Quantification of pre- and post-air plasma-treated graphene oxide dispersed polymer blends for high dielectric applications

Abstract

Polymer nanoblends are in demand for various domestic and industrial applications. In the present investigation, we modified polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polysulfone (PSF) polymer blends by the dispersion of pre- and post-air plasma-treated graphene oxide (GO). We achieved the surface modification of GO that was dispersed in the polymer blend system. Occupied pre- and post-treated GO impressions were detected by the optical polarising microscopy (OPM) technique. The nucleation of GO dispersion in the blend system was confirmed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical functionalities of PVDF/PSF/GO nanoblends were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The influence of the air plasma treatment on the GO shift of planes and the clustering effect was investigated by Raman spectroscopy. We quantified the role of pre- and post-treated GO by X-ray diffraction (XRD) that revealed a decreased interplanar distance and degree of crystallinity compared to the treatment time and virgin blend system. An increased dielectric constant (40–50%) of the post-treated GO blend system was confirmed using an impedance analyser. Moderately increased softness (7–17%) of nanoblends was confirmed by a durometer technique. However, the PVDF/PSF/GO polymer nanoblends may be preferred as a choice for the development of electronic applications.