Roll-to-roll graphene oxide radon barrier membranes

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2020-02, Vol.383, p.121148, Article 121148
• Main Authors: Gong, Myoung-Seon, Cha, Jae-Ryung, Hong, Suk Min, Lee, Cheolmin, Lee, Dong Hyun, Joo, Sang-Woo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Density functional theory; Graphene oxide; Polymer resin; Radon barrier; Roll-to-roll
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121148

[Display omitted] •Graphene oxide polymer resin was prepared as a radon barrier.•A 5 μm graphene oxide polymer resin layer was coated by the roll-to-roll method.•Roll-to-roll membranes exhibited efficient barrier properties for 222Rn.•DFT calculations suggested weaker binding energies of 222Rn on the oxide surfaces.•Higher energy barriers of 222Rn were predicted at graphene nanopores. Graphene oxide as a radon barrier in living environments was introduced by intercalating the polymer resin-coated layer inside a multilayer membrane with an area of 1 × 10 m and a thickness of 2.5 mm, prepared by the roll-to-roll method. A 5 μm-thick graphene oxide polymer resin (GOPR) layer was coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film (100 μm) between the two styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified bitumen asphalt layers fitted for construction sites. The inserted graphene oxide materials were characterized by means of infrared, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested weaker binding energies on the oxide surfaces and higher penetration energy barriers of graphene nanopores for radon (222Rn) than in the cases of the atmospheric gas molecules Ar, H2O, CO2, H2, O2, and N2. Theoretical calculations of the graphene nanopores supported the higher barrier energies of 222Rn than most ambient gases. The roll-to-roll prepared graphene materials exhibited good barrier properties for 222Rn as well as for the ambient gases. The purpose of our experimental and theoretical study is to provide a better understanding of using graphene-based materials to reduce the risk of carcinogenic radon gas in construction sites and residential buildings for practical applications.