Preparation and Properties of Polystyrene Functionalized Graphene Nanosheeets by In Situ Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Graphene, a two dimensional monoatomic thick building block of a carbon allotrope displays a unique combination of electronic, chemical and mechanical properties. Excellentproperties and inexpensive sources (graphite) have spurred intensive interest in developing cost-effective, highperformancepolymer nanocomposites. However, the utilization of graphene in polymer nanocomposites inevitably depends on the ability to achieve homogeneous dispersion ofgraphene nanosheets in the matrix. Functionalization of graphene sheets makes them more soluble for their integrationinto different matrices [1,2]. Graphene oxide (GO) has been shown to function as an excellent precursor to various graphene-based materials.Herein we report an in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) grafting from method to functionalize graphene oxide. Hydroxyl groups on the surfaceof GO were first functionalized with an ATRP initiator and then polystyrene were grown from initiator-functionalized GO.