Speaker
Description
A diverse range of molecular surfactants and polymers have been incorporated into aqueous graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) dispersions in order to understand the complex relationship between surface chemistry, surface forces and interfacial thermodynamics of these materials with typical amphiphiles. Surfactant additives were systematically varied in terms of their charge and hydrophobicity to reveal important structure–function relationships affecting adsorption and interaction with GO and rGO surfaces. Small-angle (and ultra small-angle) neutron scattering was employed to examine and monitor the interactions and self-assembly in each system. Modelling the neutron data revealed in many cases a $q^{–2}$ slope in the low q and ultra low q regions, indicating that scattering was occurring from large, flat surfaces (lamellae or bilayers), suggesting an effective flattening of the sheets in dispersion. The results presented thus help to form a roadmap for the behaviour of GO and rGO with surfactants and polymers, relevant to adsorption, stabilisation, formulation and coating in aqueous environments as adsorbent and functional materials.
