Synergistic Conductive Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites with Soft and Hard NanoFillers

这项拨款为开发一系列化学稳定的导电聚合物纳米复合材料（cpnc）提供资金，以解决金属电子设备面临的导电金属腐蚀这一核心问题。将实施两项战略。一种是使用导电填料使绝缘聚合物导电。两种不同类型的导电填充材料，软的和硬的，在三种组合将被探索。商用硬质纳米填料将被改性以更好地与聚合物基体相容。制备导电聚合物软纳米填料（颗粒和纤维）和导电聚合物包覆颗粒。另一种策略是使用掺杂的导电聚合物作为承载基质。纳米填料将引入所需的功能。不同的填料形状将被用来解开cpnc的内在性质。该项目的基础科学研究将涉及复合材料制备技术的发展，纳米填料的组成和结构及其表面表征，揭示其在静态和动态条件下的性能，并将其性能与内在结构特别是机械动态情况下的性能联系起来。利用渗流理论对cpnc在不同力学变形条件下的动态性能进行了预测，并与实验结果进行了比较。如果成功，本研究结果将对快速发展的聚合物基导电纳米结构材料领域产生重大影响。通过将不同的导电纳米填料组合成绝缘聚合物或利用导电聚合物基质，cpnc为降低重量密度、提高集成度和多功能的有机基器件带来了前景。与工业界的合作将促进新开发的cpnc可能的商业化。拟议工作的结果将为教育和培训创造许多值得注意的机会。在这个项目中，弱势群体的教育将得到高度重视。K-12教育、课程开发和国际推广也将得到建立和改进。

This grant provides funding for developing a series of chemically-stable conductive polymer nanocomposites (cPNCs) to tackle a central problem, corrosion of conductive metals, facing metallic electronic devices. Two strategies will be carried out. One is to use conductive fillers to make insulating polymers conductive. Two different types of conductive filling materials, soft and hard, in three combinations will be explored. The commercial hard nanofillers will be modified for better compatibility with the polymer matrix. The conductive polymer soft nanofillers (particle and fiber) and conductive polymer coated particles will be fabricated. The other strategy is to use the doped conductive polymer as the hosting matrix. The nanofillers will introduce the desired functionalities. Different filler shapes will be utilized to disentangle the intrinsic properties of the cPNCs. The fundamental science of the project will involve developing composites preparation techniques, manipulating the component and structure of the nanofillers and their surface characterization, disclosing the properties under static and dynamic conditions, and correlating their properties to the intrinsic structure especially under mechanical dynamic situation. The dynamic performance of the cPNCs will be predicted from the percolation theory under different mechanical deformation conditions and compared with experimental results.If successful, the results of this research will make a significant impact to the rapidly developing field of polymer-based conductive nanostructural materials. The cPNCs either from combining different conductive nanofillers into insulating polymer or from utilizing the conductive polymer matrix bring prospects of organic-based devices with reduced weight density, increased integration, and multi-functionality. The collaboration with industries will facilitate the possible commercialization of the newly developed cPNCs. The results of the proposed work will create many noteworthy opportunities for education and training. The education of underrepresented groups will be highly emphasized during this project. K-12 education, curriculum development, and international outreach will also be established and improved.