Flexible self-healing nanocomposites for recoverable motion sensor. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Yang; Zhu, Benpeng; Yin, Di; Wei, Jianhong; Wang, Ziyu; Xiong, Rui; Shi, Jing; Liu, Zhengyou; Lei, Qingquan
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 17(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Self-healing -- High dielectric permittivity -- Percolation simulation -- Recoverable motion sensor -- Diels–Alder reaction; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.07.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: The recoverable motion sensor with high sensitivity was made based on flexible self-healing nanocomposites. The preparation of these nanocomposites involved incorporating surface-modified CaCu3 Ti4 O12 (S-CCTO) nanoparticles in self-healing polymer matrix based on dynamic Diels–Alder (DA) adducts. The dependences of electric and dielectric properties of the resultant composites on volume fractions of filler and frequency were investigated. It is found that composites present a high dielectric permittivity of 93 at 100 Hz with 17 vol% filler, approximately 36 times higher than that of pure film. These results agree well with the percolation theory. Furthermore, the hybrid film recovers its capacitance well following a cut and the self-healing process based on DA and retro-DA (r-DA) reaction. We herein show that a polymer matrix based on dynamic DA adducts can be used to make self-healing high-K polymer nanocomposites and recoverable motion sensors. This work may lead to new opportunities for the design and fabrication of various next-generation wearable sensor devices. Graphical abstract: Self-healing nanocomposites were fabricated by embedding surface modified CCTO nanoparticles (S-CCTO) in Diels–Alder cycloaddition polymeric (MT) matrix. Recoverable motion sensor was prepared by sputtering single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) on both surfaces of the nanocomposites to form SWNT/MT-S-CCTO/SWNT sandwich structure. The results show stable and sensitive response to the finger bending with an excellent recoverable manner. The capacitance dropped to a low level and the sensor lost the sensitivity after a cut on the surface. However, after heated at 105 °C for 30 min, the capacitance increased to its original value and retained its recovered sensitivity to the bending motion of finger. Highlights: The surface modification of CCTO provides the opportunity of nanoparticles to react with the polymer matrix based on DA bonds. The increase of dielectric permittivity will lead to the increase of capacitance with the same size, thus enable the sensitivity of the motion sensor. Upon being subjected to mechanical damage, lateral movement of the self healing composite layer brings the separated areas of the SWNT layer into contact, hence enabling the restoration of the device׳s configuration and conductivity. Recoverable motion sensor was made with a good recovery of sensitivity. This is attributed to the self healing property of the film that contributed to the recovery of the cracks as well as the electrodes on the surface.