Silver Nanoparticles Decorated Graphene Filled PVDF/PMMA Blends with Advanced electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties

In this paper, silver nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO-Ag) nanohybrids were prepared using an environmentally-friendly approach and incorporated as reinforcement in poly(vinylidene fluoride)-poly(methyl methacrylate) blends via melt mixing process. The effect of rGO-Ag nanohybrids was studied on various properties of the blends using different characterization methods. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results confirmed the successful synthesis of rGO-Ag nanohybrids. The mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the resulting rGO-Ag filled nanocomposites were investigated using tensile, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and impedance spectroscopy methods. The Halpin-Tsai model also adjusted for PVDF/PMMA/rGO-Ag composites and the results confirmed that this model works well for the prediction of the tensile modulus. Investigation of mechanical properties demonstrated that the presence of rGO-Ag nanohybrids increased the yield strength and elastic modulus of the samples with the addition of only 1 wt % to the chosen blend sample. Impedance spectroscopy test results showed that the addition of rGO-Ag nanohybrids to PVDF/PMMA blend can effectively enhance the conductivity of the blends. Finally, TGA results demonstrated that the addition of rGO-Ag nanohybrids affected the thermal behavior of the samples and increased the thermal stability and degradation temperature of the resulting nanocomposites compared to the base PVDF/PMMA blend.