Non‐Aqueous Emulsion Templating for <scp>rGO</scp> ‐Reinforced Conductive Polymeric Monoliths and Microbeads

Abstract

ABSTRACT Novel monolith structures and microbeads were developed using oil‐in‐oil emulsion precursors/templates. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was successfully synthesized and well‐characterized with TEM, FTIR, TGA, Raman spectroscopy, and UV–visible analyses. The high dispersibility of rGO in styrene, which is not the case in either water or glycerin, proves its hydrophobic nature with a much lesser extent of hydrophilicity. This intrinsic character qualifies it for use as a stabilizer. Consequently, the suggested emulsion route was stabilized using the Pickering system comprising rGO nanosheets. This strategy incorporates many tunable parameters, which enables to tailor structures with interesting features extending to, but not limited to, high conductivity and a wide range of porosity, as revealed from the electrical conductivity measurements and images taken using a scanning electron microscope. The difference in electrical conductivity between the monoliths and microbeads can be better correlated to percolation extent according to the dispersibility of rGO in the corresponding styrene phase of the emulsion system, whether it was dispersed or continuous, and the amount of rGO stabilizer as well. Additionally, the thermogravimetric analysis indicated enhanced resistance to thermal degradation over a wide temperature range. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first article of its type discussing fabrication of conductive polymer (rGO‐stabilized monoliths and microbeads) via oil‐in‐oil emulsification route. The novel strategy and/or monoliths/microbeads structures open many opportunities for versatile advanced applications in many fields, i.e., catalysis, conductive adhesives, sensing, electrode scaffolding, and separation technologies.