Nanocomposite polyazomethine/reduced graphene oxide with enhanced conductivity

We produced thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by reduction of graphene oxide using a thermal shock followed by annealing at 800 degrees C. The PAZ/rGO nanocomposite comprised of conjugated azomethine polymer (PAZ) and rGO (2 wt%) was fabricated through solution blending method. Both PAZ/rGO nanocomposite and its components, PAZ and rGO, were investigated with wide-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmittance electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, broadband dielectric spectrometry, four-probe conductivity method, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Strong physical interaction rather than chemical one between the polymer matrix and rGO nanoparticles was found. Electrical conductivity of PAZ/rGO nanocomposite was detected to increase for four orders as compared with that of pure PAZ.