Effect of the Functional Groups of Polymers on Their Adsorption Behavior on Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

Abstract Graphene‐based polymer nanocomposites are emerging materials for both fundamental research and industrial applications. The influence of polymer functional groups on their adsorption behavior onto graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets is investigated, with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (PMMA‐co‐MAA), and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) having the same backbone but different functional side groups selected as the model polymers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction results confirm the interfacial interaction between the polymer and GO. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals notable enhancements in the amount of the adsorbed polymer up to 30.6 wt.% for PMMA‐co‐MAA/GO and 49.7 wt.% PMAA/GO compared with 18.7 wt.% for PMMA/GO. The water contact angle decreases from 71.3 o for PMMA/GO to 69.1° for PMMA‐co‐MAA/GO and to 61.2° for PMAA/GO. The further washing process reduces the adsorption amount for the polymer/GO hybrid. Overall, the polar functional groups of the polymer directly influence the polymer adsorption behavior onto GO.