the defect formation. The optimal defect in ZnO/rGO not only increased ZnO/rGO surface and carrier concentration, but also provided the alternative carrier pathway assisted with rGO sheet for electron–hole separation and prolonging carrier recombination. These properties are ideal for photodetection and photocatalytic applications. For photosensing properties, ZnO/rGO shows the improvement of photosensitivity compared with pristine ZnO from 1.51 (ZnO) to 3.94 (ZnO/rGO (20%)). Additionally, applying bending strain on ZnO/rGO enhances its photosensitivity even further, as high as 124% at r = 12.5 mm, due to improved surface area and induced negative piezoelectric charge from piezoelectric effect. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity with methylene blue (MB) was studied. It was observed that the rate of MB degradation was higher in presence of ZnO/rGO than pristine ZnO. Therefore, ZnO/rGO became a promising materials for different applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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26 pages, 6050 KiB  
Article
Polypropylene Nanocomposite Filled with Spinel Ferrite NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles and In-Situ Thermally-Reduced Graphene Oxide for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Application
by Raghvendra Singh Yadav, Ivo Kuřitka, Jarmila Vilčáková, Michal Machovský, David Škoda, Pavel Urbánek, Milan Masař, Marek Gořalik, Michal Urbánek, Lukáš Kalina and Jaromir Havlica
Nanomaterials 2019, 9(4), 621; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano9040621 - 16 Apr 2019
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 6798
Abstract
Herein, we presented electromagnetic interference shielding characteristics of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles—in-situ thermally-reduced graphene oxide (RGO)—polypropylene nanocomposites with the variation of reduced graphene oxide content. The structural, morphological, magnetic, and electromagnetic parameters and mechanical characteristics of fabricated nanocomposites were investigated and studied [...] Read more.
Herein, we presented electromagnetic interference shielding characteristics of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles—in-situ thermally-reduced graphene oxide (RGO)—polypropylene nanocomposites with the variation of reduced graphene oxide content. The structural, morphological, magnetic, and electromagnetic parameters and mechanical characteristics of fabricated nanocomposites were investigated and studied in detail. The controllable composition of NiFe2O4-RGO-Polypropylene nanocomposites exhibited electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) with a value of 29.4 dB at a thickness of 2 mm. The enhanced EMI shielding properties of nanocomposites with the increase of RGO content could be assigned to enhanced attenuation ability, high conductivity, dipole and interfacial polarization, eddy current loss, and natural resonance. The fabricated lightweight NiFe2O4-RGO-Polypropylene nanocomposites have potential as a high performance electromagnetic interference shielding nanocomposite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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11 pages, 2274 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Graphene Composite Containing Graphene-SiO2 Nanoballs and Its Potential Application in Stress Sensors
by Bowei Zhao, Tai Sun, Xi Zhou, Xiangzhi Liu, Xiaoxia Li, Kai Zhou, Lianhe Dong and Dapeng Wei
Nanomaterials 2019, 9(3), 438; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano9030438 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3369
Abstract
Combining functional nanomaterials composite with three-dimensional graphene (3DG) is a promising strategy for improving the properties of stress sensors. However, it is difficult to realize stress sensors with both a wide measurement range and a high sensitivity. In this paper, graphene-SiO2 balls [...] Read more.
Combining functional nanomaterials composite with three-dimensional graphene (3DG) is a promising strategy for improving the properties of stress sensors. However, it is difficult to realize stress sensors with both a wide measurement range and a high sensitivity. In this paper, graphene-SiO2 balls (GSB) were composed into 3DG in order to solve this problem. In detail, the GSB were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, and then were dispersed with graphene oxide (GO) solution to synthesize GSB-combined 3DG composite foam (GSBF) through one-step hydrothermal reduction self-assembly method. The prepared GSBF owes excellent mechanical (95% recoverable strain) and electrical conductivity (0.458 S/cm). Furthermore, it exhibits a broad sensing range (0–10 kPa) and ultrahigh sensitivity (0.14 kPa−1). In addition, the water droplet experiment demonstrates that GSBF is a competitive candidate of high-performance materials for stress sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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12 pages, 4180 KiB  
Article
Thermally Self-Healing Graphene-Nanoplate/Polyurethane Nanocomposites via Diels–Alder Reaction through a One-Shot Process
by Cho-Rong Oh, Sang-Hyub Lee, Jun-Hong Park and Dai-Soo Lee
Nanomaterials 2019, 9(3), 434; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano9030434 - 14 Mar 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3443
Abstract
Thermally self-healing graphene-nanoplate/polyurethane (GNP/PU) nanocomposites were prepared via a bulk in-situ Diels–Alder (DA) reaction. Graphene-nanoplate (GNP) was used as a reinforcement and crosslinking platform by a DA reaction with a furfuryl-based chain extender of polyurethane (PU). Results showed that a DA reaction occurred [...] Read more.
Thermally self-healing graphene-nanoplate/polyurethane (GNP/PU) nanocomposites were prepared via a bulk in-situ Diels–Alder (DA) reaction. Graphene-nanoplate (GNP) was used as a reinforcement and crosslinking platform by a DA reaction with a furfuryl-based chain extender of polyurethane (PU). Results showed that a DA reaction occurred in GNP during the PU forming cure process. This procedure is simple and solvent free because of the absence of any independent surface modification process. Through the calculation of the interfacial tensions, the conditions of the bulk in-situ DA reaction were determined to ensure that GNP and the furfuryl group can react with each other at the interface during the curing process without a solvent. The prepared composites were characterized in terms of thermal, mechanical, and thermally self-healing properties via the DA reaction. In the PU capable of a DA reaction (DPU), characteristic peaks of DA and retro DA reactions were observed in the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and endothermic peaks of retro DA reactions appeared in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms. The DPU showed significantly enhanced physical properties and chemical resistance. The thermally self-healing capability was confirmed at 110 °C via the retro DA reactions. It is inferred that thermally self-healable crosslinked GNP/PU nanocomposites via DA reactions could be prepared in a simple bulk process through the molecular design of a chain extender for the in-situ reaction at the interface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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15 pages, 3787 KiB  
Article
Enhanced and Tunable Electrorheological Capability using Surface Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Modification with Simultaneous Reduction of the Graphene Oxide by Silyl-Based Polymer Grafting
by Erika Kutalkova, Miroslav Mrlik, Marketa Ilcikova, Josef Osicka, Michal Sedlacik and Jaroslav Mosnacek
Nanomaterials 2019, 9(2), 308; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano9020308 - 24 Feb 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3236
Abstract
In this study, a verified process of the "grafting from" approach using surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization was applied for the modification of a graphene oxide (GO) surface. This approach provides simultaneous grafting of poly(2-(trimethylsilyloxy)ethyl methacrylate) (PHEMATMS) chains and a controllable reduction [...] Read more.
In this study, a verified process of the "grafting from" approach using surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization was applied for the modification of a graphene oxide (GO) surface. This approach provides simultaneous grafting of poly(2-(trimethylsilyloxy)ethyl methacrylate) (PHEMATMS) chains and a controllable reduction of the GO surface. This allows the fine tuning of its electrical conductivity, which is a crucial parameter for applications of such hybrid composite particles in electrorheological (ER) suspensions. The successful coating was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The molecular characteristics of PHEMATMS were characterized by gel permeation chromatography. ER performance was elucidated using a rotational rheometer under various electric field strengths and a dielectric spectroscopy to demonstrate the direct impact of both the relaxation time and dielectric relaxation strength on the ER effectivity. Enhanced compatibility between the silicone oil and polymer-modified GO particles was investigated using contact angle measurements and visual sedimentation stability determination. It was clearly proven that the modification of the GO surface improved the ER capability of the system due to the tunable conductivity during the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) process and the enhanced compatibility of the GO particles, modified by polymer containing silyl structures, with silicone oil. These unique ER properties of this system appear very promising for future applications in the design of ER suspensions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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14 pages, 4716 KiB  
Article
Graphene Reinforced Composites as Protective Coatings for Oil and Gas Pipelines
by Xingyu Wang, Xiaoning Qi, Zhibin Lin and Dante Battocchi
Nanomaterials 2018, 8(12), 1005; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano8121005 - 04 Dec 2018
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5905
Abstract
Corrosion and corrosion-induced damage have resulted mostly in malfunctions and sometimes even in failures of metallic structures, including oil and gas pipelines. In this study, new high-performance composite coatings were developed by incorporating nanoparticles in the polymer resins with applications to oil and [...] Read more.
Corrosion and corrosion-induced damage have resulted mostly in malfunctions and sometimes even in failures of metallic structures, including oil and gas pipelines. In this study, new high-performance composite coatings were developed by incorporating nanoparticles in the polymer resins with applications to oil and gas pipelines. The graphene nanoplatelets under different concentrations were used to prepare the epoxy-based nanocomposites and were then evaluated through mechanical and electrical tests. The integration of high-speed disk and ultrasonication were adopted as the dispersion technique to overcome nanoparticle agglomeration. Electron microscopy techniques were used to investigate the agglomeration. The new composites were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in terms of contact angle, surface roughness, adhesion to the substrate, corrosion resistance, and abrasion resistance. The results suggested that the composite with 0.5~1.0 wt.% of the graphene nanofillers led to the largest improvement in both mechanical and electrochemical properties. Distribution of nanoparticles in the matrix was observed using scanning electron microscopy and surface roughness using atomic force microscopy. Large agglomeration that was observed at the higher concentrations mainly resulted in the reduction of corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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Review

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20 pages, 3976 KiB  
Review
Biomimetic Hydroxyapatite on Graphene Supports for Biomedical Applications: A Review
by Gang Wei, Coucong Gong, Keke Hu, Yabin Wang and Yantu Zhang
Nanomaterials 2019, 9(10), 1435; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano9101435 - 10 Oct 2019
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 5276
Abstract
Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been widely used in fields of materials science, tissue engineering, biomedicine, energy and environmental science, and analytical science due to its simple preparation, low-cost, and high biocompatibility. To overcome the weak mechanical properties of pure HA, various reinforcing materials were [...] Read more.
Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been widely used in fields of materials science, tissue engineering, biomedicine, energy and environmental science, and analytical science due to its simple preparation, low-cost, and high biocompatibility. To overcome the weak mechanical properties of pure HA, various reinforcing materials were incorporated with HA to form high-performance composite materials. Due to the unique structural, biological, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties, graphene has exhibited great potentials for supporting the biomimetic synthesis of HA. In this review, we present recent advance in the biomimetic synthesis of HA on graphene supports for biomedical applications. More focuses on the biomimetic synthesis methods of HA and HA on graphene supports, as well as the biomedical applications of biomimetic graphene-HA nanohybrids in drug delivery, cell growth, bone regeneration, biosensors, and antibacterial test are performed. We believe that this review is state-of-the-art, and it will be valuable for readers to understand the biomimetic synthesis mechanisms of HA and other bioactive minerals, at the same time it can inspire the design and synthesis of graphene-based novel nanomaterials for advanced applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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20 pages, 1505 KiB  
Review
Biomedical Applications of Graphene-Based Structures
by Krzysztof Tadyszak, Jacek K. Wychowaniec and Jagoda Litowczenko
Nanomaterials 2018, 8(11), 944; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano8110944 - 16 Nov 2018
Cited by 171 | Viewed by 12883
Abstract
Graphene and graphene oxide (GO) structures and their reduced forms, e.g., GO paper and partially or fully reduced three-dimensional (3D) aerogels, are at the forefront of materials design for extensive biomedical applications that allow for the proliferation and differentiation/maturation of cells, drug delivery, [...] Read more.
Graphene and graphene oxide (GO) structures and their reduced forms, e.g., GO paper and partially or fully reduced three-dimensional (3D) aerogels, are at the forefront of materials design for extensive biomedical applications that allow for the proliferation and differentiation/maturation of cells, drug delivery, and anticancer therapies. Various viability tests that have been conducted in vitro on human cells and in vivo on mice reveal very promising results, which make graphene-based materials suitable for real-life applications. In this review, we will give an overview of the latest studies that utilize graphene-based structures and their composites in biological applications and show how the biomimetic behavior of these materials can be a step forward in bridging the gap between nature and synthetically designed graphene-based nanomaterials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanocomposites)
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