High energy density in ultra-thick and flexible electrodes enabled by designed conductive agent/binder composite

Thick electrodes can increase incorporation of active electrode materials by diminishing the proportion of inactive constituents,improving the overall energy density of batteries.However,thick electrodes fabricated using the conventional slurry casting approach frequently exhibit an exacerbated accumulation of carbon additives and binders on their surfaces,invariably leading to compromised electrochemical properties.In this study,we introduce a designed conductive agent/binder composite synthesized from carbon nanotube and polytetrafluoroethylene.This agent/binder composite facilitates production of dry-process-prepared ultra-thick electrodes endowed with a three-dimensional and uniformly distributed percolative architecture,ensuring superior electronic conductivity and remarkable mechanical resilience.Using this approach,ultra-thick LiCoO_(2)(LCO) electrodes demonstrated superior cycling performance and rate capabilities,registering an impressive loading capacity of up to 101.4 mg/cm^(2),signifying a 242% increase in battery energy density.In another analytical endeavor,time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy was used to clarify the distribution of cathode electrolyte interphase(CEI) in cycled LCO electrodes.The results provide unprecedented evidence explaining the intricate correlation between CEI generation and carbon distribution,highlighting the intrinsic advantages of the proposed dry-process approach in fine-tu ning the CEI,with excellent cycling performance in batteries equipped with ultra-thick electrodes.

Flexible Polydimethylsiloxane Composite with Multi-Scale Conductive Network for Ultra-Strong Electromagnetic Interference Protection

Highly conductive polymer composites(CPCs) with excellent mechanical flexibility are ideal materials for designing excellent electromagnetic interference(EMI) shielding materials,which can be used for the electromagnetic interference protection of flexible electronic devices.It is extremely urgent to fabricate ultra-strong EMI shielding CPCs with efficient conductive networks.In this paper,a novel silver-plated polylactide short fiber(Ag@PL ASF,AAF) was fabricated and was integrated with carbon nanotubes(CNT) to construct a multi-scale conductive network in polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS) matrix.The multi-scale conductive network endowed the flexible PDMS/AAF/CNT composite with excellent electrical conductivity of 440 S m-1and ultra-strong EMI shielding effectiveness(EMI SE) of up to 113 dB,containing only 5.0 vol% of AAF and 3.0 vol% of CNT(11.1wt% conductive filler content).Due to its excellent flexibility,the composite still showed 94% and 90% retention rates of EMI SE even after subjected to a simulated aging strategy(60℃ for 7 days) and 10,000 bending-releasing cycles.This strategy provides an important guidance for designing excellent EMI shielding materials to protect the workspace,environment and sensitive circuits against radiation for flexible electronic devices.

Wearable and stretchable conductive polymer composites for strain sensors:How to design a superior one?

Wearable and stretchable strain sensors have potential values in the fields of human motion and health monitoring,flexible electronics,and soft robotic skin.The wearable and stretchable strain sensors can be directly attached to human skin,providing visualized detection for human motions and personal healthcare.Conductive polymer composites(CPC)composed of conductive fillers and flexible polymers have the advantages of high stretchability,good flexibility,superior durability,which can be used to prepare flexible strain sensors with large working strain and outstanding sensitivity.This review has put forward a comprehensive summary on the fabrication methods,advanced mechanisms and strain sensing abilities of CPC strain sensors reported in recent years,especially the sensors with superior performance.Finally,the structural design,bionic function,integration technology and further application of CPC strain sensors are prospected.

Highly Elastic,Bioresorbable Polymeric Materials for Stretchable,Transient Electronic Systems

Substrates or encapsulants in soft and stretchable formats are key components for transient,bioresorbable electronic systems;however,elastomeric polymers with desired mechanical and biochemical properties are very limited compared to nontransient counterparts.Here,we introduce a bioresorbable elastomer,poly(glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone)(PGCL),that contains excellent material properties including high elongation-at-break(<1300%),resilience and toughness,and tunable dissolution behaviors.Exploitation of PGCLs as polymer matrices,in combination with conducing polymers,yields stretchable,conductive composites for degradable interconnects,sensors,and actuators,which can reliably function under external strains.Integration of device components with wireless modules demonstrates elastic,transient electronic suture system with on-demand drug delivery for rapid recovery of postsurgical wounds in soft,time-dynamic tissues.

Breaking Through Bottlenecks for Thermally Conductive Polymer Composites:A Perspective for Intrinsic Thermal Conductivity,Interfacial Thermal Resistance and Theoretics

Rapid development of energy,electrical and electronic technologies has put forward higher requirements for the thermal conductivities of polymers and their composites.However,the thermal conductivity coefficient(λ)values of prepared thermally conductive polymer composites are still difficult to achieve expectations,which has become the bottleneck in the fields of thermally conductive polymer composites.Aimed at that,based on the accumulation of the previous research works by related researchers and our research group,this paper proposes three possible directions for breaking through the bottlenecks:(1)preparing and synthesizing intrinsically thermally conductive polymers,(2)reducing the interfacial thermal resistance in thermally conductive polymer composites,and(3)establishing suitable thermal conduction models and studying inner thermal conduction mechanism to guide experimental optimization.Also,the future development trends of the three above-mentioned directions are foreseen,hoping to provide certain basis and guidance for the preparation,researches and development of thermally conductive polymers and their composites.

A Novel Technique for Preparation of Electrically Conductive ABS/Cu Polymeric Gradient Composites

A novel technique for preparing functionally gradient electrically conductive polymeric composites was developed by using of solution casting technique on the principle of Stokes＇ law. Acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene/Cu （ABS/Cu） gradient polymeric composites were prepared successfully using this technique. The gradient structures, electrically conductive performance and mechanical properties of the ABS/Cu composites were investigated. Optical microscope observation shows that the gradient distribution of Cu particles in ABS matrix was formed along their thickness-direction. The electrically conductive testing results indicate that the order of magnitude of surface resistivity was kept in 10^15 Ω at ABS rich side, while that declined to 10^5 Ω at Cu particles rich side, and the percolation threshold was in the range of 2.82 vo1%- 4.74 vol% Cu content at Cu particles rich side. Mechanical test shows that the tensile strength reduced insignificantly as the content of Cu increases owing to the gradient distribution.

Enabling high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries with high ionic conductive sulfide-based composite solid electrolyte and ex-situ artificial SEI film

All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs) employing sulfide electrolyte and lithium(Li) anode have received increasing attention due to the intrinsic safety and high energy density.However,the thick electrolyte layer and lithium dendrites formed at the electrolyte/Li anode interface hinder the realization of high-performance ASSLBs.Herein,a novel membrane consisting of Li_(6)PS_(5) Cl(LPSCl),poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) and Li-salt(LiTFSI) was prepared as sulfide-based composite solid electrolyte(LPSCl-PEO3-LiTFSI)(LPSCl:PEO=97:3 wt/wt;EO:Li=8:1 mol/mol),which delivers high ionic conductivity(1.1 × 10^(-3) S cm^(-1)) and wide electrochemical window(4.9 V vs.Li^(+)/Li) at 25 ℃.In addition,an ex-situ artificial solid electrolyte interphase(SEI) film enriched with LiF and Li3 N was designed as a protective layer on Li anode(Li(SEI)) to suppress the growth of lithium dendrites.Benefiting from the synergy of sulfide-based composite solid electrolyte and ex-situ artificial SEI,cells of S-CNTs/LPSCI-PEO3-LiTFSI/Li(SEI) and Al_(2)O_(3)@LiNi_(0.5)Co_(0.3)Mn_(0.2)O_(2)/LPSCl-PEO3-LiTFSI/Li(SEI) are assembled and both exhibit high initial discharge capacity of 1221.1 mAh g^(-1)(135.8 mAh g^(-1)) and enhanced cycling stability with 81.6% capacity retention over 200 cycles at 0.05 C(89.2% over 100 cycles at 0.1 C).This work provides a new insight into the synergy of composite solid electrolyte and artificial SEI for achieving high-performance ASSLBs.

A Novel Method for Preparing Polyurethane Based Conductive Composites with Low Percolation Threshold

A novel method for preparing conductive carbon black fllled polymer composites with low percolation threshold from polyurethane emulsion are reported in this paper. The experimental results indicate that with a rise in carbon black concentration the insulator-conductor transition in the emulsion blended composites occurs at 0.8-1.4vol%. In contrast, the solution blended composites exhibit drastic increase in conductivity at conducting filler fraction as high as 12.3-13.3vol%. It is demonstrated that the composites microstructure rather than chemical structure of the matrix polymer predominantly determines the electrical conduction performance of the composites.

CONDUCTIVE COMPOSITES FROM POLYPYRROLE ELECTROPOLYMERIZED IN A POLYURETHANE MATRIX

In order to improve the mechanical properties of polypyrrole, composites were made by electropolymerizing polypyrrole in a polyurethane matrix. Polypyrrole/polyurethane (PPY/PU) composite films containing CLO_4^-, BF_4^- or CH_3-C_6H_4-SO_3^- counter ions were made in a variety of solvent systems and characterized by SEM, electronic conductivity, FTIR, and mechanical properties. Composite films showing much greater fiexibility than pure polypyrrole were obtained, but their electronic conductivities were substantially lower. Measured eonductivities ranged from 0.001 to 8 S/cm, tensile strengths from 44 to 592 psi, and elongation to failure from 3 to 70%.

Low-temperature-cured highly conductive composite of Ag nanowires & polyvinyl alcohol

Flexible conductive films were fabricated from a low-temperature-cured, highly conductive composite of silver nanowires （as conducting filler） and polyvinyl alcohol （PVA, as binder）. Sheet resistance of 0.12 Ω/sq, conductivity of 2.63 ×10^4 S/cm, and contact resistance of 1.0Ω/cm^2 were measured in the films, along with excellent resistance to scratch- ing and good flexibility, making them suitable electrical contact materials for flexible optoelectronic devices. Effects of curing temperature, curing duration, film thickness, and nanowire length on the film＇s electrical properties were studied. Due to the abundance of hydroxyl groups on its molecular chains, the addition of PVA improves the film＇s flexibility and resistance to scratching. Increased nanowire density and nanowire length benefit film conductance. Monte Carlo simulation was used to further explore the impact of these two parameters on the conductivity. It was observed that longer nanowires produce a higher length-ratio of conducting routes in the networks, giving better film conductivity.

ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COMPOSITE PREPARED BY ELECTROCHEMICAL POLYMERIZATION OF PYRROLE IN POLY-(p- PHENYLENE TEREPHTHALAMIDE) MATRIX

The preparation of PPy/PPTA conductive composite films by electrochemical method is presented.The first step is to cast a thin layer of poly (p-phenylene-terephthalamide) (PPTA) on a slice of Pt working electrode. The second step is to electrochemically polymerize pyrrole on the PPTA/Pt working electrode. Both of the electrical conductivity and the mechanical properties of the PPy/PPTA composite film are better than those of the pure PPy film, and the film has excellent flexibility at low temperature, even in liquid nitrogen.The SEM picture of the cross-section of PPy,/PPTA composite film showed that the two components were well mixed.Cyclic voltammograms of PPy,/PPTA film in aqueous solution showed that the conductive films could be reduced and reoxidized.

Electroanalytical studies on electrically conductive polyaniline： Nylon-6,6 composite film

Electrically conductive composite films ofpolyaniline and nylon-6.6 are prepared by diffusing aniline followed by oxidative polymerization of aniline into nylon-6.6 matrix. In order to determine the diffusion coefficient for the chloride ion diffusion into the composite matrix electrochemically, galvanostatic pulse method is used and the diffusion coefficient is estimated to be -6.48× 10^-17 cm^2s^-1. The results are discussed in view of them being potential replacement materials for battery. electrodes and sensors devices.

Piezoresistive behavior of elastomer composites with segregated network of carbon nanostructures and alumina

Electrically conductive elastomer composites(CECs)with segregated networks of conductive nanofillers show high potential in stretchable strain sensors due to balanced mechanical and electrical properties,yet the sensitivity at low strain is generally insufficient for practical application.Herein,we report an easy and effective way to improve the resistive response to low strain for CECs with segregated network structure via adding stiff alumina into carbon nanostructures(CNS).The CEC containing 0.7 wt%CNS and 5 wt%Al_(2)O_(3) almost sustains the same elasticity(elongation at break of~900%)and conductivity(0.8 S/m)as the control,while the piezoresistive sensitivity is significantly improved.Thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU)composites with a segregated network of hybrid nanofillers(CNS and Al_(2)O_(3))show much higher strain sensitivity(Gauge factor,GF-566)at low strain(45%strain)due to a local stress concentration effect,this sensitivity is superior to that of TPU/CNS composites(GF-11).Such a local stress concentration effect depends on alumina content and its distribution at the TPU particle interface.In addition,CECs with hybrid fillers show better reproducibility in cyclic piezoresistive behavior testing than the control.This work offers an easy method for fabricating CECs with a segregated filler network offering stretchable strain sensors with a high strain sensitivity.

Optimization of mixing speed and time to disperse the composite conductive agent composed of carbon black and graphene in lithium-ion battery slurry

This paper proposed an optimal approach to disperse the composite conductive agent which is composed of carbon black(CB)and graphene(Gr)within lithium-ion battery(LIB)slurry with different mixing speeds and mixing times.The internal structures of LIB slurry are characterized by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy,Scanning Electron Microscopy,and Raman experiment.Initially,a composite conductive solution is prepared by mixing the composite conductive agent with NMP solvent under the conditions of five different mixing speeds n_(1)(n_(1)=1000,1100,1200,1300,1400 rpm)in the case of mixing time t_(1)=10 min.Subsequently,LIB slurry is prepared by blending the composite conductive solution,LiCoO_(2)and PVDF-NMP solution under the conditions of five different mixing speeds n_(2)(n_(2)=1000±280,1100±280,1200±280,1300±280,1400±280 rpm)in the case of mixing time t_(2)=6 min.By analyzing the internal structure of different LIB slurries,it shows that in the case of n_(1)=n_(2)=1200 rpm,a conductive network structure is well formed within LIB slurry.Additionally,in order to determine the optimal time to prepare the composite conductive solution for LIB slurry,nine different t_(1)(t_(1)=0,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80 min)are selected.By analyzing the internal structure of different LIB slurries,a well-formed conductive network structure and a uniformly distributed composite conductive agent are deduced in LIB slurry when t_(1)=50 min.Therefore,it can be concluded that the composite conductive agent composed of CB and Gr is able to be uniformly dispersed in LIB slurry by establishing a well-formed conductive network structure under the optimal mixing speed n_(1)=n_(2)=1200 rpm and the optimal mixing time t_(1)=50 min,t_(2)=6 min.This kind of the internal structure has the potential to be used to further analyze the dispersion characterizations of LIB slurry under different composite conductive agent and CB/Gr ratios with the aim of improving the final performance of LIB.

Thermally Conductive,Healable Glass Fiber Cloth Reinforced Polymer Composite based onβ-Hydroxyester Bonds Crosslinked Epoxy with Improved Heat Resistance

To simultaneously endow thermal conductivity,high glass transition temperature(Tg)and healing capability to glass fiber/epoxy(GFREP)composite,dynamic crosslinked epoxy resin bearing reversibleβ-hydroxyl ester bonds was reinforced with boron nitride nanosheets modified glass fiber cloth(GFC@BNNSs).The in-plane heat conduction paths were constructed by electrostatic self-assembly of polyacrylic acid treated GFC and polyethyleneimine decorated BNNSs.Then,the GFC@BNNSs were impregnated with the mixture of lower concentration(3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane grafted BN micron sheets,3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3,4-epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate and hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride,which accounted for establishing the through-plane heat transport pathways and avoiding serious deterioration of mechanical performances.The resultant GFREP composite containing less boron nitride particles(17.6 wt%)exhibited superior in-plane(3.29 W·m^(-1)·K^(-1))and through-plane(1.16 W·m^(-1)·K^(-1))thermal conductivities,as well as high Tg of 204℃(Tg of the unfilled epoxy=177℃).The reversible transesterification reaction enabled closure of interlaminar cracks within the composite,achieving decent healing efficiencies estimated by means of tensile strength(71.2%),electrical breakdown strength(83.6%)and thermal conductivity(69.1%).The present work overcame the disadvantages of conventional thermally conductive composites,and provided an efficient approach to prolong the life span of thermally conductive GFREP laminate for high-temperature resistant integrated circuit application.

Highly Flexible Fabrics/Epoxy Composites with Hybrid Carbon Nanofillers for Absorption-Dominated Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Epoxy-based nano-composites can be ideal electromagnetic interference(EMI)-shielding materials owing to their lightness,chemical inertness,and mechanical durability.However,poor conductivity and brittleness of the epoxy resin are challenges for fast-growing portable and flexible EMI-shielding applications,such as smart wristband,medical cloth,aerospace,and military equipment.In this study,we explored hybrid nanofillers of single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNT)/reduced graphene oxide(rGO)as conductive inks and polyester fabrics(PFs)as a substrate for flexible EMI-shielding composites.The highest electrical conductivity and fracture toughness of the SWCNT/rGO/PF/epoxy composites were 30.2 S m^(−1)and 38.5 MPa m^(1/2),which are~270 and 65%enhancement over those of the composites without SWCNTs,respectively.Excellent mechanical durability was demonstrated by stable electrical conductivity retention during 1000 cycles of bending test.An EMI-shielding effectiveness of~41 dB in the X-band frequency of 8.2-12.4 GHz with a thickness of 0.6 mm was obtained with an EM absorption-dominant behavior over a 0.7 absorption coefficient.These results are attributed to the hierarchical architecture of the macroscale PF skeleton and nanoscale SWCNT/rGO networks,leading to superior EMI-shielding performance.We believe that this approach provides highly flexible and robust EMI-shielding composites for next-generation wearable electronic devices.

Influence of graphite particle size and its shape on performance of carbon composite bipolar plate

Bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) where polymer is used as binder and graphite is used as electric filler were prepared by means of compression molding technology. Study on the effects of graphite particle size and shape on the bipolar plate performance, such as electrical conductivity, strength, etc. showed that with decrease of graphite particle size, bulk electrical conductivity and thermometric conductivity decreased, but that flexural strength was enhanced. After spherical graphite occurrence in flake-like form, the flexural strength of the bipolar plate was enhanced, electrical conductivity increased but thermal conductivity decreased in direction paralleling pressure direction, and both electrical conductivity and thermometric conductivity reduced in direction perpendicular to pressure direction.

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by molybdenum-coated carbon nanotubes

To extend the application of carbon nanotubes （CNTs） and explore novel aluminum matrix composites,CNTs were coated by molybdenum layers using metal organic chemical vapor deposition,and then Mo-coated CNT （Mo-CNT）/Al composites were prepared by the combination processes of powder mixing and spark plasma sintering.The influences of powder mixing and Mo-CNT content on the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the composites were investigated.The results show that magnetic stirring is better than mechanical milling for mixing the Mo-CNTs and Al powders.The electrical conductivity of the composites decreases with increasing Mo-CNT content.When the Mo-CNT content is 0.5wt%,the tensile strength and hardness of Mo-CNT/Al reach their maximum values.The tensile strength of 0.5wt% Mo-CNT/Al increases by 29.9%,while the electrical conductivity only decreases by 7.1%,relative to sintered pure Al.The phase analysis of Mo-CNT/Al composites reveals that there is no formation of Al carbide in the composites.

Mechanical, electrical, and thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube-based silver and silver–palladium alloy composites

The mechanical, electrical, and thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube（CNT）-based silver and silver–palladium（10：1, w/w） alloy nanocomposites are reported. To tailor the properties of silver, CNTs were incorporated into a silver matrix by a modified molecular level-mixing process. CNTs interact weakly with silver because of their non-reactive nature and lack of mutual solubility. Therefore, palladium was utilized as an alloying element to improve interfacial adhesion. Comparative microstructural characterizations and property evaluations of the nanocomposites were performed. The structural characterizations revealed that decorated type-CNTs were dispersed, embedded, and anchored into the silver matrix. The experimental results indicated that the modification of the silver and silver–palladium nanocomposite with CNT resulted in increases in the hardness and Young＇s modulus along with concomitant decreases in the electrical conductivity and the coefficient of thermal expansion（CTE）. The hardness and Young＇s modulus of the nanocomposites were increased by 30%？40% whereas the CTE was decreased to 50%-60% of the CTE of silver. The significantly improved CTE and the mechanical properties of the CNT-reinforced silver and silver–palladium nanocomposites are correlated with the intriguing properties of CNTs and with good interfacial adhesion between the CNTs and silver as a result of the fabrication process and the contact action of palladium as an alloying element.

Electrical Resistance Behavior of Vinylester Composites Filled with Glass-carbon Hybrid Fibers

Vinylester （bismethacryloxy derivative with glass-carbon hybrid fibers （CF-GF） weight fraction of a bisphenol-A type EP resin, VE） composites of 50%, were prepared by the compress molding method. The distribution of carbon fiber in the hybrids was observed by stereomicroscope. The electrical resistance behavior of the composites filled with different carbon fiber （CF） weight contents （0.5% to 20%） was studied. The experimental results show that the electrical resistance behaviors of CF-GF/VE composites are different with those of CF/VE composites because carbon fibers＇ conducting networks are broken by the glass fibers in the CF-GF/VE composites. The carbon fibers distribute uniformly in the networks of glass fibers （GF） like single silk and form the semi-continuous conducting networks. Composite filled with GF-CF hybrid has a higher percolation threshold than that filled with pure CF. At that time, the resistivity of CF-GF/VE composites varies little with the temperature increasing. The temperature coefficient of resistivity in GF-CF/VE composite is less than 317 ppm and the variation of the resistivity after ten thermal cycles from 20℃ to 240 ℃is less than 1.96%.