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Carbon Dots as Fillers Inducing Healing/Self‐Healing and Anticorrosion Properties in Polymers
Author(s) -
Zhu Cheng,
Fu Yijun,
Liu Changan,
Liu Yang,
Hu Lulu,
Liu Juan,
Bello Igor,
Li Hao,
Liu Naiyun,
Guo Sijie,
Huang Hui,
Lifshitz Yeshayahu,
Lee ShuitTong,
Kang Zhenhui
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201701399
Subject(s) - materials science , self healing , polymer , composite material , self healing material , composite number , ultimate tensile strength , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Self‐healing is the way by which nature repairs damage and prolongs the life of bio entities. A variety of practical applications require self‐healing materials in general and self‐healing polymers in particular. Different (complex) methods provide the rebonding of broken bonds, suppressing crack, or local damage propagation. Here, a simple, versatile, and cost‐effective methodology is reported for initiating healing in bulk polymers and self‐healing and anticorrosion properties in polymer coatings: introduction of carbon dots (CDs), 5 nm sized carbon nanocrystallites, into the polymer matrix forming a composite. The CDs are blended into polymethacrylate, polyurethane, and other common polymers. The healing/self‐healing process is initiated by interfacial bonding (covalent, hydrogen, and van der Waals bonding) between the CDs and the polymer matrix and can be optimized by modifying the functional groups which terminate the CDs. The healing properties of the bulk polymer–CD composites are evaluated by comparing the tensile strength of pristine (bulk and coatings) composites to those of fractured composites that are healed and by following the self‐healing of scratches intentionally introduced to polymer–CD composite coatings. The composite coatings not only possess self‐healing properties but also have superior anticorrosion properties compared to those of the pure polymer coatings.