Entropy‐Driven Self‐Healing of Metal Oxides Assisted by Polymer–Inorganic Hybrid Materials. Issue 30 (20th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yurkevich, Oksana; Modin, Evgeny; Šarić, Iva; Petravić, Mladen; Knez, Mato
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 34:Issue 30(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-06-20
• Subjects: hybrid materials -- self‐healing -- semiconductors -- transparent conductive oxide -- vapor‐phase infiltration; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202202989
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: Enabling self‐healing of materials is crucially important for saving resources and energy in numerous emerging applications. While strategies for the self‐healing of polymers are advanced, mechanisms for semiconducting inorganic materials are scarce due to the lack of suitable healing agents. Here a concept for the self‐healing of metal oxides is developed. This concept consists of metal oxide nanoparticle growth inside the bulk of halogenated polymers and their subsequent entropy‐driven migration to externally induced defect sites, leading to recovery of the defect. Herein, it is demonstrated that the pool of self‐healing materials is expanded to include semiconductors, thereby increasing the reliability and sustainability of functional materials through the use of metal oxides. It is revealed that electrical properties of tin‐doped indium oxide can be partially restored upon healing. Such properties are of immediate interest for the further development of transparent flexible electrodes. Abstract : Healing of defects in metal oxide (MeO) coatings occurs through rearrangement of Cl‐decorated MeO particles formed by vapor phase infiltration inside a polymer, segregation at the defect interface, and their subsequent hydrolysis in air.