Covalent nanocrystals-decorated solvent-free graphene oxide liquids

This paper reported on preparation technique, fluidity mechanism and significant characteristics of covalent nanocrystals-decorated solvent-free graphene oxide liquids (CN-GOLs), which were achieved through the introduction of nanocrystals onto the surface of graphene oxide (GO), and then by surface chemical engineering of the nanocrystals-decorated graphene oxide (N-GO) with organosilanes as corona and polyether amine as canopy. Structural characterization, rheology behavior and significant characteristics of CN-GOLs were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy and Rheometer, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Vibrating sample magnetometer, respectively. Subsequently, a slipping and fluidity model was carefully established to better understand the fluidity mechanism of CN-GOLs. Both of experiment results and fluidity mechanism demonstrated that the introduction of nanocrystals onto the surface of GO was a facile and efficient method to synthesize CN-GOLs with lower price and simpler procedures. Most importantly, such a preparation technique could be further extended to the fabrication of other types of CN-GOLs with attractive properties for specific applications, such as filler phase for resin-matrix composites. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.