Preparation and Characterization of a Graphene Oxide Film Modified by the Covalent Attachment of Polysiloxane

Abstract

Hybrid materials consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polycyclohexyl-methylsiloxane (PCHMS) grafted graphene oxide (GO) were obtained by condensation polymerization in toluene. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicates that the composites were synthesized through the formation of Si-O bond. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric indicate that the hydrolysis polycondensation can accelerate the graft reaction. The hybrid films were prepared by simple filtration of the dispersed system of PDMS/GO/water, PCHMS/GO and PCHMS/GO/water in dimethylformamide. Tensile tests indicate the mechanical properties of the films varied with their structure. The rigid PCHMS/GO/water films have a tensile strength of 17.83 MPa, and the pliant PDMS/GO/water films have an elongation at break of 3.14%. UV-Vis spectra of GO and the hybrids indicate that the addition of polysiloxane caused a red-shift (10–20 nm) of the absorption peak.