Herein,
composites of Co-doped graphitic C3N4 nanosheets
and TiO2 nanoparticles (Co-C3N4 NSs/TiO2 NPs) were prepared through a two-step
synthetic strategy, and their electrorheological (ER) performance
under varied electric field strengths was also researched. The microstructure,
chemical elements, and surface morphology of materials were studied
thoroughly by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron
microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform
infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller
(BET) test, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements.
The presence of TiO2 NPs and g-C3N4 was confirmed by XRD and FTIR results. Typical SEM and TEM images
revealed the apparent sheet-like nanostructure of Co-C3N4, and the filling of TiO2 NP in-layers was
discovered. Meanwhile, BET results indicated the abundant pore structure
of Co-C3N4 NSs/TiO2 NP composites.
The ER performances of Co-C3N4 NSs/TiO2 NP composites, including shear stress, shear viscosity, and ER efficiency,
were examined under different electric field strengths with a high-quality
electrorheometer. Interestingly, the obtained Co-C3N4 NSs/TiO2 NP composites exhibited an excellent
ER property including an unexpected ER efficiency (up to 196), superior
platform area, obvious dielectric loss peak, and high shear stress
(more than 600 Pa at 3.0 kV/mm), showing wide application prospects
as electrorheological materials.