Covalent and noncovalent functionalization of graphene oxide: Enhancing dispersibility in polymer fracturing fluids
Mengjie Yu, Chunming Yang, Chunyuan Zhou, Yang Liu, Jieyi Shi, Yifan Li, Chengfeng Song, Jinhan Liu, Yu Yang, Yuan Wang, Piaowei Yu, Yuzhu Fan, Chengyu ZhouAbstract
In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the improved Hummers method and functionalized through covalent modification with GTMAC and non‐covalent modification with SDBS. Structural characterization confirmed successful modification, with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrating that GTMAC formed covalent bonds via epoxy group ring‐opening, while SDBS was adsorbed through hydrogen bonding. The modified materials exhibited significantly increased hydrodynamic diameters (with GO‐SDBS at 19.5 μm and GO‐GTMAC at 17.6 μm, compared to 4.61 μm for pristine GO) along with substantially enhanced wettability (as evidenced by contact angles decreasing to 38° and 39° from 52° for GO). The AASL/GO‐GTMAC composite system showed significantly improved dispersibility in polymers, providing important insights for GO surface functionalization strategies in polymer materials.