Si-doped graphene in geopolymer: Its interfacial chemical bonding, structure evolution and ultrastrong reinforcing ability

LW Zhang and MF Kai and XH Chen, CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES, 109, 103522 (2020).

DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103522

Low-cost synthesis of silicon-doped graphene (Si-graphene) is attractive for the development of new graphene/geopolymer nanocomposites. In this work, a new insight into the properties of Si-graphene and the working mechanisms of Si-graphene in geopolymer is provided via molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that Sidoping deteriorates the mechanical properties of graphene as Si-doping creates point defects, but it improves the surface hydmphilicity, which promotes its dispersion in aqueous media. By studying the polymerization process of Al(OH)(4)/Si(OH)(4) monomers on Si-graphene, it is found that Si- graphene can be chemically bonded with geopolymer matrix by typical condensation reactions. Structural analysis reveals that the interfacial bonding has a beneficial effect on condensing the geopolymer composites, due to a denser interphase region. The tensile test reveals that the Young's modulus of 10% Si-graphene/geopolymer nanocomposites is twice larger than that of graphene/geopolymer nanocomposites. In addition, the interfacial bonding can strengthen the interfacial structure and arrest crack formation in geopolymer matrices.

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