Self-Healable Polymer Nanocomposites Capable of Simultaneously Recovering Multiple Functionalities

Lixin Xing, Qi Li, Guangzu Zhang, Xiaoshan Zhang, Feihua Liu, Li Liu, Yudong Huang, Qing Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

The continuous evolution toward electronics with high power densities and integrated circuits with smaller feature sizes and faster speeds places high demands on a set of material properties, namely, the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of polymer dielectrics. Herein, a supramolecular approach is described to self-healable polymer nanocomposites that are mechanically robust and capable of restoring simultaneously structural, electrical, dielectric, and thermal transport properties after multiple fractures. With the incorporation of surface-functionalized boron nitride nanosheets, the polymer nanocomposites exhibit many desirable features as dielectric materials such as higher breakdown strength, larger electrical resistivity, improved thermal conductivity, greater mechanical strength, and much stabilized dielectric properties when compared to the pristine polymer. It is found that the recovery condition has remained the same during sequential cycles of cutting and healing, therefore suggesting no aging of the polymer nanocomposites with mechanical breakdown. Moreover, moisture has a minimal effect on the healing and dielectric properties of the polymer nanocomposites, which is in stark contrast to what is typically observed in the hydrogen-bonded supramolecular structures. Supramolecular polymer nanocomposites can be healed efficiently and repeatedly to fully recover multiple functionalities in addition to structural integrity. The introduction of surface-modified boron nitride nanosheets leads to the nanocomposites exhibiting superior mechanical strength, improved electrical resistivity, higher breakdown strength, enhanced thermal conductivity, and stabilized dielectric properties compared to the pristine polymer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3524-3531
Number of pages8
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume26
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 24 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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