Polymer-based solar thermal fuels (PSTFs) have great potential in flexible thermal management devices; however, it is a challenge to simultaneously realize both high gravimetric energy density (ED g ) and good processability. Herein, we report a convenient route to prepare PSTFs with improved ED g and good processability by using 4-bromomethylazobenzene (Azo-Br) to quaternize polymers of intrinsic microporosity. The as-prepared Azo-PDAT possesses a high ED g of 180.2 J g −1 , and its azo moiety has an energy storage enthalpy (ΔH) of 272.1 kJ mol −1 , which are 4.4 and 23.9 times higher than those of parent Azo-Br, respectively. In comparison, Azo-MTLE shows a relatively low ED g of 129.8 J g −1 due to the hindrance of photoisomerization by the relatively flexible polymer backbones and decreased micropores. Furthermore, Azo-DDM was synthesized to represent a repeat unit of the as-prepared PSTFs and exclude micropores and polymer backbones, demonstrating the cation−π interactions for enhancing energy storage. Hence, the improved ED g of Azo-PDAT is attributed to the synergetic effect of cation−π interactions, intrinsic microporosity, and template-enforced steric strain. Both Azo-PDAT and Azo-MTLE show good processability for the success of electrospinning. The robust cyclability and macroscale heat-release with a temperature difference of 6.6 °C were achieved for Azo-PDAT, exhibiting good prospects in intelligent temperature-controlled fabrics.

Waterproof and breathable membranes (WBMs) are widely applied in garment, electronics, and aerospace, however, it is challenging to fabricate WBMs by a facile and successive strategy with excellent comprehensive properties, including environmental friendliness, heat‐resistance, waterproofness, breathability, and mechanical properties. Herein, a straightforward method is developed to fabricate large‐sized WBMs with outstanding integrated performance by direct electrospinning of original polymerization solution from polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). As‐prepared nanofibrous WBMs perform comprehensive properties with the absence of fluorine, average nanofiber diameters of 278 nm, waterproofness of 88.7 kPa, breathability of 11.2 kg m−2 d−1, tensile strength of 4.2 MPa, and heat‐resistance of 200 °C, which are superior to most of that reported fluorine‐free WBMs. Most significantly, the avoidance of tedious and intermittent fabrication procedures to prepare high‐performant WBMs allows the achievement of the successive production, and the high heat‐resistance meets the requirement of harsh service conditions. This work not only confirms that PIMs can be a good candidate for preparing high‐performant WBMs, but also paves a new version for fabricating environmental benign WBMs in a facile and successive approach.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract