Thermal and electrical properties of starch-graphene oxide nanocomposites improved by photochemical treatment

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 106; pp. 305 - 311
• Main Authors: PEREGRINO, Priscilla P, SALES, Maria J. A, DA SILVA, Mauro F. P, SOLER, Maria A. G, DA SILVA, Luiz F. L, MOREIRA, Sanclayton G. C, PATERNO, Leonardo G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 15-06-2014
• Subjects: Acetylation; Applied sciences; Composites; Electric Impedance; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Graphite - chemistry; Hot Temperature; Hydrogen Bonding; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Nanocomposites - radiation effects; Photochemical Processes; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemistry; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Starch - chemistry; Starch - radiation effects; Technology of polymers; Thermogravimetry; Ultraviolet Rays; Mixing; Voltage current curve; Electrical properties; Starch; In situ; Bionanocomposites; Thermal diffusivity; Photochemical reaction; Experimental study; Thermal stability; Thermal properties; Chemical reduction; Polyvinylalcohol; Plasticizer; Graphene; Morphology; Solid state reaction; Concentration effect; Oside polymer; Nanocomposite; Graphene oxide; Photochemical reduction; Manufacturing; Starch derivative
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.02.008

Bionanocomposite films have been prepared by casting an aqueous suspension of acetylated starch (ST) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with graphene oxide (GO). A photochemical and reagentless method has been successfully performed to convert the GO phase into reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The nanocomposites have displayed improved thermal and electrical properties when the amount of the GO phase is increased and properly converted to RGO. The molecular-level interactions between components are mainly hydrogen-bonding type according to attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has confirmed the effective mixing between the GO and the ST-PVA matrix. The thermal diffusivity and electrical resistivity of ST-GO nanocomposites have increased one order and decreased two orders of magnitude, respectively, after the photochemical treatment. These findings have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed approach to produce starch-based nanocomposites with improved thermal and electrical properties.