Transparent polyimide/graphene oxide nanocomposite with improved moisture barrier property

Colorless and organo-soluble polyimide (PI) films have been synthesized from an alicyclic dianhydride BCDA and aromatic diamine 3,4′-ODA in the cosolvent of DMAc and GBL via one-step process. The graphene oxide (GO) was mixed with the above PI in DMAc solution to fabricate the PI/GO nanocomposite films. With the addition of only 0.001 wt% of GO in PI matrix, the resultant nanocomposite (PI/GO-0.001) exhibits not only the enhanced resistance to moisture but also retains superior visible light transmission, enhanced mechanical strength, and excellent dimensional stability, simultaneously. The water-vapor-transmission-rate (WVTR) significantly reduced to 30 g mil m−2 day−1 for this nanocomposite compared to 181 g mil m−2 day−1 for pure PI. Notably, the PI/GO-0.001 nanocomposite also exhibits low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 41 ppm °C−1, which is benefited from the homogeneous distribution of ultrathin GO nanosheets in PI matrix.