Healable, Flexible Supercapacitors Based on Shape Memory Polymers

Abstract

Supercapacitors as novel and efficient energy storage devices could provide a higher power density and energy density compared to other electronics and devices. However, traditional supercapacitors are readily damaged, which leads to degraded performance or even failure. To make them more durable and efficient, healable flexible shape memory-based supercapacitors were unprecedentedly explored by a transfer process, in which the conductive nano-carbon networks were decorated with pseudocapacitance materials, followed by embedding them into a shape memory polymer matrix containing healing reagents. The composite exhibited flexibility, supercapacitance and self-healing capability originating from the shape memory effect and healing reagent. The morphologies, thermal, mechanical and capacitive properties, and the self-healability of the composite were investigated. In particular, the influence of the compositions on the healing efficiency was considered. The optimized composite exhibited good capacitance (27.33 mF cm −1 ), stability (only 4.08% capacitance loss after 1500 cycles) and healable property (up to 93% of the healing efficiency). The findings demonstrated how to endow the flexible polymeric electronics with healable bio-mimetic properties and may greatly benefit the application of intelligent polymers in the field of multi-functional electrical materials.

Novel trends in self-healable polymer nanocomposites

“…The device performance recovery is based on the reassociation of structural electronic materials with each other as induced by the self-healability of the polymer matrix under physical contact through applied external stimuli, such as light, magnetism, heat, and chemical modification. 96 –99…”

“…On scratch infliction using a scalpel upon the specimen, most of CNT/MnO 2 component damaged along a crevice, thereby resulting in a damaged conductive layering and reduced capacitance. 98 However, capacitance was easily reversibly recovered on heating the sample due to the composite self-repairing ability. The self-repairing ability of the composite initiated from the healing reagent PCL and influence of shape memory.…”

“…TCCM images of scratched regions (a - c) control coating without self-healing microcapsules; (d - f) self-healing coating containing self-healing microcapsules. 98 …”

Development, Fabrication, and Characterization of Composite Polycaprolactone Membranes Reinforced with TiO2 Nanoparticles

“…Its biodegradability properties widen its commercial applications, not only in the biomedical field, but also in plastics production [4]. Furthermore, the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, and other nanostructures expand the usage of PCL for the fabrication of flexible supercapacitors [5,6]. Recently, the compostable properties of PCL blend with polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO), or thermoplastic starch (TPS) have been investigated.…”

“…In fact, PCL can be used to make more durable and efficient flexible shape memory-based supercapacitors when mixed with shape memory polyurethane (SMPU), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and manganese dioxide (MnO2). The addition of PCL improves self-healing effects and also triggers shape recovery by promoting surface voids to heal [6,8]. Furthermore, PCL has Polymers 2019, 11,1955 2 of 14 been reinforced with TiO 2 (pure anatase and rutile) nanoparticles to produce composite fibers by the electrospinning method for enhancing mechanical properties, cell proliferation, and cell adhesion [9], and for the development of wound dressings [10].…”