Green Solvent Processed Cellulose/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Films with Superior Mechanical, Thermal and Ultraviolet Shielding Properties

This study reports for the first time, a green process to fabricate Lyocell fiber and graphene oxide (GO) based novel cellulose/graphene oxide nanocomposite (CGN) flexible films for ultraviolet (UV) shielding applications. Polyethelene glycol (PEG) mediated solvent system was utilized to make CGN films via solution casting route. To improve the dispersion of GO sheets in cellulosic matrix, a reactive interface was formed in-between cellulose and oxygenic functionalized groups of GO sheets via crosslinking them with epichlorohydrin (ECH). The addition of GO sheets in cellulose matrix leads to the synergistic changes, which were observed in the structure and surface morphology of CGN nanocomposite films. Enhanced dispersion of GO sheets in CGN films was observed in morphological investigations which is attributed to the adequate cellulose-GO interaction by hydrogen bonding, led to significant enhancement in mechanical and thermal properties. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of CGN films with 2wt% GO...