Abstract Polymer nanocomposites with high loadings of nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit exceptional mechanical and transport properties. Separation of polymers and NPs from such nanocomposites is a critical step in enabling the recycling of these components and reducing the potential environmental hazards that can be caused by the accumulation of nanocomposite wastes in landfills. However, the separation typically requires the use of organic solvents or energy‐intensive processes. Using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐infiltrated SiO2NP films, we demonstrate that the polymers can be separated from the SiO2NP packings when these nanocomposites are exposed to high humidity and water. The findings indicate that the charge state of the NPs plays a significant role in the propensity of water to undergo capillary condensation within the PDMS‐filled interstitial pores. We also show that the size of NPs has a crucial impact on the kinetics and extent of PDMS expulsion, illustrating the importance of capillary forces in inducing PDMS expulsion. We demonstrate that the separated polymer can be collected and reused to produce a new nanocomposite film. The work provides insightful guidelines on how to design and fabricate end‐of‐life recyclable high‐performance nanocomposites.
more »
« less
Polymer Zwitterions for Stabilization of CsPbBr 3 Perovskite Nanoparticles and Nanocomposite Films
Abstract Functional polymers with sulfobetaine or phosphorylcholine zwitterions as pendent groups are demonstrated as both ligands and host matrices for CsPbBr3perovskite nanoparticles (PNPs). These polymers produce nanocomposite films with excellent NP dispersion, optical transparency, and impressive resistance to NP degradation upon exposure to water. Multidentate interactions of the zwitterion‐containing copolymers with the PNPs induce dispersed or weakly aggregated nanocomposite morphologies, depending on the extent of zwitterionic functionality in the polymer. Incorporating additional functionality into the polymers, such as benzophenone pendent groups, yields lithographically patternable films, while time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements provide insight into the electronic impact of PNPs in zwitterionic polymer matrices.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1904660
- PAR ID:
- 10145477
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Volume:
- 59
- Issue:
- 27
- ISSN:
- 1433-7851
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 10802-10806
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract As a class of semiconductor nanocrystals that exhibit high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) at tunable wavelengths, perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are attractive candidates for optoelectronic and light‐emitting devices. However, attempts to optimize PNC integration into such applications suffer from PNC instability and loss of PL over time. Here, we describe the impact of organic and polymeric N‐oxides when used in conjunction with PNCs, whereby a significant increase in PNC quantum yield is observed in solution, and stable PL emission is obtained in polymeric nanocomposites. Specifically, when using aliphatic N‐oxides in ligand exchange with CsPbBr3PNCs in solution, a substantial boost in PNC brightness is observed (~40% or more PLQY increase), followed by an alteration of the perovskite chemistry. When N‐oxide substituents are positioned pendent to a poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) backbone, the optically clear flexible nanocomposite films obtained have bright PL emission and maintain optical clarity for months. X‐ray diffraction is useful for characterizing the PNC crystalline structure following exposure to aliphatic N‐oxides, while electron microscopy (EM) and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the PNC‐polymer nanocomposites show this polymeric N‐oxide platform to cleanly disperse PNCs in flexible polymer films.more » « less
-
Abstract Filler aggregation in polymer matrix nanocomposites leads to inhomogeneity in particle distribution and deterioration of mechanical properties. The use of polymer‐grafted nanoparticles (PGNPs) with polymers directly attached to the particle surfaces precludes aggregation of the filler. However, solids composed of PGNPs are mechanically weak unless the grafted chains are long enough to form entanglements between particles, and requiring long grafts limits the achievable filler density of the nanocomposite. In this work, long, entangled grafts are replaced with short reactive polymers that form covalent crosslinks between particles. Crosslinkable PGNPs, referred to as XNPs, can be easily processed from solution and subsequently cured to yield a highly filled yet mechanically robust composite. In this specific instance, silica nanoparticles are grafted with poly(glycidyl methacrylate), cast into films, and crosslinked with multifunctional amines at elevated temperatures. Indentation and scratch experiments show significant enhancement of hardness, modulus, and scratch resistance compared to non‐crosslinked PGNPs and to crosslinked polymer films without nanoparticle reinforcement. Loadings of up to 57 wt% are achieved while yielding uniform films that deform locally in a predominantly elastic manner. XNPs therefore potentially allow for the formulation of robust nanocomposites with a high level of functionality imparted by the selected filler particles.more » « less
-
Incorporation of nanoparticles into polymer blend films can lead to a synergistic combination of properties and functionalities. Adding a large concentration of nanoparticles into a polymer blend matrix via conventional melting or solution blending techniques, however, is challenging due to the tendency of particles to aggregate. Herein, we report a straightforward approach to generate polymer blend/nanoparticle ternary composite films with extremely high loadings of nanoparticles based on monomer-driven infiltration of polymer and photopolymerization. The fabrication process consists of three steps: (1) preparing a bilayer with a nanoparticle (NP) layer atop a polymer layer, (2) annealing of the bilayer with a vapour mixture of a monomer and a photoinitiator, which undergoes capillary condensation and imparts mobility to the polymer layer and (3) exposing this film to UV light to induce photopolymerization of the monomer. The monomer used in this process is chemically different from the repeat unit of the polymer in the bilayer and is a good solvent for the polymer. The second step leads to the infiltration of the plasticized polymer, and the third step results in a blend of two polymers in the interstices of the nanoparticle layer. By varying the thickness ratio of the polymer and nanoparticle layers in the initial bilayers and changing the UV exposure duration, the volume fraction of the two polymers in the composite films can be adjusted. This versatile approach enables the design and engineering of a new class of nanocomposite films that contain a nanoscale-blend of two polymers in the interstices of a nanoparticle film, which could have combinations of unique mechanical and transport properties desirable for advanced applications such as membrane separations, conductive composite films and solar cells. Moreover, these polymer blend-filled nanoparticle films could serve as model systems to study the effect of confinement on the miscibility and morphology of polymer blends.more » « less
-
This study examines nanoparticle diffusion in crowded polymer nanocomposites by diffusing small Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) in SiO2-loaded P2VP matrices. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) measures Al2O3 NP diffusion coefficients within a homogeneous PNC background of larger, immobile SiO2 NPs. By developing a geometric model for the average interparticle distance in a system with two NP sizes, we quantify nanocomposite confinement relative to the Al2O3 NP size with a bound layer. At low SiO2 concentrations, Al2O3 NP diffusion aligns with the neat polymer results. In more crowded nanocomposites with higher SiO2 concentrations where the interparticle distance approaches the size of the mobile Al2O3 NP, the 6.5 nm Al2O3 NPs diffuse faster than predicted by both core–shell and vehicular diffusion models. Relative to our previous studies of NPs diffusing into polymers, these findings demonstrate that the local environment in crowded systems significantly complicates NP diffusion behavior and the bound layer lifetimes.more » « less
An official website of the United States government
