Abstract

Reduced graphene oxide/Poly-methyl methacrylate (rGO-PMMA) based composites are successfully synthesized from solution casting technique. Earlier, Graphite Oxide (GO) was also prepared via well-known Hummers method. The effect of rGO concentration on the functional and morphological properties of PMMA is thoroughly investigated. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the present of different functional groups on the surface of pure and composite material. UV-Vis and XRD helped to confirm the efficacious synthesis of GO and rGO samples. The interlayer distance in GO and rGO was calculated to be 8.6535A° and 3.54 A° respectively. Raman spectroscopy reveals that GO and rGO has the high intensity of D and G band as compared to graphite due to disordering of a few sp2 bonds into the sp3 bonds. PMMA surface is comprised of plate like structure embedded with some sharp edges. SEM depicts the distortion of PMMA structure with increasing concentration of rGO load. 10% wt. rGO has the maximum effect on the structural and morphological properties of PMMA. This functional and morphological study of PMMA and rGO-PMMA composites paves the way to functionalize PMMA with other inorganic or organic substances.

Keywords:Hummers method; Polymer composites; Raman spectroscopy; Reduced graphene oxide; Solution casting