Influence of graphene oxide on the properties of composite polyacrylonitrile membranes

This paper presents the results of research on the synthesis of graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile (GO/PAN) composite membranes from N,N-dimethylformamide solution using a phase inversion method. Our studies have shown that the presence of GO has a significant effect on the physical and chemical properties of the composite material, which is also confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, GO has been found to improve the transport properties and prevent fouling behavior. Qualitative studies of the composition of the membranes using an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique proved the presence of GO on the surface of the GO/PAN membrane and, simultaneously, the lack of bands characteristic for PAN, which may explain the phenomena occurring during the transport of liquid through GO/PAN membranes. Thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetery) confirmed that when graphene oxide is incorporated into the polymer matrix at a level of at least 4%, the properties of the GO/PAN composites are distinctly changed, and the PAN cyclization temperature is much lower. Wide-angle X-ray scattering patterns, on the other hand, showed good dispersion of GO in the composite membranes.