Frame-structured and self-healing ENR-based nanocomposites for strain sensors

Abstract

Highly stretchable, self-healing and conductive composites have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its extensive applications in the fields of healthcare, sensors and robotics. Herein, a novel self-healing nanocomposite has been developed, which can be applied in high strain sensors. A filler frame structure was constructed in the rubber matrix based on hydrogen bonding interactions. The resulting nanocomposites exhibited excellent mechanical strength while maintaining high strain (strain over 650%). In addition, owing to the reversible hydrogen bonding interactions in the matrix, the nanocomposites showed good self-healing properties with a healing efficiency of 85.18% after healing at 50 ℃ for 12 h. The frame structure distribution of CNT endowed nanocomposites with excellent electrical conductivity and percolation threshold as low as 0.83 wt%. Meanwhile, nanocomposites have appealing sensitivity under large strain. Thus, frame-structured and self-healable nanocomposites with high strain sensitivity could be a prospective candidate for applications in strain sensors.