2D-Aligned Graphene Sheets in Transparent Polyimide/Graphene Nanocomposite Films Based on Noncovalent Interactions Between Poly(amic acid) and Graphene Carboxylic Acid

Transparent polyimide (PI) and chemically modified graphene nanocomposite films are prepared from solutions of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)/4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) poly(amic acid) with various amounts (0.20.8?wt%) of graphene carboxylic acid (GCA) in DMAc. The GCA is synthesized by modifying chemically oxidized graphene (COG) with many carboxylic acid groups (COOH) and is well-dispersed in DMAc, the organic solvent most frequently used for PI synthesis. The GCA sheets in the PI/GCA composite films are well-dispersed and aligned two-dimensionally in the direction parallel to the PI films, which enhances the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films.