CANDLENUT SHELL-DERIVED GRAPHENE OXIDE FOR ENHANCED IONIC AND MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF CMC COMPOSITES
Boy Chandra Sitanggang (a,b*), Paulina Taba (a), Sun Theo Constan Lotebulu Ndruru (c), Djabal Nur Basir (a)

a) Departemen Kimia, Fakultas MIPA, Universitas Hasanuddin Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 10, Tamalanrea, Makassar 90245, Indonesia
b) Prodi Analisis Kimia, Akademi Komunitas Industri Manufaktur Bantaeng, Bantaeng, Sulawesi Selatan 92461, Indonesia
*boycsitanggang[at]akom-bantaeng.ac.id
c) Research Center for Chemistry, Research Organization for Nanotechnology and Materials (ORNM), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), KST B.J. Habibie, Tangerang Selatan, Banten,Indonesia

Abstract

Achieving simultaneous improvement in ionic conductivity and mechanical performance in polymer composites remains a critical challenge, particularly when using sustainable, bio-derived fillers. In this study, graphene oxide derived from candlenut shell biomass was synthesized via a modified Hummers method and used as filler in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composites with varying loadings (1-5 wt%). Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed the successful oxidation of biochar. The incorporation of graphene oxide significantly enhanced both ionic conductivity and mechanical properties, with optimal performance observed at 1% filler loading, attributed to the formation of effective ion transport pathways and improved stress transfer. At higher loadings, however, agglomeration effects led to decreased performance, highlighting a non-linear structure-property relationship. These findings demonstrate the potential of candlenut shell-derived graphene oxide as a sustainable and efficient nanofiller for the development of high-performance CMC-based composites for advanced functional applications.

Keywords: Biomass, filler, ionic conductivity, graphene oxide, mechanical properties

Topic: Analytical Chemistry