Bifunctional RAFT Agent Directed Preparation of Polymer/Graphene Oxide Composites. Issue 21 (20th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsia, Tina; Wan, Jing; Fan, Bo; Thang, San H.
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular rapid communications. Volume 42:Issue 21(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-09-20
• Subjects: bifunctional RAFT agents -- composites -- graphene oxide -- polypyrrole -- RAFT polymerization; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100460
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1336

Abstract

Abstract: Polymer/graphene oxide (GO) composites, which combine the physical properties of GO and the processability of polymers, are of increasing interest in a variety of applications ranging from conductive foams, sensors, to bioelectronics. However, the preparation of these composites through physical blending demands the polymers with functional groups that interact strongly with the GO. Here the design and synthesis of a new bifunctional reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent are demonstrated, which allows the synthesis of polymers with predetermined molecular weights and low dispersibilities ( Ð ), while having functionalities at both polymer termini that allow strong binding to GO. To access polymers with diverse thermal and mechanical properties, acrylonitrile–styrene–acrylate (ASA) copolymers with different types of acrylates, both short and long side chains, are synthesized under the control of the bifunctional RAFT agent. Furthermore, the strong binding between GO and the synthesized polymers is verified and explored to prepare polymer/GO composites with diverse tensile strengths and conductivity in the range of semiconductors. Overall, this novel RAFT agent is expected to expand the utility of polymer/GO composites by providing well‐defined polymers with tunable properties and strong binding with GO. Abstract : A bifunctional reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent with dual binding mechanism to graphene oxide (GO) sheets yields a variety of well‐defined polymers with tunable thermal and mechanical properties. The inclusion of GO sheets results in polymer/GO composites with diverse tensile strength and with conductivity in the range of semiconductors.