Reduced Graphene Oxide-Poly (Ionic Liquid) Composite Films of High Mechanical Performance

Abstract

Graphene and its derivatives are a classical group of two-dimensional (2D) building blocks possessing excellent mechanical and/or electrical properties in favor of preparing flexible electronic devices. Natural materials, such as nacre, provide inspiration and an exciting guideline for assembling 2D nanosheets into functional nanocomposites. In this context, despite recent advance, methods to assemble graphene-derived nanosheets into nanocomposites with the integrated enhancement of mechanical properties and electrical conductivity are eagerly pursued. Here, a rational design has been proposed and demonstrated, which utilizes synergistic supramolecular interactions between a polymeric additive and reduced graphene-oxide nanosheets to fabricate exceptional, integrated, strong, and tough nanocomposite films with high electrical conductivity. Such materials can be applied in areas such as, aerospace, artificial muscle, tissue engineering, and flexible electronics.

Polymerized and Colloidal Ionic Liquids─Syntheses and Applications

“…The use of nanofillers to improve (increase) storage moduli in composites is well-established materials-engineering. Chang et al used a PIL based on benzyl-imidazolium pendant IL monomer groups to make rGO-PIL composite films; 264 their process is illustrated in Figure 13. The PIL, poly(1-vinyl-3benzyl-imidazolium chloride), serves as a stabilizer to disperse the rGO in a solvent, and it serves as binder in partially composing the resulting films after solvent removal.…”

“…Preparation of rGO/PIL nanocomposite films highlighting important interface interactions between PIL binder, poly­(1-vinyl-3-benzyl-imidazolium chloride), and rGO. Reproduced by permission from Chang et al; ©2021 Frontiers.…”

Advances in artificial muscles: A brief literature and patent review

“…The natural muscle is a soft biological actuator with excellent drive capability, compliance and self-repair ability. Drawing on the principles of natural muscle, researchers have developed film artificial muscles ( Chang et al, 2021 ) and fiber artificial muscles ( Zhang et al, 2022a ) according to their macroscopic presentation. Graphene fibers ( Wang R et al, 2019 ), carbon nanotube fibers ( Jang et al, 2020 ), nylon fibers ( Saharan et al, 2020 ), spandex fibers ( Zhang et al, 2022b ) and other artificial fibers, as well as silk ( Lin et al, 2020 ), cotton thread ( Li Y et al, 2020 ), and other natural fibers that constitute artificial muscles are closer to biological muscle in many properties, with good prospects for development, and have become the major direction of scientific and technological innovation of artificial muscles.…”