Silane grafted graphene oxide papers for improved flame resistance and fast fire alarm response

Flame-retardant silane-grafted-graphene oxide (silane-GO) papers are fabricated via a green and versatile silane-assisted assembling strategy, and their use as early fire alarm sensors are investigated. Different silane molecules with alkoxy groups can react with GO in aqueous solution via hydrolysis and condensation reactions and thus assemble into the aligned silane-GO papers. The silane-GO papers exhibit good mechanical flexibility, strong acidic/alkaline tolerance, excellent flame resistance and improved thermal stability at low silane content in comparison with pure GO paper. Structure observation and analysis disclose that a compact nano-silica protective layer transformed from the grafted silane molecules during combustion is formed to inhibit the thermal degradation of GO sheet effectively. Furthermore, the insulating silane-GO paper can be thermally reduced into the conductive reduced GO network after encountering high-temperature or flame situation, thus providing ideal early fire alarm response, i.e. rapid flame detecting response time of ∼1.6 s and fire early warning response of ∼5 s when attach on the heat resistor. These results suggest that the silane-GO papers are promising for development of advanced materials as smart sensors in early fire alarm applications.