Strong graphene oxide nanocomposites from aqueous hybrid liquid crystals

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14618-0
• Publication Date: 2020-02-11T11:02:39Z
• Authors: Maruti Hegde; Lin Yang; Francesco Vita; Ryan J. Fox; Renee van de Wate...; Ben Norder; Ugo Lafont; Oriano Francescan...; Louis A. Madsen; Stephen J. Picken; Edward T. Samulski; Theo J. Dingemans
• Keywords: Polymer nanocomposite

Abstract Combining polymers with small amounts of stiff carbon-based nanofillers such as graphene or oxide is expected to yield low-density nanocomposites exceptional mechanical properties. However, have remained elusive because incompatibilities between fillers and that are further compounded by processing difficulties. Here we report a water-based process obtain highly reinforced nanocomposite films simple mixing two liquid crystalline solutions: colloidal nematic phase comprised platelets formed rod-like high-performance aramid. Upon drying the resulting hybrid biaxial phase, robust, structural oxide.