Reduced
graphene oxides (rGO) are a promising class of materials
for scalable electrodes and performance enhancing additives; however,
commercial deployment of these materials is challenged by their poor
solubility and tendency to aggregate. This research demonstrates the
grafting of alkyl functional groups onto rGO nanoparticlesan
approach that enhances their processability and requires only simple
purification processes. Extended reaction times are shown to increase
the extent of functionalization as measured by XPS and thermogravimetric
analysis. The chemically functionalized rGOs exhibit an enhanced dispersion
in numerous solvents, some of which are low boiling point and provide
opportunities for solution processing. The alkyl functional groups
confer a slight reduction in electrical conductivity from 750 to ≈400
S/cm. This conductivity is sufficient for applications including static
charge dissipation, ohmic heating, and electron capacitance tomography.
As a demonstration, electrically conductive thin films of the chemically
modified rGO nanoparticles are fabricated via solution casting from
chloroform. These films exhibit low sheet resistances of 30 Ω/sq
and appear tolerant to simulated space radiation generated at the
NASA Space Radiation Laboratory.
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