Abstract

Graphene/polystyrene nanocomposites were prepared by water-based in situ microemulsion polymerization. Graphene was synthesized from graphite oxide, and then modified by diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid. FT-IR spectrum indicated the presence of functional group SO₃^- on the surface of graphene. It helps graphene not aggregate in water after reduced by NaBH₄, which supported water-based microemulsion process. Ranman spectrum and Tramission Electronic Microscopy (TEM) showed graphene dispersed well in polystyrene matrix. However, there were still some tactoids where graphene had multilayer. The addition of GO increased the glass transition temperature of the PS/GO composites. The storage modulus and thermal stability of the nanocomposites were also improved compared with PS.