Synthesis and study of polyaniline grafted graphene oxide nanohybrids

The research and development on electromagnetic wave absorbing materials have become a radical zone for the electronic industry to cope with the electromagnetic pollution. Taking into consideration, we hereby report on a novel conducting nanohybrid prepared by graft polymerization using gamma-irradiated graphene oxide (GO) as a substrate. In-situ polymerization of aniline was achieved in the presence of GO. The grafting percentage was controlled by varying the reaction parameters (i.e., the concentration of monomer, initiator, and surfactant). A maximum grafting percentage of 670% of polyaniline (PANI) was then achieved at optimal reaction conditions. More so, the polyaniline grafted graphene oxide (GO-g-PANI) nanohybrid has been analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry (TGA) technique. The optimal nanohybrid showed excellent electrical conductivity (63 S/cm) which was 232% higher than GO substrate. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of the nanohybrid in the X-band frequencies was upto 36.2 dB which was 187.3% higher than the GO substrate. These results were ascribed to the more grafting percentage of PANI on GO in the grafted nanohybrid. The developed conducting nanohybrids are light weight and have great potential as EMI shielding additive.