EFFECT OF GRAPHENE OXIDE (GO) ON THE PROPERTIES OF ITS NANOCOMPOSITE WITH POLY (N-VINYL CARBAZOLE) (PVK)

Purpose of Study-- Herein we report the preparation of poly(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) and graphene oxide (GO) or nanocomposite was carried out by solution mixing process with the aid of sonication. Solutions of the GO with the PVK were prepared using mixed solvents aided by sonication which resulted in exfoliation and disaggregation of the GO into the PVK polymer matrix. Methodology-- In this work, the PVK/GO was prepared from exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets using solution mixing process with the aid of sonication in a suitable solvent like N-cyclohexyl-2- pyrrolidone (CHP).  The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized using XRD, DSC, FTIR-KBr, UV-Vis and EIS analysis. Main Findings-- The preparation of PVK/GO nanocomposites was carried out by solution mixing process with the aid of sonication.  Using this method in dispersing the GO both exfoliation of the GOinto the PVK polymer matrix was attained.  Nanocomposite solution comprising GO wrapped within PVK polymer matrix was characterized using TGA, XRD, and EIS analysis. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and XRD invoked the wrapping of GO outer surfaces by PVK.  The thermal properties of PVK/GO nanocomposites were analyzed using TGA.  Correlation of impedance data and XRD provided a structural rationale for PVK/GO nanocomposites.  Application of Study-- The PVK/GO nanocomposites can be applied to various applications such as precursor polymer for hole-transporting materials and for electro nanopatterning. Limitations-- The study is limited to the characterization of the prepared GO and PVK/GO nanocomposites.  Possible applications of the composites were not part of the study. The originality of Study-- The findings of the study show that it is possible to prepare graphene/PVK nanocomposites using solution mixing process.