Copper Oxidation and Nanoscale Changes in Polymer/Graphene Films
Author Information
Author(s): Croft Zacary L., Valenzuela Oscar, Thompson Connor, Whitfield Brendan, Betzko Garrett, Liu Guoliang
Primary Institution: Virginia Tech
Hypothesis
Residual stresses from spin-coating may influence polymer/graphene thin films and affect the thermomechanical properties.
Conclusion
Thermal annealing in air or vacuum degraded the mechanical properties of polymer/graphene laminate films due to structural deformations linked to the polymer's glass transition.
Supporting Evidence
- Thermal annealing negatively impacts the mechanical reinforcement between PEI and SLG.
- Deformation requires an oxidant-rich atmosphere and is mediated by the thermomechanical relaxation of the polymer.
- Raman spectroscopy indicated a compressive strain in SLG after thermal annealing.
Takeaway
When heating special plastic and graphene films, they can get damaged if not done carefully, especially if the temperature is too high.
Methodology
The study involved fabricating PEI/SLG thin films via spin-coating and thermally annealing them to evaluate their mechanical properties.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on specific annealing conditions and may not account for all possible variations in polymer/graphene film behavior.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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