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Mechanically Robust, Intrinsic Self-Healing Polyurethane Enabled by NIR-Photothermal Conversion of MXene/Polydopamine
Zhaoji Li1, Yinghu Song1, Xiaoran Wang1
1Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Material Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 4, 2025
Summary
This study developed a novel self-healing polyurethane with enhanced mechanical strength and rapid, remote repair capabilities using a hybrid photothermal material. The material demonstrates excellent performance and potential for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Achieving a balance between mechanical strength and self-healing efficiency in polyurethanes is crucial for high-performance materials.
- Existing self-healing materials often face limitations in repair speed, controllability, and application environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a self-healing polyurethane nanocomposite with superior mechanical properties and efficient, controllable photothermal healing.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of dynamic bonds and a hybrid photothermal material for enhanced material performance.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a polyurethane network with multilevel dynamic hydrogen and oxime-carbamate bonds.
- Development of a hybrid photothermal material (MHP) by combining MXene and polydopamine nanoparticles.
- Fabrication of the IB-PU1/MHP1% nanocomposite and evaluation of its mechanical, thermal, and self-healing properties under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation.
Main Results:
- The nanocomposite achieved a tensile strength of 58.8 MPa, elongation at break of 790%, and toughness of 149.2 MJ/m³.
- NIR irradiation (808 nm) rapidly increased surface temperature to 91.1 °C, enabling 82.7% healing efficiency within 30 minutes.
- The material exhibited excellent hardness (57.2 Shore A) and resilience, with no permanent deformation after fracture.
Conclusions:
- The developed self-healing polyurethane overcomes the challenge of high-temperature healing for outdoor applications via photothermal conversion.
- This work presents a new molecular design strategy for high-performance self-healing polyurethanes.
- The material shows promise for applications in flexible electronics, smart coatings, and other advanced fields.
