Application of Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy in the study of two-dimensional material/fibre hybrid composites

Abstract

The past two decades have witnessed a boom for two-dimensional (2D) materials in both the academic and industrial world. Graphene was the first isolated and the mostly investigated 2D material due to its unique structure and extraordinary properties such as high mechanical properties, and electrical as well as thermal conductivity. In addition to the theoretical studies and practical applications concerning itself, it has been incorporated into various composite systems in an attempt to improve the properties of the original matrices further. Two-part composites comprised of only graphene and polymer matrices are commonly seen, in contrast, hybrid systems consisting of the graphene, fibre and matrix, are relatively less discussed. This is an area where more efforts can be exerted since fibre-reinforced composites have played a significant role in many high-end industrial applications such as automotive and aerospace given their high specific stiffness and strength, as well as low cost compared with the traditional metal counterpart, not to mention the well-developed manufacturing process of fibres and fibre-reinforced composites. Thereby, this project aims to explore the part that the graphene, or in a broader sense, 2D materials, can play in a hybrid system. Two main aspects will be focused on in the project: the reinforcement mechanics of graphene in a fibre/matrix composite and the strain sensing of 2D materials (including graphene and molybdenum disulfide) on the fibre/matrix interface with the assistance of Raman or photoluminescence spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy has been proven to be a particular powerful tool in not only characterising but also following the deformation behaviour of graphene-based materials. It can be utilised to better understand how graphene can as a reinforcing phase or be coupled with graphene to work as strain sensors for fibre-reinforced composites. Analogously, photoluminescence spectroscopy can capture the strain-induced band structure change for few-layer molybdenum disulfide in a similar way to graphene.

Date of Award	31 Dec 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Robert Young (Supervisor) & Mark Bissett (Supervisor)