Investigation of the Effect of Different Reducing Agents Used in the Production of Nanofibers with Graphene Oxide on Water Contact Angle and Determination of its Application Area

Studies investigating the functional properties of nanofiber structures are noteworthy due to the multidisciplinary nature of the subject. Graphene oxide-containing polymer solutions used to obtain nanofiber structures, which are part of a growing group of studies due to their numerous and diverse applications, are highly varied. The literature shows that different reducing agents are used in the preparation of polymer solutions and the reduction of graphene oxide. By choosing natural reducing agents, our study will serve as an example of an environmentally friendly approach and contribute to a sustainable environment. Wettability is a property that can be defined as the coverage of a surface with water or another liquid. The wettability property is determined by measuring the contact angle of the droplet on the structure. If the measured contact angle is less than 90 degrees, the surface is wettable; if it is greater than 90 degrees, the surface is non-wettable [1]. This surface condition is a characteristic that will determine the product's area of application. This study aims to investigate how the water contact angles of nanofiber structures produced under the same conditions will change with the variation of reducing agents and to determine their areas of application. In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and graphene oxide (GO)-reinforced PVDF nanofibers were formed on polyester spunbond nonwoven fabric coated with an aqueous dispersion of graphene oxide using the dip-coating method and the electrospinning method. Graphene oxide dip-coated spunbond nonwoven fabric was used as the substrate fabric. Subsequently, PVDF and GO-modified PVDF nanofiber surfaces were formed on GO-coated and reduced nonwoven fabrics using the electrospinning method. Polymer solutions were prepared as pure PVDF containing 0.5% by weight, 1% by weight, and 2% by weight GO. A chemical reduction process was applied to nonwoven spunbond fabric coated with graphene oxide and containing GO-doped PVDF nanofibers using vitamin C and rosehip extract powder. Water contact angle results were evaluated to determine functional properties. Vitamin C and rosehip were identified as two natural reducing agents for the reduction of graphene oxide. The use of nature- and human-friendly reducing agents is consistent with the principle of sustainability.