Highly stable water-based dispersion of multilayer graphene modified with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and polyacrylate terpolymer binder

Abstract

In this study, a facile and low-cost π–π non-covalent surface modification of commercial multilayer graphene (m-GR) was achieved by ball milling with an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, SDBS) and a polyacrylate terpolymer binder (LA132) frequently used in lithium-ion batteries. Results from transmittance spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, sedimentation photo, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrate that the modified m-GR exhibits good dispersion stability in water. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms the successful adsorption of both modifiers onto the commercial m-GR surface. Importantly, while commercial m-GR is insoluble in water, the m-GRSL dispersion modified with 1.8 wt% SDBS and 20.0 wt% LA132 under the condition of a total 4 h ball milling time shows good aqueous dispersibility and long-term storage stability, maintaining no sedimentation for over one month. From an industrial perspective, this method is green and low-cost to achieve large-scale production.