Covalent Cross-Linked Graphene Oxide Aerogels for Moisture Adsorption

Covalent cross-linking is an effective approach to enhance the hydrophilicity and water adsorption properties of graphene oxide (GO). We studied moisture absorption in GO cross-linked with poly(ethylene glycol) diamines. At relative humidity (RH) of 85%, the PEG-cross-linked GO exhibited a significantly enhanced water uptake capacity of 0.59 gram of water per gram of GO (gg-1), compared to 0.37 for unmodified GO. This is attributed to the presence of alkoxy groups via cross-linking, resulting in the enhanced interaction between GO and water molecules. These findings highlight the potential of PEG-based covalent functionalisation for efficient moisture capture in GO-based materials.