Journal article
MXene-Vitrimer Nanocomposites: Photo-Thermal Repair, Reinforcement, and Conductivity at Low Volume Fractions Through a Percolative Voronoi-Inspired Microstructure
Advanced materials (Weinheim), v 37(5), e2412000
01 Feb 2025
PMID: 39679730
Abstract
An innovative process to multifunctional vitrimer nanocomposites with a percolative MXene minor phase is reported, marking a significant advancement in creating stimuli-repairable, reinforced, sustainable, and conductive nanocomposites at diminished loadings. This achievement arises from a Voronoi-inspired biphasic morphological design via a straight-forward three-step process involving ambient-condition precipitation polymerization of micron-sized prepolymer powders, aqueous powder-coating with 2D MXene (Ti3C2Tz), and melt-pressing of MXene-coated powders into crosslinked films. Due to the formation of MXene-rich boundaries between thiourethane vitrimer domains in a pervasive low-volume fraction conductive network, a low percolation threshold (approximate to 0.19 vol.%) and conductive polymeric nanocomposites (approximate to 350 S m-1) are achieved. The embedded MXene skeleton mechanically bolsters the vitrimer at intermediate loadings, enhancing the modulus and toughness by 300% and 50%, respectively, without mechanical detriment compared to the neat vitrimer. The vitrimer's dynamic-covalent bonds and MXene's photo-thermal conversion properties enable repair in minutes through short-term thermal treatments for full macroscopic mechanical restoration or in seconds under 785 nm light for rapid localized surface repair. This versatile fabrication method to nanocoated pre-vitrimer powders and morphologically complex nanocomposites is compatible with classic composite manufacturing, and when coupled with the material's exceptional properties, holds immense potential for revolutionizing advanced composites and inspiring next-generation smart materials.
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Details
- Title
- MXene-Vitrimer Nanocomposites: Photo-Thermal Repair, Reinforcement, and Conductivity at Low Volume Fractions Through a Percolative Voronoi-Inspired Microstructure
- Creators
- Michael S. Carey - Drexel Univ, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USALaine Taussig - Wright-Patterson Air Force BaseJacob M. Nantz - Drexel University, Materials Science and EngineeringJeremiah W. Lipp - UESPeter Mirau - Wright-Patterson Air Force BaseMichel W. Barsoum - Drexel University, Materials Science and EngineeringDhriti Nepal - Wright-Patterson Air Force BaseAndrew J. D. Magenau (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University, Materials Science and Engineering
- Publication Details
- Advanced materials (Weinheim), v 37(5), e2412000
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- 22RXCOR014 / AFOSR; United States Department of Defense; Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF) Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); United States Department of Defense 68021-ND7 / ACS PRF; American Chemical Society Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001377990900001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85212204940
- Other Identifier
- 991022005186904721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Industry collaboration
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
- Chemistry, Physical
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
- Physics, Applied
- Physics, Condensed Matter