Effect of Structure of Polymers Grafted from Graphene Oxide on the Compatibility of Particles with a Silicone-Based Environment and the Stimuli-Responsive Capabilities of Their Composites
Monika Zygo,
Miroslav Mrlik,
Marketa Ilcikova,
Martina Hrabalikova,
Josef Osicka,
Martin Cvek,
Michal Sedlacik,
Barbora Hanulikova,
Lukas Munster,
David Skoda,
Pavel Urbánek,
Joanna Pietrasik,
Jaroslav Mosnáček
Affiliations
Monika Zygo
Department of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Institute of Polymer and Dye Technology, Stefanowskiego 12/16, 90 924 Lodz, Poland
Miroslav Mrlik
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Marketa Ilcikova
Department of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Institute of Polymer and Dye Technology, Stefanowskiego 12/16, 90 924 Lodz, Poland
Martina Hrabalikova
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Josef Osicka
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Martin Cvek
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Michal Sedlacik
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Barbora Hanulikova
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Lukas Munster
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
David Skoda
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Pavel Urbánek
Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
Joanna Pietrasik
Department of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Institute of Polymer and Dye Technology, Stefanowskiego 12/16, 90 924 Lodz, Poland
Jaroslav Mosnáček
Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 41 Bratislava 45, Slovakia
This study reports the utilization of controlled radical polymerization as a tool for controlling the stimuli-responsive capabilities of graphene oxide (GO) based hybrid systems. Various polymer brushes with controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution were grafted from the GO surface by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The modification of GO with poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA), poly(trimethylsilyloxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMATMS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with online Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Various grafting densities of GO-based materials were investigated, and conductivity was elucidated using a four-point probe method. Raman shift and XPS were used to confirm the reduction of surface properties of the GO particles during SI-ATRP. The contact angle measurements indicated the changes in the compatibility of GOs with silicone oil, depending on the structure of the grafted polymer chains. The compatibility of the GOs with poly(dimethylsiloxane) was also investigated using steady shear rheology. The tunability of the electrorheological, as well as the photo-actuation capability, was investigated. It was shown that in addition to the modification of conductivity, the dipole moment of the pendant groups of the grafted polymer chains also plays an important role in the electrorheological (ER) performance. The compatibility of the particles with the polymer matrix, and thus proper particles dispersibility, is the most important factor for the photo-actuation efficiency. The plasticizing effect of the GO-polymer hybrid filler also has a crucial impact on the matrix stiffness and thus the ability to reversibly respond to the external light stimulation.
