Fabrication of graphene nanocomposite films via sol–gel chemistry is still a challenging task because of the low solubility of graphene in common solvents. In the present work we have successfully developed a suitable synthesis method employing a solution of exfoliated graphene in 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone that is added to an anhydrous sol of silicon tetrachloride in ethanol. Thin graphene–silica films with high optical transparency have been obtained; the graphene sheets are composed of two layers and do not aggregate at a large range of concentrations upon incorporation into the matrix. Thermal processing of the silica films allows complete removal of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone without oxidation or degradation of the graphene sheets which are embedded in the oxide.
Sol–gel chemistry for graphene–silica nanocomposite films / Innocenzi, P., Malfatti, L., Lasio, B., Pinna, A., Loche, D., Casula, M.F., Alzari, V., Mariani, A.. - In: NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY. - ISSN 1144-0546. - 38:(2014), pp. 3777-3782. [10.1039/c4nj00535j]
Sol–gel chemistry for graphene–silica nanocomposite films
INNOCENZI, Plinio;MALFATTI, Luca;ALZARI, Valeria;MARIANI, Alberto
2014-01-01
Abstract
Fabrication of graphene nanocomposite films via sol–gel chemistry is still a challenging task because of the low solubility of graphene in common solvents. In the present work we have successfully developed a suitable synthesis method employing a solution of exfoliated graphene in 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone that is added to an anhydrous sol of silicon tetrachloride in ethanol. Thin graphene–silica films with high optical transparency have been obtained; the graphene sheets are composed of two layers and do not aggregate at a large range of concentrations upon incorporation into the matrix. Thermal processing of the silica films allows complete removal of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone without oxidation or degradation of the graphene sheets which are embedded in the oxide.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
