Effect on Addition of Low Loading of Graphene Oxide to the Physical Characterization of Electrospun Polystyrene Fiber Mat

Electrospun fiber made from electrospinning process is popular in the development of flexible devices. For polystyrene to be applied in various application that will experience physical endurance such as bending, pulling and folding; graphene oxide was added as filler to enhance the mechanical strength of the fiber mat. Wet electrospinning of polystyrene and polystyrene embedded with low content of graphene oxide were carried out and the change of the physical characteristic was observed. Based on the morphology, the non-bead fiber diameter was decreased after the addition of the graphene oxide due to high conductivity of the polymer solution. In addition, the chemical reaction between polymer matrix is poorly resolved as shown in FTIR spectra of PS + GO, however in RAMAN spectra the G band of the GO peaks was observed in the PS + GO peak. There was also some interaction of GO polystyrene polymer chain as based on the XRD; the PS + GO peak were becoming less intense as compared to PS fiber. Finally, the mechanical strength of the PS + GO fiber was also increased upon the addition of the GO despite of the addition of GO is considered small, ranging around 0.01, proving the dispersion of the low loading of nanofiller inside the fiber mat. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.