During HIPER-G project we have successfully adopted and modified the semi-continuous set-up which had been developed during UP-GREEN project for the production of functionalized graphene. Therefore, we are now able to in-situ functionalize the Electrochemical exfoliated Graphene (EG) with different groups such as conductive polymers, polyolefins, alkyls and amines in large scale (50 g/day). The produced materials exhibit high dispersibility and processability in different matrix such as solvents (water, alcohols, cyclohexanone and etc) and polymers (epoxy and elastomers). Moreover, in-situ functionalization process protects the EG sheets from oxidation by hydroxyl radicals which are created by water splitting during the electrochemical exfoliation in aqueous electrolyte. Therefore, the achieved functionalized EG materials possess high sheet conductivity up to 800 S/cm without any further treatment which is much higher than pristine EG with 200 S/cm sheet conductivity. Currently, the produced inks, dispersions and polymer composites out of these functionalized graphene materials have industrial customers which collaborate with the Spin-off company which have been created in the UP-GREEN project and expanded within HIPER-G.
Except industrial partners, we have also built different scientific collaborations through the chair. The result of these collaborations showed that the functionalized graphene possesses better dispersibility than unfunctionalized graphene and other carbon materials including CNT1 in epoxy polymer matrix. Moreover, the produced graphene/epoxy composite showed improved mechanical properties at low loading (2 wt%)2.
Except polymer composite, the produced functionalized graphene materials have been used in the field the energy devices such as battery3-4 and supercapacitor5-6.
