Thermally driven self-healing PEDOT conductive films relying on reversible and multiple Diels–Alder interaction

Thermally healing capability of cracks and defects is important and urgent for the safe operation and life extending of electric materials and devices. Here, by the combination of thermally driven reversible Diels–Alder (DA) interaction and in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), a series of intrinsically conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/DA composites possess intrinsically self-healing property under low-temperature (reverse DA reaction at 100°C; DA crosslinking at 60°C) stimulus were achieved. The crosslinking DA bonding reactions are multiple from the co-existence of pre-synthesized macromolecular polyurethane attached DA units (PU-DA) and 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol (DADOL) in the films. PU-DA involved in the polymerization process of EDOT to endow PEDOT with outstanding solution-processability, uniform film making, and structural self-healing capability, while DADOL was added to enhance the cross bonding between polymer chains. This work will accelerate the research and application development of intrinsically self-healing conducting polymers for commercial capacitors, antistatic coatings, implantable, printable electronics, and so on.     

A Self-Healing Metal–Organic Hydrogel for an All-Solid Flexible Supercapacitor

A zinc containing metal–organic gel (Zn-MOG) with embedded free ions, which exhibits self-healing properties, has been synthesized for application in supercapacitors. The activated carbon-based flexible supercapacitor device with the MOG electrolyte has a broad potential window of 2.1 V, with high retention of specific capacitance compared to the traditional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based gel. The Zn-MOG does not require an additional electrolyte. The sodium and sulphate ions embedded in the MOG are sufficient enough for the charge storage.     

Grubbs-inspired metathesis in the Moore group

Alkene metathesis has proven to be a powerful method for carbon carbon bond formation, particularly in the field of polymer and materials science. The availability of various tailor-made catalysts not only enables the synthesis of well-defined polymers but facilitates the development of functional, stimuli–responsive materials. This highlight, dedicated to Professor Robert Grubbs on his 75th birthday, focuses on the various research efforts in our group utilizing both alkene and alkyne metatheses and the interesting materials derived from them. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2935–2948     

Deep-Eutectic-Solvent-Based Self-Healing Polymer Electrolyte for Safe and Long-Life Lithium-Metal Batteries

The deployment of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries has been greatly impeded by Li dendrite growth and safety concerns originating from flammable liquid electrolytes. Herein, we report a stable quasi-solid-state Li metal battery with a deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based self-healing polymer (DSP) electrolyte. This electrolyte was fabricated in a facile manner by in situ copolymerization of 2-(3-(6-methyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)ureido)ethyl methacrylate (UPyMA) and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETEA) monomers in a DES-based electrolyte containing fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as an additive. The well-designed DSP electrolyte simultaneously possesses non-flammability, high ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability, and dendrite-free Li plating. When applied in Li metal batteries with a LiMn₂O₄ cathode, the DSP electrolyte effectively suppressed manganese dissolution from the cathode and enabled high-capacity and a long lifespan at room and elevated temperatures.     

Stretchable Perovskite Solar Cells with Recoverable Performance

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a promising photovoltaic technology for stretchable applications because of their flexible, light‐weight, and low‐cost characteristics. However, the fragility of crystals and poor crystallinity of perovskite on stretchable substrates results in performance loss. In fact, grain boundary defects are the “Achilles’ heel” of optoelectronic and mechanical stability. We incorporate a self‐healing polyurethane (s‐PU) with dynamic oxime–carbamate bonds as a scaffold into the perovskite films, which simultaneously enhances crystallinity and passivates the grain boundary of the perovskite films. The stretchable PSCs with s‐PU deliver a stabilized efficiency of 19.15 % with negligible hysteresis, which is comparable to the performance on rigid substrates. The PSCs can maintain over 90 % of their initial efficiency after 3000 hours in air because of their self‐encapsulating structure. Importantly, the self‐healing function of the s‐PU scaffold was verified in situ. The s‐PU can release mechanical stress and repair cracks at the grain boundary on multiple levels. The devices recover 88 % of their original efficiency after 1000 cycles at 20 % stretch. We believe that this ingenious growth strategy for crystalline semiconductors will facilitate development of flexible and stretchable electronics.     

镍钛记忆合金自补偿磨粒磨损性能研究

研究了高临界温度镍钛记忆合金一维自补偿磨粒磨损特性.结果表明,在一定温度下,镍钛记忆合金在摩擦过程中具有形状恢复能力,从而产生一维磨损自补偿作用.超弹状态镍钛记忆合金具有热弹性马氏体相变、高阻尼、应力感生马氏体、超弹性、高应变硬化指数和时效弥散析出强化等特性,这使得硬度较低的镍钛合金的耐磨性能远优于硬度较高的淬火45#钢.利用超弹状态镍钛记忆合金的磨损自补偿作用可望开发出新型抗磨形状记忆合金产品.     

硫化天然橡胶的本征自修复与固相回收加工

通过小分子模拟试验和应力松弛,发现甲基丙烯酸铜(MA-Cu)比氯化铜(CuCl_2)更适合用作硫化天然橡胶中二硫键交换反应催化剂,并且硫化天然橡胶中的二硫键交换反应需要在高于120°C的温度下才能高效进行,这保障了相关制品在较低温工作时的结构与性能稳定.进一步的实验结果表明,硫化天然橡胶在MA-Cu辅助作用下获得了多次自修复与固相回收加工性能,损伤自修复后的硫化天然橡胶与固相回收加工的再生硫化天然橡胶,其拉伸强度均可恢复到原始材料强度的80%左右.     

Anti‐freezing,Conductive Self‐healing Organohydrogels with Stable Strain‐Sensitivity at Subzero Temperatures

Conductive hydrogels are a class of stretchable conductive materials that are important for various applications. However, water‐based conductive hydrogels inevitably lose elasticity and conductivity at subzero temperatures, which severely limits their applications at low temperatures. Herein we report anti‐freezing conductive organohydrogels by using an H₂O/ethylene glycol binary solvent as dispersion medium. Owing to the freezing tolerance of the binary solvent, our organohydrogels exhibit stable flexibility and strain‐sensitivity in the temperature range from −55.0 to 44.6 °C. Meanwhile, the solvent molecules could form hydrogen bonds with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) chains and induce the crystallization of PVA, greatly improving the mechanical strength of the organohydrogels. Furthermore, the non‐covalent crosslinks endow the conductive organohydrogels with intriguing remoldability and self‐healing capability, which are important for practical applications.     

光触发自修复聚合物研究进展

近几年,由于光触发自修复聚合物具有可控快速等优势,其在自修复聚合物领域中占据了重要的地位。光触发自修复聚合物实现自修复的方法主要分为3类,分别是基于光交联反应的自修复、基于光触发交换反应的自修复和基于光热效应的自修复。本文主要从光触发自修复聚合物的修复机制以及修复过程中涉及的化学本质两个方面,重点阐述了上述3类光触发自修复方法的最新研究进展,强调3种光触发自修复之间的联系和共同点。同时,对光触发自修复聚合物未来的发展前景进行了展望。