Super-tough artificial nacre based on graphene oxide via synergistic interface interactions of π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding

Inspired by interfacial interactions of protein matrix and the crystal platelets in nacre, herein, a super-tough artificial nacre was produced through constructing the synergistic interface interactions of π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding between graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and sulfonated styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene copolymer synthesized with multifunctional benzene. The resultant GO-based artificial nacre showed super-high toughness of 15.3 ± 2.5 MJ/m³, superior to natural nacre and other GO-based nanocomposites. The ultra-tough property of the novel nacre was attributed to synergistic effect of π-π stacking interactions and hydrogen bonding. This bioinspired synergistic toughening strategy opens a new avenue for constructing high performance GO-based nanocomposites in the near future.