• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1085-1103
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• 2016

The present paper is aimed to evaluate and compare the effective elastic properties of CNT- and graphene-based nanocomposites using 3-D nanoscale representative volume element (RVE) based on continuum mechanics using finite element method (FEM). Different periodic displacement boundary conditions are applied to the FEM model of the RVE to evaluate various elastic constants. The effects of the matrix material, the volume fraction and the length of reinforcements on the elastic properties are also studied. Results predicted are validated with the analytical and/or semiempirical results and the available results in the literature. Although all elastic stiffness properties of CNT- and graphene-based nanocomposites are found to be improved compared to the matrix material, but out-of-plane and in-plane stiffness properties are better improved in CNT- and graphene-based nanocomposites, respectively. It is also concluded that long nanofillers (graphene as well as CNT) are more effective in increasing the normal elastic moduli of the resulting nanocomposites as compared to the short length, but the values of shear moduli, except $G_{23}$ of CNT nanocomposite, of nanocomposites are slightly improved in the case of short length nanofillers (i.e., CNT and graphene).

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2015

The $BaCrO_4$ nanoparticles were synthesized from a 0.1 M $K_2CrO_4$ and 0.1 M $BaCO_3$ solution with stirring for 10 h. The product was washed several times with acetone and heated to $700^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. At that time, the color of mixture was a greenish yellow. The graphene/$BaCrO_4$ nanocomposites were prepared with graphene and $BaCrO_4$ nanoparticles by stirring in tetrahydrofuran and heated in an electric furnace at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. The $BaCrO_4$ nanoparticles, graphene/$BaCrO_4$ and heated graphene/$BaCrO_4$ nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The graphene/$BaCrO_4$ nanocomposites and heated graphene/$BaCrO_4$ nanocomposites were evaluated as a photocatalyst and discussed about kinetics study for the degradation of organic dyes, such as methylene blue and rhodamine B under ultraviolet light irradiation at 254 nm.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.316-324
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• 2010

The effects of geometrical parameters on mechanical properties of graphite-vinylester nanocomposites and their constituents (matrix, reinforcement and interface) are studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Young's modulii of 1.3 TPa and 1.16 TPa are obtained for graphene layer and for graphite layers respectively. Interfacial shear strength resulting from the molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for graphene-vinylester is found to be 256 MPa compared to 126 MPa for graphitevinylester. MD simulations prove that exfoliation improves mechanical properties of graphite nanoplatelet vinylester nanocomposites. Also, the effects of bromination on the mechanical properties of vinylester and interfacial strength of the graphene.brominated vinylester nanocomposites are investigated. MD simulation revealed that, although there is minimal effect of bromination on mechanical properties of pure vinylester, bromination tends to enhance interfacial shear strength between graphite-brominated vinylester/graphene-brominated vinylester in a considerable magnitude.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide and manganese (II,III) oxide can be synthesized by the freeze-drying process of the mixed colloidal suspension of graphene oxide and manganese oxide, and the subsequent heat-treatment. The calcined reduced graphene oxide-manganese (II,III) oxide nanocomposites are X-ray amorphous, suggesting the formation of homogeneous and disordered mixture without any phase separation. The reduction of graphene oxide to reduced graphene oxide upon the heat-treatment is evidenced by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy. Field emission-scanning electronic microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry clearly demonstrate the formation of porous structure by the house-of-cards type stacking of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and the homogeneous distribution of manganese ions in the nanocomposites. According to Mn K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, manganese ions in the calcined nanocomposites are stabilized in octahedral symmetry with mixed Mn oxidation state of Mn(II)/Mn(III). The present reduced graphene oxide-manganese oxide nanocomposites show characteristic pseudocapacitance behavior superior to the pristine manganese oxide, suggesting their applicability as electrode material for supercapacitors.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.2049-2056
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• 2014

A simple method for exfoliating pristine graphite to yield mono-, bi-, and multi-layers of graphene sheets as a highly concentrated (5.25 mg/mL) and yielded solution in an organic solvent was developed. Pre-thermal treatment of pristine graphite at $900^{\circ}C$ in a sealed stainless steel bath under high pressures, followed by sonication in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone solvent at elevated temperatures, produced a homogeneous, well-dispersed, and non-oxidized graphene solution with a low defect density. The electrical conductivities of the graphene sheets were very high, up to 848 S/cm. These graphene sheets were used to fabricate graphene-polyimide nanocomposites, which displayed a higher electrical conductivity (1.37 S/m) with an improved tensile strength (95 MPa). The synthesized graphene sheets and nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.330-335
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• 2014

Niobium pentoxide ($Nb_2O_5$) nanoparticles were synthesized using niobium (V) chloride and pluronic F108NF as the precursor and templating agent, respectively. The $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites were placed in an electric furnace at $700^{\circ}C$ and calcined under Ar atmosphere for 2 h. The morphology, crystallinity, and photocatalytic degradation activity of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites acted as a photocatalyst in the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under 254 nm UV light; the organic dyes used were methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), and brilliant green (BG). The photocatalytic degradation kinetics for the aforesaid dyes were determined in the presence of the $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-70
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• 2014

In this work, nanocomposites of epoxy resin and chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were prepared by thermal curing process. X-ray diffractions confirmed the microstructural properties of RGO. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to evaluate the curing behaviors of RGO/epoxy nanocomposites with different RGO loading amounts. We investigated the effect of RGO loading amounts on the mechanical properties of the epoxy nanocomposites. It was found that the presence of RGO improved both flexural strength and modulus of the epoxy nanocomposites till the RGO loading reached 0.4 wt%, and then decreased. The optimum loading achieved about 24.5 and 25.7% improvements, respectively, compared to the neat-epoxy composites. The observed mechanical reinforcement might be an enhancement of mechanical interlocking between the epoxy matrix and RGO due to the unique planar structures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.138.2-138.2
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• 2013

Copper oxide is a multi-functional material being used in various research areas including catalysis, electrochemical materials, oxidizing agents etc. Among these areas, we have synthesized and utilized graphene based copper oxide nanocomposites (CuOx/Graphene) for the catalytic applications (C-N cross coupling reaction). Briefly, Cu precursors were anchored on the graphite oxide(GO) sheets being exfoliated and oxidized from graphite powder. Two different crystalline structures of Cu2O and CuO on graphene and GO were prepared by annealing them in Ar and O2 environments, respectively. The morphological and electronic structures were systemically investigated using FT-IR, XRD, XPS, XAFS, and TEM. Here, we demonstrate that the catalytic performance was found to depend on oxidative states and morphological structures of CuOx graphene nanocomposites. The relationship between the structure of copper oxides and catalytic efficiency toward C-N cross coupling reaction will be discussed.

• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.130-135
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• 2015

This study investigates the property of graphene filled polymer nanocomposites in LEO(Low Earth orbit) environment conditions. In order to improve compatibility with polymer matrices and resistance of carbon material against AO(Atomic oxygen) attack, silanization of graphene oxide with organosilane was carried out. The corresponding moieties were characterized through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Graphene oxide filled nanocomposites were prepared using solution based processing methods. The sets of specimen series were tested in an accelerated LEO simulated space environment facility. Graphene oxide and silane treated graphene oxide reinforced nanocomposites were compared with neat epoxy. The comparison revealed that the silane treated graphene filled polymer composite shows inherent resistance against atomic oxygen attack while the lack of silane treatment resulted in a reduction in performance.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2017

Graphene-$BiOCl/Fe_3O_4$ nanocomposites were synthesized from $BiOCl/Fe_3O_4$ and graphene in an electric furnace operating at $700^{\circ}C$ for 12 h. The nanocomposite surface morphology and crystal structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The produced graphene-$BiOCl/Fe_3O_4$ nanocomposites acted as efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes, as confirmed by UV-vis spectrophotometry.