Rubber composites composed of biobased epoxidized natural rubber and tunicate cellulose nanocrystals exhibited recyclable and self-healable capacities via transesterification reactions.

A robust, tough, and self-healable elastomer is a promising candidate for substrate in flexible electronic devices, but there is often a trade-off between mechanical properties (robustness and toughness) and self-healing. Here, a poly­(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) supramolecular elastomer is developed based on metal-coordinated bonds with relatively high activation energy. The strong metal–coordination complexes and their corresponding ionic clusters acting as the cross-linking points strengthen the resultant supramolecular networks, which achieves superior mechanical robustness (2.81 MPa), and their consecutive dynamic rupture and reconstruction efficiently dissipate strain energy during the stretching process, which leads to an impressive fracture toughness (32 MJ/m3). Additionally, the reversible intermolecular interactions (weak hydrogen bonds and strong sacrificial coordination complexes/clusters) can break and re-form upon heating; thus, the elastomer self-heals at a moderate temperature with the highest healing efficiency of 95%. As such, the potential of the as-prepared supramolecular elastomer for a substrate material of flexible electronic devices is discovered.

No abstract

No abstract

Endowing conductive composites with good self-healing properties is of great significance for improving the stability and extending the service life of the material. However, it is still a challenge to prepare conductive composites that exhibit both desirable mechanical strength and excellent self-healing properties. Herein, we report a simple method to fabricate a kind of material with excellent self-healing properties and satisfactory mechanical strength and conductivity performance. Nanochitin (CNC), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used as reinforcing fillers and filled into epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) through latex mixing. In particular, CNCs, CMCS, and CNT fillers were selectively dispersed among ENR latex particles. A filler frame network structure based on multiple hydrogen bonding interactions was constructed in the rubber matrix, which significantly improved the mechanical and electrical properties of the composites. Furthermore, the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds in the composites endowed the rubber with excellent self-healing properties, achieving the highest healing efficiency of 91%. This work provides a novel and simple strategy to prepare conductive composites with excellent mechanical and self-healing properties.

No abstract

This experiment has preliminarily confirmed urinary CD80 as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker. It may have significant value in the diagnosis of MCD.

No abstract