Carbon Nanotubes-Coated Conductive Elastomer: Electrical and Near Infrared Light Dual-Stimulated Shape Memory, Self-Healing, and Wearable Sensing

Abstract

Conductive elastomeric composites exhibit a great research potential in the intelligent materials and devices owing to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Herein, we reported a carbon nanotube (CNT)-coated conductive elastomer with electrical and near-infrared (NIR) light dual-stimulated shape memory and self-healing performance, which can also utilized in wearable sensing. The conductive elastomer composite, CNT-coated polymer substrate with shape memory and self-healing capacity (CNTs/CHSMPs), was first fabricated by graft copolymerization of tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, lauryl acrylate (LA), and vinylimidazole on CNTs, subsequent supramolecular crosslinking, and CNT coating. Taking advantage of the remote controllability of NIR light and the rapid photothermal conversion by CNTs, the prepared composite can achieve accurate shape memory at a fixed point, and the shape recovery procedure can be completed within 30 s. The integrated conductive network throughout the polymer composite also endowed the material with unique electrical stimulated shape memory recovery performance, derived from the excellent electrothermal transition by CNTs. In addition, CNTs/CHSMPs also displayed self-healing characteristics for prolonging the service life of materials and strain sensitivity properties for the sensing of human motion, which contribute to their prodigious application potential in the field of wearable flexible electronic materials.

Shape memory elastomers: A review of synthesis, design, advanced manufacturing, and emerging applications

“…However, elastomers can also be copolymerized or physically mixed to perform in similar fashion to thermoplastics, which suit some applications as they are easy to use in manufacturing, for example, injection or compression molding 5,6 . Currently, these materials are exploited in a wide range of applications such as seals and hoses in the oil and gas industry, 7,8 automotive, agricultural, and medical applications, 9–11 soft robotics, 12,13 and wearable devices 14 . Moreover, elastomers have become essential smart‐functional materials, exhibiting shape memory or self‐healing effects due to their intrinsically flexible molecular structure 15,16 …”

“…5,6 Currently, these materials are exploited in a wide range of applications such as seals and hoses in the oil and gas industry, 7,8 automotive, agricultural, and medical applications, [9][10][11] soft robotics, 12,13 and wearable devices. 14 Moreover, elastomers have become essential smart-functional materials, exhibiting shape memory or self-healing effects due to their intrinsically flexible molecular structure. 15,16 For shape memory applications, elastomers can be engineered or synthesized to provide their molecular structure with a particular capability.…”

Boron nitride enhanced shape memory poly(aryl ether ketone) actuators with rapid self‐deformation and staged responsive behaviors

“…[14][15][16][17][18] In SMPs system, rigid segments including net points, crystalline phases, and chain entanglements determine the recovery ability and stabilization of original shape; flexible molecular chains and amorphous phases act as the soft segments, which could deform to and stabilize the temporary shape. [19][20][21][22] At present, heat-triggered SMPs are mostly used, and in these systems, the direct heating triggers the shape deformation and recovery. When the temperature is increased up to the transition temperature of SMPs (glass transition temperature, melt temperature, and crystallization melting temperature, etc.…”

Ru@Carbon Nanotube Composite Microsponge: Fabrication in Supercritical CO2 for Hydrogenation of p-Chloronitrobenzene

“…Organic nanotubes open intriguing possibilities to introduce other matter into the cavities, which may lead to nanocomposite materials with interesting properties or behavior different from the bulk [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as one type of organic nanotube, have received a great deal of attention with potential applications in energy storage and conversion, sensors, reinforcement for composites, optical and electronic devices, and support for heterogeneous catalysis [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. As nanoreactors with a well-defined structure in terms of inner hollow cavities, the CNTs are excellent spatial carriers for the confinement effect.…”