Abstract

In this study, composite aerogels based on graphene oxide (GO) and melamine (MM), obtained by freeze-drying of hydrogels after ultrasonic treatment of aqueous suspensions, have been systematically studied for the first time. It was shown that the addition of melamine leads to an increase in the aerogel density from 12 to 22 mg/cm3, a change in its color, and the formation of a structure reminiscent of nacre. Using IR spectroscopy, Raman scattering, TGA, and DSC, it was established that during synthesis, partial reduction of GO, hydrolysis of sulfate groups, and strong intermolecular (including possible covalent) interactions between the components occur. The exothermic peak for GO aerogel (ΔH ~1480 J/g, ~220 °C) shifts to a lower temperature region in the composite. MM/GO composite aerogels demonstrate record sorption capacity for organic solvents (up to 86 g/g) and mineral-oil (66 g/g), significantly surpassing known analogs. A key limitation was identified—the leaching of melamine by water, which reduces water sorption by 15 times after the first cycle. The obtained materials can be considered promising for eliminating spills of organic liquids and petroleum products.

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