2022 Annual Meeting
Graphene Oxide and Polymer-Based Composite Films As Barriers for Personal Protective Equipment
Graphene oxide films have exceptional barrier properties, blocking almost all chemicals except for water vapor. The main drawbacks of using these films in broader applications include the brittleness and lack of water stability seen in pure graphene oxide films. Fortunately, graphene oxide films can be modified to create tough, lightweight, water-stable protective barriers. To create composite films that are breathable and flexible enough to be used in fabric, several combinations of polymers and crosslinkers can be mixed homogeneously with graphene oxide to maximize the above-stated features. Alternatively, polymers and crosslinkers can be painted onto plain graphene oxide sheets to make them tougher and water stable. Carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylcellulose, aqueous polyurethanes, polyethyleneimine, and bis(2-aminopropyl) ether are some of the polymers that were tested in combination with carbodiimide crosslinkers and glutaraldehyde to maximize the toughness and water stability of the graphene oxide films. By creating and using these high-performance graphene oxide films in personal protective equipment, we can create lab equipment strong enough to withstand chemical warfare agents while remaining breathable. To accomplish this, we use polymers that bind strongly to graphene oxide sheets while using crosslinkers to ensure that aqueous polymers become water-stable. After creating these films, we conduct qualitative tests for toughness and water stability. We found that adding carboxymethyl cellulose to graphene oxide created one of the toughest films we have made to date, though it was not water-stable. The toughest and most water-stable film we have created so far consisted of methyl cellulose crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Though we are still working to find the best polymer-crosslinker combination to produce the toughest and most water-stable graphene oxide film, we have made significant progress in this area.