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Ultrastrong and multifunctional aerogels with hyperconnective network of composite polymeric nanofibers

Author

Listed:
  • Huimin He

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Xi Wei

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Bin Yang

    (The University of Hong Kong
    Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre Limited)

  • Hongzhen Liu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Mingze Sun

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Yanran Li

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Aixin Yan

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Chuyang Y. Tang

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Yuan Lin

    (The University of Hong Kong
    Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre Limited)

  • Lizhi Xu

    (The University of Hong Kong
    Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre Limited)

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) microfibrillar network represents an important structural design for various natural tissues and synthetic aerogels. Despite extensive efforts, achieving high mechanical properties for synthetic 3D microfibrillar networks remains challenging. Here, we report ultrastrong polymeric aerogels involving self-assembled 3D networks of aramid nanofiber composites. The interactions between the nanoscale constituents lead to assembled networks with high nodal connectivity and strong crosslinking between fibrils. As revealed by theoretical simulations of 3D networks, these features at fibrillar joints may lead to an enhancement of macroscopic mechanical properties by orders of magnitude even with a constant level of solid content. Indeed, the polymeric aerogels achieved both high specific tensile modulus of ~625.3 MPa cm3 g−1 and fracture energy of ~4700 J m−2, which are advantageous for diverse structural applications. Furthermore, their simple processing techniques allow fabrication into various functional devices, such as wearable electronics, thermal stealth, and filtration membranes. The mechanistic insights and manufacturability provided by these robust microfibrillar aerogels may create further opportunities for materials design and technological innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Huimin He & Xi Wei & Bin Yang & Hongzhen Liu & Mingze Sun & Yanran Li & Aixin Yan & Chuyang Y. Tang & Yuan Lin & Lizhi Xu, 2022. "Ultrastrong and multifunctional aerogels with hyperconnective network of composite polymeric nanofibers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31957-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31957-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiangyu Meng & Chuntong Zhu & Xin Wang & Zehua Liu & Mengmeng Zhu & Kuibo Yin & Ran Long & Liuning Gu & Xinxing Shao & Litao Sun & Yueming Sun & Yunqian Dai & Yujie Xiong, 2023. "Hierarchical triphase diffusion photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical gas/liquid flow conversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Xiaoyu Zhang & Qi Sun & Xing Liang & Puzhong Gu & Zhenyu Hu & Xiao Yang & Muxiang Liu & Zejun Sun & Jia Huang & Guangming Wu & Guoqing Zu, 2024. "Stretchable and negative-Poisson-ratio porous metamaterials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. S. M. Shatil Shahriar & Alec D. McCarthy & Syed Muntazir Andrabi & Yajuan Su & Navatha Shree Polavoram & Johnson V. John & Mitchell P. Matis & Wuqiang Zhu & Jingwei Xie, 2024. "Mechanically resilient hybrid aerogels containing fibers of dual-scale sizes and knotty networks for tissue regeneration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Lishan Li & Guandu Yang & Jing Lyu & Zhizhi Sheng & Fengguo Ma & Xuetong Zhang, 2023. "Folk arts-inspired twice-coagulated configuration-editable tough aerogels enabled by transformable gel precursors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Tiantian Xue & Chenyu Zhu & Dingyi Yu & Xu Zhang & Feili Lai & Longsheng Zhang & Chao Zhang & Wei Fan & Tianxi Liu, 2023. "Fast and scalable production of crosslinked polyimide aerogel fibers for ultrathin thermoregulating clothes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Huimin He & Hao Li & Aoyang Pu & Wenxiu Li & Kiwon Ban & Lizhi Xu, 2023. "Hybrid assembly of polymeric nanofiber network for robust and electronically conductive hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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