• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.173-178
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• 2016

Graphene oxide (GO) was concurrently reduced and functionalized using long alkyl chain dodecyl amine (DA). The DA functionalized GO (DA-G) was assumed to disperse homogenously in linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Subsequently, DA-G was used to fabricate DA-G/LLDPE composites by melt mixing technique. Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis was performed to ascertain the simultaneous reduction and functionlization of GO. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed to ensure the homogenous distribution and dispersion of DA-G in LLDPE matrix. The enhanced storage modulus value of the composites validates the homogenous dispersion of DA-G and its good interfacial interaction with LLDPE matrix. An increased in tensile strength value by ~ 64% also confirms the generation of good interface between the two constituents, through which efficient load transfer is possible. However, no significant improvement in glass transition temperature was observed. This simple technique of fabricating LLDPE composites following industrially viable melt mixing procedure could be realizable to developed mechanically strong graphene based LLDPE composites for future applications.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.269-275
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• 2016

Multiscale hybrid composites, which consist of polymeric resins, microscale fibers and nanoscale reinforcements, have drawn significant attention in the field of advanced, high-performance materials. Despite their advantages, multiscale hybrid composites show challenges associated with nanomaterial dispersion, viscosity, interfacial bonding and load transfer, and orientation control. In this paper, carbon nanotube(CNT)/carbon fiber(CF)/polycarbonate(PC) multiscale hybrid composite were fabricated by a solution process to overcome the difficulties associated with controlling the melt viscosity of thermoplastic resins. The dependence of CNT loading was studied by varying the method to add CNTs, i.e., impregnation of CF with CNT/PC/solvent solution and impregnation of CNT-coated CF with PC/solvent solution. In addition, hybrid composites were fabricated through surfactant-aided CNT dispersion followed by vacuum filtration. The morphologies of the surfaces of hybrid composites, as analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, revealed the quality of PC impregnation depends on the processing method. Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed to evaluate their mechanical performance. It was analyzed that if the position of the value of tan ${\delta}$ is closer to the ideal line, the adhesion between polymer and carbon fiber is stronger. The effect of mechanical interlocking has a great influence on the dynamic mechanical properties of the composites with CNT-coated CF, which indicates that coating CF with CNTs is a suitable method to fabricate CNT/CF/PC hybrid composites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.126-126
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• 2012

Copper is considered to be the most promising substrate, especially Cu(111), for the growth of high quality monolayer graphene. Since interactions between graphene and Cu substrates will influence on the orientation, quality, and electrical properties of synthesized graphene, we experimentally determine a weak interfacial interaction between Cu(111) substrate and graphene using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The measurement was conducted from the initial stage to the formation of a graphene monolayer. Graphene growth was initiated along the Cu(111) lattice, and two rotated graphene domains were grown, where no significant differences were observed in the band structure depending on different orientations. The interaction, including electron transfer from the Cu(111) to graphene, was limited between the Shockley state of the Cu(111) surface and the ${\pi}$ bands of graphene. These results provide direct information on the growth behavior and interactions between the Cu(111) and graphene.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.441-447
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• 2014

$AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ double heterojunctions photocatalyst was prepared via deposition-precipitation followed by ion exchange method. The structure, crystallinity, morphology, chemical content and other physical-chemical properties of the samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectra (EDX), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL). The photocatalytic activity of the $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ was evaluated by degrading methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation (${\lambda}$ > 400 nm). The double heterojunctions photocatalyst displayed more efficient photocatalytic activity than pure AgI, AgCl, $H_2WO_4$ and AgCl/$H_2WO_4$. Based on the reactive species and energy band structure, the enhanced photocatalytic activity mechanism of $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ was discussed in detail. The improved photocatalytic performance of $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ double heterojunctions could be ascribed to the enhanced interfacial charge transfer and the inhibited recombination of electron-hole pairs, which was in close relation with the $AgI/AgCl/H_2WO_4$ heterojunctions formed between AgI, AgCl and $H_2WO_4$.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

Polyurea has been investigated as a polymer matrix for composite materials because of its high mechanical strength. Although polyurea has a similar chemical structure to polyurethane, it has much higher strength and durability. In this study, the fabrication of polyurea composites reinforced with carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene oxide (GO) is demonstrated to enhance the tensile strength of the glass fibers composite. Using FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, the chemical structures of polyurea, CNT, and GO are investigated. As a result, spectroscopy analysis reveals that the chemical structure of CNT, GO, and polyurea is maintained during the fabrication of the composite structure. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the uniform distribution of CNT and GO across the polyurea matrix. The reinforcement of 1 wt% CNT in polyurea enhances the tensile strength of CNT/polyurea composites. In contrast, the reinforcement of GO in polyurea induces the degradation of the tensile strength of GO/polyurea composites.