Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites
Liquid metal (LM)–polymer composites that combine the thermal and electrical conductivity of LMs with the shape-morphing capability of polymers are attracting a great deal of attention in the fields of reconfigurable electronics and soft robotics. However, investigation of the synergetic effect betw...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/11/2259 |
| _version_ | 1797491937895251968 |
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| author | Xiaobo Deng Guokang Chen Yifan Liao Xi Lu Shuangyan Hu Tiansheng Gan Stephan Handschuh-Wang Xueli Zhang |
| author_facet | Xiaobo Deng Guokang Chen Yifan Liao Xi Lu Shuangyan Hu Tiansheng Gan Stephan Handschuh-Wang Xueli Zhang |
| author_sort | Xiaobo Deng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Liquid metal (LM)–polymer composites that combine the thermal and electrical conductivity of LMs with the shape-morphing capability of polymers are attracting a great deal of attention in the fields of reconfigurable electronics and soft robotics. However, investigation of the synergetic effect between the shape-changing properties of LMs and polymer matrices is lacking. Herein, a self-healable and recyclable dual-shape memory composite, comprising an LM (gallium) and a Diels–Alder (DA) crosslinked crystalline polyurethane (PU) elastomer, is reported. The composite exhibits a bilayer structure and achieves excellent shape programming abilities, due to the phase transitions of the LM and the crystalline PU elastomers. To demonstrate these shape-morphing abilities, a heat-triggered soft gripper, which can grasp and release objects according to the environmental temperature, is designed and built. Similarly, combining the electrical conductivity and the dual-shape memory effect of the composite, a light-controlled reconfigurable switch for a circuit is produced. In addition, due to the reversible nature of DA bonds, the composite is self-healable and recyclable. Both the LM and PU elastomer are recyclable, demonstrating the extremely high recycling efficiency (up to 96.7%) of the LM, as well as similar mechanical properties between the reprocessed elastomers and the pristine ones. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:56:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f69a5a882634eb3a0b04bc832a99c52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:56:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f69a5a882634eb3a0b04bc832a99c522023-11-23T14:42:12ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602022-06-011411225910.3390/polym14112259Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer CompositesXiaobo Deng0Guokang Chen1Yifan Liao2Xi Lu3Shuangyan Hu4Tiansheng Gan5Stephan Handschuh-Wang6Xueli Zhang7College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaShenzhen Middle School, Shenzhen 518001, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaLiquid metal (LM)–polymer composites that combine the thermal and electrical conductivity of LMs with the shape-morphing capability of polymers are attracting a great deal of attention in the fields of reconfigurable electronics and soft robotics. However, investigation of the synergetic effect between the shape-changing properties of LMs and polymer matrices is lacking. Herein, a self-healable and recyclable dual-shape memory composite, comprising an LM (gallium) and a Diels–Alder (DA) crosslinked crystalline polyurethane (PU) elastomer, is reported. The composite exhibits a bilayer structure and achieves excellent shape programming abilities, due to the phase transitions of the LM and the crystalline PU elastomers. To demonstrate these shape-morphing abilities, a heat-triggered soft gripper, which can grasp and release objects according to the environmental temperature, is designed and built. Similarly, combining the electrical conductivity and the dual-shape memory effect of the composite, a light-controlled reconfigurable switch for a circuit is produced. In addition, due to the reversible nature of DA bonds, the composite is self-healable and recyclable. Both the LM and PU elastomer are recyclable, demonstrating the extremely high recycling efficiency (up to 96.7%) of the LM, as well as similar mechanical properties between the reprocessed elastomers and the pristine ones.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/11/2259liquid metalspolyurethane elastomersshape memoryrecyclable electronicsself-healing |
| spellingShingle | Xiaobo Deng Guokang Chen Yifan Liao Xi Lu Shuangyan Hu Tiansheng Gan Stephan Handschuh-Wang Xueli Zhang Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites Polymers liquid metals polyurethane elastomers shape memory recyclable electronics self-healing |
| title | Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites |
| title_full | Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites |
| title_fullStr | Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites |
| title_short | Self-Healable and Recyclable Dual-Shape Memory Liquid Metal–Elastomer Composites |
| title_sort | self healable and recyclable dual shape memory liquid metal elastomer composites |
| topic | liquid metals polyurethane elastomers shape memory recyclable electronics self-healing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/11/2259 |
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