Layered double hydroxides/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with enhanced barrier properties

A hybrid layered double hydroxides (LDHs)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) material has been fabricated by the facile co-precipitation method. The structural characterization and morphological observation of the composites suggest that small LDH-rGO crystals are in situ grown on the surface of GO nanosheets, preventing the compact stacking of GO. The poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/LDH-rGO hybrid films with different contents of LDH-rGO are prepared and investigated. The results show that the LDH-rGO composites are homogeneous dispersed in PVA matrix based on scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations. The PVA/LDH-rGO film exhibits significantly improved mechanical and barrier properties compared with those of the pure PVA film. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3841-3848, 2018. (c) 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers