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Stiff and tough PDMS-MMT layered nanocomposites visualized by AIE luminogens

Author

Listed:
  • Jingsong Peng

    (Beihang University)

  • Antoni P. Tomsia

    (Beihang University)

  • Lei Jiang

    (Beihang University)

  • Ben Zhong Tang

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay)

  • Qunfeng Cheng

    (Beihang University
    Zhengzhou University)

Abstract

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a widely used soft material that exhibits excellent stability and transparency. But the difficulty of fine-tuning its Young’s modulus and its low toughness significantly hinder its application in fields such as tissue engineering and flexible devices. Inspired by nacre, here we report on the development of PDMS-montmorillonite layered (PDMS-MMT-L) nanocomposites via the ice-templating technique, resulting in 23 and 12 times improvement in Young’s modulus and toughness as compared with pure PDMS. Confocal fluorescence microscopy assisted by aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens reveals three-dimensional reconstruction and in situ crack tracing of the nacre-inspired PDMS-MMT-L nanocomposite. The PDMS-MMT-L nanocomposite is toughened with mechanisms such as crack deflection and bridging. The AIE-assisted visualization of the crack propagation for nacre-inspired layered nanocomposites provides an advanced and universal characterization technique for organic-inorganic nanocomposites.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingsong Peng & Antoni P. Tomsia & Lei Jiang & Ben Zhong Tang & Qunfeng Cheng, 2021. "Stiff and tough PDMS-MMT layered nanocomposites visualized by AIE luminogens," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24835-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24835-w
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    Cited by:

    1. FuYao Sun & LongFei Liu & Tong Liu & XueBin Wang & Qi Qi & ZuSheng Hang & Kai Chen & JianHua Xu & JiaJun Fu, 2023. "Vascular smooth muscle-inspired architecture enables soft yet tough self-healing materials for durable capacitive strain-sensor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Lianhu Xiong & Yun Wei & Chuanliang Chen & Xin Chen & Qiang Fu & Hua Deng, 2023. "Thin lamellar films with enhanced mechanical properties for durable radiative cooling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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