We developed two-step solution-phase reactions to form hybrid materials of Mn3O4 nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets for lithium ion battery applications. Mn3O4 nanoparticles grown selectively on RGO sheets over free particle growth in solution allowed for the electrically insulating Mn3O4 nanoparticles wired up to a current collector through the underlying conducting graphene network. The Mn3O4 nanoparticles formed on RGO show a high specific capacity up to ~900mAh/g near its theoretical capacity with good rate capability and cycling stability, owing to the intimate interactions between the graphene substrates and the Mn3O4 nanoparticles grown atop. The Mn3O4/RGO hybrid could be a promising candidate material for high-capacity, low-cost, and environmentally friendly anode for lithium ion batteries. Our growth-on-graphene approach should offer a new technique for design and synthesis of battery electrodes based on highly insulating materials.

Mn3O4-Graphene Hybrid as a High Capacity Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/768408.pdf

Mechanical properties of graphene and graphene-based nanocomposites

Recent advances in carbon-based polymer nanocomposites for electromagnetic interference shielding

Carbon nanomaterials are receiving worldwide attention because of their multi-faceted superiority in thermal conductivity, flame retardancy, mechanical stability, electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility. In this review, a survey of the literature on extending performance of epoxy resins based on carbon nanomaterials is presented. The structure-performance relationships for different carbon nanomaterials modified epoxy are closely analyzed. The performance extension in mechanical, electrical, thermal conductivity, flame retardancy, antidegradation, and tribological properties of epoxy are reviewed in detail. Other application areas including biocompatibility, biodegradability, gas barrier properties, shape memory, and electromagnetic interference shielding are touched. The challenges and opportunities in carbon nanomaterials functionalized epoxy composites are also discussed.

A review of extending performance of epoxy resins using carbon nanomaterials

The electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites containing a small amount of carbon
nanotube (CNT) are remarkably superior to those of conventional electronic composites. Based on three-dimensional (3D) statistical percolation and 3D resistor network modeling, the electrical properties of CNT nanocomposites, at and after percolation, were successfully predicted in this work. The numerical analysis was also extended to investigate the effects of the aspect ratio, the electrical conductivity, the aggregation and the shape of CNTs on the electrical properties of the nanocomposites. A simple empirical model was also established based on present numerical simulations to predict the electrical conductivity in several electronic composites with various fillers. This investigation further highlighted the importance
of theoretical and numerical analyses in the exploration of basic physical phenomena, such as percolation and conductivity in novel nanocomposites.

The electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites with carbon nanotube fillers

Microwave exfoliated reduced graphene oxide epoxy nanocomposites for high performance applications

Mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties of hybrid composites of epoxy and reduced graphene oxide/iron oxide

Incorporation of nanosized fillers into polymers has created new composites by expanding the functions and applications while retaining the excellent engineering and processing flexibility inherent to polymers. Compared with traditional nanofillers, more recently, graphene has been increasingly preferred as a candidate for strengthening and/or functionalizing polymer nanocomposites. The easy synthetic methods, low cost, and non-toxicity of graphene make this material attractive for many technological applications. Herein, we discuss the synthesis of different types of graphene from graphite via graphene oxide reduction. Commercial graphene (CG) as well as the synthesized chemically reduced graphene (CRG) and chemically reduced silane-modified graphene (SMG) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The results confirmed that the silane molecules were attached on the surface of graphene sheets. Simultaneously, most of residual oxygen-containing functional groups of GO were reduced and the sp2-hybridized structure of graphene was restored. The utilization of these graphene-based materials in the fabrication of epoxy nanocomposites with enhanced properties has been explored and compared with those of neat epoxy and CG/epoxy nanocomposites. Inclusion of 0.25 phr CRG and SMG in an epoxy resin showed 28% and 32% increases in tensile strength, and the corresponding fracture toughness displayed 67.6% and 66.3% increase respectively. The improved mechanical properties of SMG/epoxy nanocomposites might be due to the uniform dispersion of functionalized graphene and strong interfacial bonding between modified graphene and epoxy resin.

A comparative investigation of aminosilane/ethylene diamine–functionalized graphene epoxy nanocomposites with commercial and chemically reduced graphene: static and dynamic mechanical properties

P.M. Sabura Beegum

Papers

Microwave exfoliated reduced graphene oxide epoxy nanocomposites for high performance applications

Mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties of hybrid composites of epoxy and reduced graphene oxide/iron oxide

A comparative investigation of aminosilane/ethylene diamine–functionalized graphene epoxy nanocomposites with commercial and chemically reduced graphene: static and dynamic mechanical properties