Facile preparation of graphene-based chitosan films: enhanced thermal, mechanical and antibacterial properties

Huang, N.M. and Lim, H.N. and Loo, C.H. (2012) Facile preparation of graphene-based chitosan films: enhanced thermal, mechanical and antibacterial properties. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 358 (3). pp. 525-530. ISSN 00223093,

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Abstract

Chitosan is considered a model polymer because of its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial property and metal binding ability. Despite the favorable properties, the poor mechanical strength and the loss of structural integrity limits the applications of chitosan. Graphene's intrinsic low weight with excellent thermal stability makes it an ideal filler for reinforcing polymers. In this work, we prepared graphene oxide (GO) via Hummer's method and simplified Hummer's method using graphite powder and graphite flakes as starting materials, respectively. The GO obtained using Hummer's method and simplified Hummer's method had a small area of less than 50 μm 2 and a large area of about 7000 μm 2, respectively. The small area GO and large area GO were reduced by sodium hydroxide, in which the reduced GO (rGO) with small area and large area were incorporated into a chitosan matrix, respectively, using a simplistic drop-casting technique to produce a thin film. Glass transition temperature (T g) and mechanical strength of chitosan/large area rGO at concentrations of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 wt. of GO were found to be better than chitosan/small area rGO. We also investigated the T g and mechanical strength between chitosan/small area GO and chitosan/small area rGO, where we discovered that the former had better thermal and tensile properties. By comparing the T g and mechanical strength of chitosan/small area GO against chitosan/large area GO, we found that the latter displayed superior thermal and tensile properties. Antibacterial tests were performed on the graphene-based chitosan composites and their ability to act as bactericide was manifested in the retardation of the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These composite materials with excellent thermal, tensile and antimicrobial properties find real-life applications in the physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical and bioengineering fields. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Antibacteria, Chitosan, Film, Graphene oxide, Nanocomposite, Anti-bacteria, Antibacterial properties, Antibacterial tests Antimicrobial property Chitosan composites Chitosan film Chitosan matrices Drop-casting Facile preparation Graphite flakes Graphite powder Low weight Metal binding Pseudomonas aeruginosa Real-life applications Small area Sodium hydroxides Thermal and tensile properties Bactericides Biocompatibility Biodegradable polymers Biodegradation Electric properties Filled polymers Film preparation Films Glass transition Graphene Graphite Nanocomposites Polymer films Sodium Tensile strength Mechanical properties
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Department of Physics
Depositing User: miss munirah saadom
Date Deposited: 27 Mar 2013 07:39
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2014 07:05
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/5269

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