Ultra-Rapid Assembly of Graphene Oxide Macroscopic Materials Enabled by Low-Surface-Tension Solvent

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials assembled macroscopic materials via bottom-up approach are extensively utilized across various domains, attributable to their capacity to retain the desirable properties of individual nanosheets. However, the dense structure formed during assembly restricts solvent molecule passage, leading to prolonged preparation times. Traditional methods struggle to create larger and more solvent channels. Herein, we propose a strategy to achieve ultra-fast assembly of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets by manipulating the solvent’s surface tension to form a bouffant structure. This approach enables GO membrane assembly in only 10 s, which is 24,660 times faster than that of conventional water-based methods (over 2.85 days). Our analysis of solvents with varying surface tensions demonstrates that low surface tension, rather than solvent’s relative molecular weight, significantly impacts the assembly rate. This rapid assembly process enables GO membranes to attain thicknesses of several centimeters, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional bottom-up techniques. The resulting GO macro-materials exhibit considerable potential for diverse applications, from thin membranes for waste management to thick blocks for electromagnetic interference shielding and mechanical sensors. This work offers valuable insights into the rapid assembly of macroscopic structures from GO and potentially other 2D lamellar materials.

Keywords: ultra-rapid assembly, Graphene Oxide, macroscopic material, low surface tension, solvent