Significantly Enhanced Energy Storage Performances of PEI-based Composites Utilizing Surface Functionalized ZrO_(2) Nanoparticles for High-Temperature Application

Polymer dielectrics with a high energy density and an available energy storage capacity have been playing an important role in advanced electronics and power systems. Nevertheless, the use of polymer dielectrics in harsh environments is limited by their low energy density at high temperatures. Herein, zirconium dioxide(ZrO_(2)) nanoparticles were decorated with amino group utilizing 4,4-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate)(AMEO) and successfully incorporated into polyetherimide(PEI) matrix. The dielectric properties, breakdown strength, and energy storage performances of PEI/ZrO_(2)-AMEO nanocomposites were investigated from 25 ℃ to 150 ℃. It is found that the combination of moderate bandgap ZrO_(2) with modest dielectric constant and polar groups at interface with deep trap can offer an available strategy to simultaneously increase the dielectric constant and breakdown strength of polymer dielectrics. As a result, the composites containing ZrO_(2)-AMEO exhibit excellent energy storage performance at elevated temperatures. Specially, the PEI-based composites with 3 vol% ZrO_(2)-AMEO display a maximum discharged energy density(U_(d)) of 3.1 J/cm^(3) at 150 ℃, presenting 90% higher than that of neat PEI. This study may help to better develop the polymer-based dielectric composite applied at elevated temperatures.

A Facile Way to Large-scale Production of Few-layered Graphene via Planetary Ball Mill

Abstract In the field of polymer/graphene nanocomposites, massive production and commercial availability of graphene are essential. Exfoliation of graphite to obtain graphene is one of the most promising ways to large-scale production at extremely low cost. In this work we illustrate a facile strategy for mass production of few-layered （≤ 10） graphene （FLG） via the newly explored ball milling. The achieved FLG concentration was determined by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The formation of FLG was proved by measuring the flake thickness by atomic force microscopy （AFM）. Further Raman spectral studies indicated that the crystal structure of exfoliated flakes was preserved satisfactorily during this shear-force dominating process. To increase the maximum concentration obtainable, it＇s critical to make a good parameter assessment. N-methylpyrrolidone （NMP） was used as a dispersing medium and the effect of milling parameters was systematically and quantitatively investigated, thus providing a criterion to optimize the milling process. We established the optimal values for solvent volume and initial weight of graphite. As for milling time, the production of FLG was enhanced with continuous milling according to the power law, but not linearly with increasing milling time. Moreover, the possible mechanism involved in milling process was also explored. Our work provides a simple method for graphite exfoliation and has great potential for improving thermal and electrical conductivity of polymer composites in the fields of engineering.

Preparation of Polylactide/Poly(ether)urethane Blends with Excellent Electro-actuated Shape Memory via Incorporating Carbon Black and Carbon Nanotubes Hybrids Fillers

In this work, hybrid conductive fillers of carbon black （CB） and carbon nanotubes （CNTs） were introduced into polylactide （PLA）/thermoplastic poly（ether）urethane （TPU） blend （70/30 by weight） to tune the phase morphology and realize rapid electrically actuated shape memory effect （SME）. Particularly, the dispersion of conductive fillers, the phase morphology, the electrical conductivities and the shape memory properties of the composites containing CB or CB/CNTs were comparatively investigated. The results suggested that both CB and CNTs were selectively localized in TPU phase, and induced the morphological change from the sea-island structure to the co-continuous structure. The presence of CNTs resulted in a denser CB/CNTs network, which enhanced the continuity of TPU phase. Because the formed continuous TPU phase provided stronger recovery driving force, the PLA/TPU/CB/CNTs composites showed better shape recovery properties compared with the PLA/TPU/CB composites at the same CB content. Moreover, the CB and CNTs exerted a synergistic effect on enhancing the electrical conduetivities of the composites. As a result, the prepared composites exhibited excellent electrically actuated SME and the shape recovery speed was also greatly enhanced. This work demonstrated a promising strategy to achieve rapid electrically actuated SME via the addition of hybrid nanoparticles with self-networking ability in binary PLA/TPU blends over a much larger composition range.

Multistimuli Responsive and Thermoregulated Capability of Coaxial Electrospun Membranes with Core-sheath Structure and Functional Polypyrrole Layer

Developing thermal management fabrics with good energy storage and multistimuli responsive properties is important for regulating the body temperature in complex environment.Herein,the intelligent nonwoven membranes were fabricated via a coaxial electrospinning method,resulting in a core-sheath structure with poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)as core and polyurethane(PU)as sheath.Additionally,polypyrrole(PPy)with good light absorption ability and electrical conductivity was deposited onto the surface of the PU@PEG electrospun fibers via electrochemical polymerization.The PPy layer enabled the membranes to respond quickly to sunlight and electrical stimuli.The membranes could heat up to 86°C under simulated sunlight within 200 s or produce remarkable electrothermal effect under a low voltage input of only 1V,exhibiting efficient energy conversion and storage performances.The photothermal and electrothermal conversion effect could be easily adjusted by controlling the polymerization time of PPy.Therefore,the multifunctional membranes with high latent heat,good mechanical properties as well as excellent photothermal/electrothermal conversion ability are promising in personal thermal management applications.

Simultaneously Improved Dielectric Constant and Breakdown Strength of PVDF-based Composites with Polypyrrole Nanowire Encapsuled Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets

High-performance dielectric polymer composites have received increasing attention due to their important applications in the field of energy storage.The rational structural design of hybrid fillers can lead to a balance between high dielectric constant and insulation in composites.In this work,novel hybrid fillers were fabricated by in situ synthesizing one-dimensional polypyrrole nanowires(PPynws)on the twodimensional molybdenum disulfide(MoS_(2)),which integrated the good ion polarization ability of PPynws and the high insulation and adjustable band gap of MoS_(2).Compared with the binary poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)/MoS_(2) composites,the PVDF/MoS_(2)-PPynws composites exhibited remarkably improved dielectric constant and breakdown strength,while the dielectric loss was still maintained at a low level.An optimal ternary composite with 1 wt%MoS_(2)-PPynws showed a high dielectric constant(15@1kHz),suppressed dielectric loss(0.027@1kHz),and high breakdown strength(422.1 MV/m).PPynws inducing strong interfacial polarization and the highly insulated MoS_(2) nanosheets extending the breakdown path mainly contributed to the synchronously enhanced dielectric constant and breakdown strength.This intriguing synthesis method of PVDF/MoS_(2)-PPynws nanocomposite will open up new opportunities for fabricating nanostructured polymer composites to produce high dielectric materials.