Interactive oxidation-reduction reaction for the in situ synthesis of graphene-phenol formaldehyde composites with enhanced properties.

We report a facile in situ synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-phenol formaldehyde (PF) composites with an interactive oxidation-reduction reaction. In this interactive chemical reaction, graphene oxide (GO) was reduced to RGO by phenol, and simultaneously phenol was oxidized to benzoquinone. The noncovalently adsorbed phenol on the RGO surface can not only serve as an effective reductant but also participate in the in situ polymerization and guide the formation of PF on the RGO surface. RGO-PF composites with different RGO contents were prepared successfully and further characterized with fluorescent spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and thermal resistance of the created RGO-PF were investigated. The results indicated that the dispersity of RGO in the PF matrix and the interfacial interaction between RGO and PF were improved greatly because of formation of the RGO-PF hybrid in the in situ synthesis. The homogeneous dispersion and in situ polymerization of RGO sheets help to enhance the thermal conductivity of RGO-PF composites from 0.1477 to 0.3769 W m(-1) K(-1) and endow the composites with a good electrical conductivity. In addition, the well-dispersed RGO-PF composites are much more effective in improving their mechanical property and heat resistance.