Ethanol inducing self-assembly of poly-(thioctic acid)/graphene supramolecular ionomers for healable, flame-retardant, shape-memory electronic devices

Abstract

In recent years, flexible electronic devices have great application potential in the fields of healthcare, VR virtual reality, electronic skin and intelligent robots. However, electronic devices fail during operation due to fatigue, corrosion or damage, making it difficult and expensive to maintain highly integrated portable/wearable electronic devices. In this study, highly healable, flame retardant, shape memorized supramolecular PTAZ/GO was fabricated by restricting the crosslinking of zinc ions, carboxyl graphene and poly-(thioctic acid) via self-polymerization in ethanol inducing self-assembly. The rich carboxyl groups associated with hydroxyl and disulfide groups in the system provide excellent self-healing efficiency and shape memory properties for supramolecular ionomers. The results of a microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) test in this study showed a 65.3 % reduction in the peak heat release rate (pHRR) for ionomers compared to pure polymer, thus implying that ionic coordination cross-linking and GO nanosheets are beneficial for improving the fire safety of the materials. For the shape-memory device, the supramolecular elastomers can switch LED lights on and off by changing the shape, and the conductivity can be restored after reconnection of two damaged parts. Thus, the proposed materials have wide applications in electronic engineering.