Large scale preparation of graphene oxide/cellulose paper with improved mechanical performance and gas barrier properties by conventional papermaking method

•A mechanical strong and high gas-barrier graphene oxide (GO)/cellulose paper was obtained.•The improved performance was accomplished by coating GO onto cellulose fibers before papermaking.•Cationic polyacrylamide was found able to induce layer-by-layer self-assembly of cellulose fibers and GO.•A breakthrough of largely increased GO loading ratio (up to 16 wt%) was achieved.

Graphene oxide (GO)/cellulose paper was prepared by adding aqueous dispersion of GO into cellulose fiber pulp in a traditional papermaking procedure. Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) was added as a mordant to induce the self-assembly of GO layers on the fiber surfaces. The surface morphology, mechanical properties and gas permeability of GO/cellulose paper with varying GO contents were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile test, burst test, tear test and densometer. It was found that CPAM could prevent the self-aggregation of GO in fiber matrix and increase the loading efficiency of GO to up to 16 wt% without sacrificing the mechanical performances of the paper. This finding permitted the large scale preparation of GO/cellulose paper with high doping amount of GO, which exhibited dense and compact geometry and low gas permeability ideal for potential packaging applications.