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Self-Reporting Joule Heating Modulated Stiffness of Polymeric Nanocomposites for Shape Reconfiguration
Shaobo Ji1,2, Xuwei Wu3, Ying Jiang1
1Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Lab for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798Singapore.
ACS Nano
|October 4, 2022
Summary
New covalent adaptable networks-carbon nanotubes (CAN-CNT) composites offer electrically controlled stiffness for shape-reconfigurable devices. These materials enable self-healing, low-cost fabrication, and recyclability for advanced flexible electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Flexible electronics enable shape-reconfigurable devices like foldable phones.
- Current rigid frames and multilayer systems limit shape versatility, increase cost, and reduce reprocessability.
- Stiffness-tunable materials, especially electrically controlled ones, are needed for freely changeable device shapes with maintained rigidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel material for electrically controlled stiffness in shape-reconfigurable devices.
- To create a single-component system that integrates stiffness tuning, heating, and sensing functionalities.
- To investigate the potential of covalent adaptable networks-carbon nanotubes (CAN-CNT) composites for advanced flexible electronics.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of covalent adaptable networks-carbon nanotubes (CAN-CNT) composites.
- Utilizing Joule heating for stiffness control.
- Investigating the self-reporting softening mechanism through nanoscale simulations of CNT-polymer chain interactions.
- Demonstrating shape and stiffness control in flexible display systems.
Main Results:
- The CAN-CNT nanocomposites exhibit electrically controlled stiffness via Joule heating.
- These materials function simultaneously as stiffness-tunable matrices, electric heaters, and softening sensors.
- The dynamic exchange reactions of CANs allow for low-cost fabrication, reprocessability, and recyclability.
- Freely reconfigurable shapes were achieved in flexible display framing applications.
Conclusions:
- CAN-CNT composites offer a versatile, single-component solution for stiffness tuning in shape-reconfigurable devices.
- The developed materials overcome limitations of current multilayer systems, enabling easier fabrication, lower cost, and enhanced sustainability.
- This technology holds significant potential for advancing flexible electronics, enabling novel form factors for convenient operation, wearability, and storage.
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