The first thing should be to know if the material is oriented for having the chance to observe it in the relevant direction. Thus, platelets tend to self-orientate mutually with each other because of their shape, and this is even more true if the polymer is in the form of a film. In this condition, the platelets orientate parallel to the film surfaces. The same will happen in a thicker material, but more probably near the surfaces only. Once you guess where the platelets are prone to be oriented, you can see the orientation by SEM (if the material is observed within the thickness, not in the plane), and the orientation can be also quantified by XRD. The latter technique allows determining the mosaic spread when the sample is rotated, take a look at Fig. 2 of the attached file.
Alain
I think SEM, TEM , AFM and XRD can give you enough information to be sure about the graphene oxide platlets orientation in a polymer matrix.
Nature of sample and sample preparation will play an efficient role.
Kind regards,
Gowhar
I think SAXS, SEM and TEM can characterise the orientation of GO. Polarised Raman could be also appriate. TEM would be very difficult to prepare the ultrathin specimen, so SEM is easier but you need to etch the sample surface to expose the GO. Good luck!
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