Morphology, crystallization and mechanical properties of poly(ethylene oxide)/graphene nanocomposites: the role of graphene functionalization

Polymer nanocomposites based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and graphene nanoplatelets were prepared via solution blending method. The effect of graphene chemical functionalization with polyethylene glycol (PEG) was studied on the morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of nanocomposites at different loadings. A better dispersion of functionalized graphene (FGnP) in PEO matrix was observed compared to pristine graphene. Degree of crystallinity of PEO was reduced upon the addition of graphene nanosheets, especially with the functionalized ones. The mechanical properties of PEO was also remarkably enhanced by incorporation of FGnP nanosheets due to high interfacial adhesion between filler and matrix