25th anniversary article: polymer-particle composites: phase stability and applications in electrochemical energy storage

Effect of Oligomer Addition on Tube Dilation in Polymer Nanocomposite Melts

This study investigates the effect of adding oligomers on the rheological properties of polymer nanocomposite melts with the goal of enhancing the processability of nanocomposites. The scaling analysis of plateau modulus (GN ) is used in understanding the complex mechanical behavior of entangled poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) melts upon oligomer addition. Increasing the oligomer amount led to a decrease in GN and an apparent degree of entanglement (Z) in the neat polymer melt. The particle dispersion states at two particle loadings with oligomer addition are examined in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The dilution exponent is found unchanged at 7 and 17 vol% particle loadings for the well-dispersed PMA-SiO2 nanocomposites compared to the neat PMA solution. These findings suggest that attractive particles with strong interfacial layers do not influence the tube dilution scaling of the polymer with the oligomer. To the contrary, composites with weak polymer-particle interfaces demonstrate phase separation of particles when oligomers are introduced and its exponent for tube dilution scaling reaches 4 at a particle loading of 17 vol%, potentially indicating that network-forming clusters influence chain entanglements in this scenario.

Gels in Motion: Recent Advancements in Energy Applications

Gels are attracting materials for energy storage technologies. The strategic development of hydrogels with enhanced physicochemical properties, such as superior mechanical strength, flexibility, and charge transport capabilities, introduces novel prospects for advancing next-generation batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. Through a refined comprehension of gelation chemistry, researchers have achieved notable progress in fabricating hydrogels endowed with stimuli-responsive, self-healing, and highly stretchable characteristics. This mini-review delineates the integration of hydrogels into batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors, showcasing compelling instances that underscore the versatility of hydrogels, including tailorable architectures, conductive nanostructures, 3D frameworks, and multifunctionalities. The ongoing application of creative and combinatorial approaches in functional hydrogel design is poised to yield materials with immense potential within the domain of energy storage.

Hierarchically Structured Nanocomposites via Mixed-Graft Block Copolymer Templating: Achieving Controlled Nanostructure and Functionality

Integrating inorganic and polymerized organic functionalities to create composite materials presents an efficient strategy for the discovery and fabrication of multifunctional materials. The characteristics of these composites go beyond a simple sum of individual component properties; they are profoundly influenced by the spatial arrangement of these components and the resulting homo-/hetero-interactions. In this work, we develop a facile and highly adaptable approach for crafting nanostructured polymer-inorganic composites, leveraging hierarchically assembling mixed-graft block copolymers (mGBCPs) as templates. These mGBCPs, composed of diverse polymeric side chains that are covalently tethered with a defined sequence to a linear backbone polymer, self-assemble into ordered hierarchical structures with independently tuned nano- and mesoscale lattice features. Through the coassembly of mGBCPs with diversely sized inorganic fillers such as metal ions (ca. 0.1 nm), metal oxide clusters (0.5-2 nm), and metallic nanoparticles (>2 nm), we create three-dimensional filler arrays with controlled interfiller separation and arrangement. Multiple types of inorganic fillers are simultaneously integrated into the mGBCP matrix by introducing orthogonal interactions between distinct fillers and mGBCP side chains. This results in nanocomposites where each type of filler is selectively segregated into specific nanodomains with matrix-defined orientations. The developed coassembly strategy offers a versatile and scalable pathway for hierarchically structured nanocomposites, unlocking new possibilities for advanced materials in the fields of optoelectronics, sensing, and catalysis.

ZnO Quantum Photoinitiators as an All-in-One Solution for Multifunctional Photopolymer Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites are constructed from a matrix material combined with dispersed nanosized filler particles. Such a combination yields a powerful ability to tailor the desired mechanical, optical, electrical, thermodynamic, and antimicrobial material properties. Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (SCNCs) are exciting potential fillers, as they display size-, shape-, and composition-controlled properties and are easily embedded in diverse matrices. Here we present their role as quantum photoinitiators (QPIs) in acrylate-based polymer, where they act as a catalytic radical initiator and endow the system with mechanical, photocatalytic, and antimicrobial properties. By utilizing ZnO nanorods (NRs) as QPIs, we were able to increase the tensile strength and elongation at break of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels by up to 85%, unlike the use of the same ZnO NRs acting merely as fillers. Simultaneously, we endowed the PEGDA hydrogels with post-polymerization photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities and showed their ability to decompose methylene blue and significantly eradicate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viral pathogens. Moreover, we demonstrate two fabrication showcase methods, traditional molding and digital light processing printing, that can yield hydrogels with complex architectures. These results position SCNC-based systems as promising candidates to act as all-in-one photoinitiators and fillers in nanocomposites for diverse biomedical applications, where specific and purpose-oriented characteristics are required.

Advancements in Performance Optimization of Electrospun Polyethylene Oxide-Based Solid-State Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based solid-state electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries have garnered significant interest due to their enhanced potential window, high energy density, and improved safety features. However, the issues such as low ionic conductivity at ambient temperature, substantial ionic conductivity fluctuations with temperature changes, and inadequate electrolyte interfacial compatibility hinder their widespread applications. Electrospinning is a popular approach for fabricating solid-state electrolytes owing to its superior advantages of adjustable component constitution and the unique internal fiber structure of the resultant electrolytes. Thus, this technique has been extensively adopted in related studies. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in optimizing the performance of PEO solid-state electrolytes via electrospinning technology. Initially, the impacts of different lithium salts and their concentrations on the performance of electrospun PEO-based solid-state electrolytes were compared. Subsequently, research pertaining to the effects of various additives on these electrolytes was reviewed. Furthermore, investigations concerning the enhancement of electrospun solid-state electrolytes via modifications of PEO molecular chains are herein detailed, and lastly, the prevalent challenges and future directions of PEO-based solid-state electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries are summarized.

The Critical Role of Fillers in Composite Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery

With excellent energy densities and highly safe performance, solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs) have been hailed as promising energy storage devices. Solid-state electrolyte is the core component of SSLBs and plays an essential role in the safety and electrochemical performance of the cells. Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) are considered as one of the most promising candidates among all solid-state electrolytes due to their excellent comprehensive performance. In this review, we briefly introduce the components of CPEs, such as the polymer matrix and the species of fillers, as well as the integration of fillers in the polymers. In particular, we focus on the two major obstacles that affect the development of CPEs: the low ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and high interfacial impedance. We provide insight into the factors influencing ionic conductivity, in terms of macroscopic and microscopic aspects, including the aggregated structure of the polymer, ion migration rate and carrier concentration. In addition, we also discuss the electrode-electrolyte interface and summarize methods for improving this interface. It is expected that this review will provide feasible solutions for modifying CPEs through further understanding of the ion conduction mechanism in CPEs and for improving the compatibility of the electrode-electrolyte interface.

Role of Microstructures in the Dielectric Properties of PVDF-Based Nanocomposites Containing High-Permittivity Fillers for Energy Storage

Polymer-based nanocomposites containing inorganic ferroelectric inclusions, typically ABO₃ perovskites, have emerged as innovative dielectric materials for energy storage and electric insulation, potentially coupling the high breakdown strength (BDS) and easy processing of polymers with the enhancement of dielectric constant provided by the ferroelectric phase. In this paper, experimental data and three-dimensional finite element method (3D FEM) simulations were combined to shed some light on the effect of microstructures on the dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-BaTiO₃ composites. The existence of particle aggregates or touching particles has a strong effect on the effective dielectric constant and determines an increase of the local field in the neck region of the ferroelectric phase with a detrimental effect on the BDS. The distribution of the field and the effective permittivity are very sensitive to the specific microstructure considered. The degradation of the BDS can be overcome by coating the ferroelectric particles with a thin shell of an insulating oxide with a low dielectric constant, such as SiO₂ (ε_r = 4). The local field is highly concentrated on the shell, while the field in the ferroelectric phase is reduced almost to zero and that on the matrix is close to the applied one. The electric field in the matrix becomes less homogeneous with increasing the dielectric constant of the shell material, as happens with TiO₂ (ε_r = 30). These results provide a solid background to explain the enhanced dielectric properties and the superior BDS of composites containing core-shell inclusions.

Decoupling Segmental Dynamics and Ionic Transport for Superionic Anhydrous Proton Conductors of Polyoxometalate-poly(ethylene glycol) Nanocomposites

Superionic anhydrous proton conductors can be obtained from the complexation of nanoscale polyoxometalates (POMs) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in the "polymer in salt" regime. The reduced energy barrier of H⁺ hopping is facilitated from the increased H⁺ concentration and shortened inter-POM distances. POMs with identical structure/size (≈1 nm) but different charge densities are complexed with PEG, respectively, with concentrations ranging from 10 to 60 % wt. Increasing trends of viscosities can be observed with the rising charge densities of POMs due to the increasing confinement strength on PEG substrate from POMs. Fractional Walden rule is further applied to analyze the viscosity and proton conductivity correlations, and microscopic mechanisms of proton conduction for PEG-POM nanocomposites are revealed: 1) ion transport is highly associated with polymer chain dynamic for POMs concentrations ranging from 10 to 30 % wt.; 2) ionic conduction is largely decoupled from chain dynamic of polymer matrix for concentrations ranging from 40 to 60 % wt. with Walden plots shifted to the superionic regime. The decoupling of proton transport from polymer segment dynamics allows the simultaneous enhancements of the nanocomposites' mechanical properties and proton conductions, providing guidelines for the rational design of anhydrous proton conductors with integrated functionalities.

Opportunities of Flexible and Portable Electrochemical Devices for Energy Storage: Expanding the Spotlight onto Semi-solid/Solid Electrolytes

The ever-increasing demand for flexible and portable electronics has stimulated research and development in building advanced electrochemical energy devices which are lightweight, ultrathin, small in size, bendable, foldable, knittable, wearable, and/or stretchable. In such flexible and portable devices, semi-solid/solid electrolytes besides anodes and cathodes are the necessary components determining the energy/power performances. By serving as the ion transport channels, such semi-solid/solid electrolytes may be beneficial to resolving the issues of leakage, electrode corrosion, and metal electrode dendrite growth. In this paper, the fundamentals of semi-solid/solid electrolytes (e.g., chemical composition, ionic conductivity, electrochemical window, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and other attractive features), the electrode-electrolyte interfacial properties, and their relationships with the performance of various energy devices (e.g., supercapacitors, secondary ion batteries, metal-sulfur batteries, and metal-air batteries) are comprehensively reviewed in terms of materials synthesis and/or characterization, functional mechanisms, and device assembling for performance validation. The most recent advancements in improving the performance of electrochemical energy devices are summarized with focuses on analyzing the existing technical challenges (e.g., solid electrolyte interphase formation, metal electrode dendrite growth, polysulfide shuttle issue, electrolyte instability in half-open battery structure) and the strategies for overcoming these challenges through modification of semi-solid/solid electrolyte materials. Several possible directions for future research and development are proposed for going beyond existing technological bottlenecks and achieving desirable flexible and portable electrochemical energy devices to fulfill their practical applications. It is expected that this review may provide the readers with a comprehensive cross-technology understanding of the semi-solid/solid electrolytes for facilitating their current and future researches on the flexible and portable electrochemical energy devices.

Advances in Matrix-Supported Palladium Nanocatalysts for Water Treatment

Advanced catalysts are crucial for a wide range of chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, and environmental applications. They can reduce energy barriers and increase reaction rates for desirable transformations, making many critical large-scale processes feasible, eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and affordable. Advances in nanotechnology have ushered in a new era for heterogeneous catalysis. Nanoscale catalytic materials are known to surpass their conventional macro-sized counterparts in performance and precision, owing it to their ultra-high surface activities and unique size-dependent quantum properties. In water treatment, nanocatalysts can offer significant promise for novel and ecofriendly pollutant degradation technologies that can be tailored for customer-specific needs. In particular, nano-palladium catalysts have shown promise in degrading larger molecules, making them attractive for mitigating emerging contaminants. However, the applicability of nanomaterials, including nanocatalysts, in practical deployable and ecofriendly devices, is severely limited due to their easy proliferation into the service environment, which raises concerns of toxicity, material retrieval, reusability, and related cost and safety issues. To overcome this limitation, matrix-supported hybrid nanostructures, where nanocatalysts are integrated with other solids for stability and durability, can be employed. The interaction between the support and nanocatalysts becomes important in these materials and needs to be well investigated to better understand their physical, chemical, and catalytic behavior. This review paper presents an overview of recent studies on matrix-supported Pd-nanocatalysts and highlights some of the novel emerging concepts. The focus is on suitable approaches to integrate nanocatalysts in water treatment applications to mitigate emerging contaminants including halogenated molecules. The state-of-the-art supports for palladium nanocatalysts that can be deployed in water treatment systems are reviewed. In addition, research opportunities are emphasized to design robust, reusable, and ecofriendly nanocatalyst architecture.

Shape Transformations and Self-Assembly of Hairy Particles under Confinement

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the behavior of polymer-tethered nanoparticles between two inert or attractive walls. The confinement in pores creates new possibilities for controlling the shape transformation of individual hairy particles and their self-organization. We introduce a minimalistic model of the system; only chain-wall interactions are assumed to be attractive, while the others are softly repulsive. We show how the shape of isolated particles can be controlled by changing the wall separation and the strength of the interaction with the surfaces. For attractive walls, we found two types of structures, “bridges” and “mounds”. The first structures are similar to flanged spools in which the chains are connected with both walls and form bridges between them. We observed various bridges, symmetrical and asymmetrical spools, hourglasses, and pillars. The bridge-like structures can be “nano-oscillators” in which the cores jump from one wall to the other. We also study the self-assembly of a dense fluid of hairy particles in slit-like pores and analyze how the system morphology depends on interactions with the surfaces and the wall separation. The hairy particles form layers parallel to the walls. Different ordered structures, resembling two-dimensional crystalline lattices, are reported. We demonstrate that hairy particles are a versatile soft component forming a variety of structures in the slits.

Self-assembled morphologies of polyelectrolyte-grafted nanoparticles directed by oppositely charged polymer matrices

Self-assembled structure of polymer grafted nanoparticles is an interesting and growing subject in the field of hybrid electronics and high energy density materials. In light of this, the self-assembled morphologies of polyelectrolyte (PE) sparsely grafted nanoparticles tuned by oppositely charged matrix chains are studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Our focus is to elucidate the effect of matrix chain polymerization on modulating the stretching properties of tethered PE layers, on the self-assembled structuring of nanoparticles. Through varying the matrix chain length and stiffness as well as electrostatic interaction strength, rich phase behaviors of PE coated nanoparticles are predicted, including spherical micelle-like structures being preferred with short matrix chains and percolating network morphologies favored with long matrix chains, which is more pronounced with an enhanced matrix chain rigidness. To pinpoint the mechanisms of self-assembled structure formation, the thickness of grafted layers, the gyration radius of tethered chains, and pair correlation functions between nanoparticles are analyzed carefully. Additionally, electrostatic correlations, manifested as the bridging via matrix chains, are examined by identifying three states of matrix PE chains. Our simulation results may be useful for designing smart polymer nanocomposites based on PE coated nanoparticles.

Self-assembled structure of polymer grafted nanoparticles is an interesting and growing subject in the field of hybrid electronics and high energy density materials.

Nanocomposite Polymer Colloids Prepared via Emulsion Polymerization and Stabilized Using Polydopamine-Coated Silica Particles

Polymer/inorganic colloidal nanocomposites can be prepared via Pickering emulsion polymerization (PEP); however, this process usually requires the use of surfactants, auxiliary comonomers, and volatile organic compounds. Herein, we report a versatile and efficient method for synthesizing stable monodisperse polymer/silica colloidal nanocomposite particles via PEP. First, silica nanoparticles were modified by depositing a multifunctional polydopamine (PDA) film. The outermost PDA film could enhance the precipitation of oligomeric polymer radicals on the silica surface, which is crucial for the preparation of stable polymer/inorganic colloidal nanocomposites via PEP. Notably, this PDA modification approach can employ different initiator systems, such as cationic initiators and redox initiator couples, and can be applied to various monomers and monomer pairs (St, St/nBA, MMA, MMA/nBA, Vac, Vac/nBA). The influence of the concentration and size of polydopamine-coated silica (SiO₂@PDA) on the colloidal nanocomposite was investigated. Increasing the diameter of SiO₂@PDA and decreasing the concentration of SiO₂@PDA both lead to the formation of larger nanocomposite particles. Considering its wide applicability, the proposed PDA modification approach can be applied to other functional inorganic particles to prepare multifunctional polymer/inorganic nanocomposite particles.

Unusual High-Frequency Mechanical Properties of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Melts

Brillouin light spectroscopy is used to measure the elastic moduli of spherical polymer-grafted nanoparticle (GNP) melts as a function of chain length at fixed grafting density (0.47  chains/nm^{2}) and nanoparticle radius (8 nm). While the moduli follow a rule of mixtures (Wood's law) for long chains, they display enhanced elasticity and anomalous dissipation for graft chains <100  kDa. GNP melts with long polymers at high σ have a dry zone near the GNP core, surrounded by a region where the grafts can interpenetrate with chain fragments from adjacent GNPs. We propose that the departures from Wood's law for short chains are due to the effectively larger silica volume fraction in the region where sound propagates-this is caused by the short, interpenetrated chain fragments being pushed out of the way. We thus conclude that transport mechanisms (of gas, ions, sound, thermal phonons) in GNP melts are radically different if interpenetrated chain segments can be "pushed out of the way" or not. This provides a facile new means for manipulating the properties of these materials.

2D Covalent Organic Framework Direct Osteogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells

2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of crystalline porous organic polymers with a wide-range of potential applications. However, poor processability, aqueous instability, and low water dispersibility greatly limit their practical biomedical implementation. Herein, a new class of hydrolytically stable 2D COFs for sustained delivery of drugs to direct stem cell fate is reported. Specifically, a boronate-based COF (COF-5) is stabilized using amphiphilic polymer Pluronic F127 (PLU) to produce COF-PLU nanoparticles with thickness of ≈25 nm and diameter ≈200 nm. These nanoparticles are internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and have high cytocompatibility (half-inhibitory concentration ≈1 mg mL^-1 ). Interestingly, the 2D COFs induce osteogenic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells, which is unique. In addition, an osteogenic agent-dexamethasone-is able to be loaded within the porous structure of COFs for sustained delivery which further enhances the osteoinductive ability. These results demonstrate for the first time the fabrication of hydrolytically stable 2D COFs for sustained delivery of dexamethasone and demonstrate its osteoinductive characteristics.

High ion conductivity based on a polyurethane composite solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) are considered a key material in all-solid Li-ion batteries (SLIBs). However, the poor ion conductivity at room temperature limits its practical applications. In this work, a new composite polymer solid electrolyte based on polyurethane (PU)/LiTFSI–Al₂O₃–LiOH materials is proposed. By adding a few inert fillers (Al₂O₃) and active agents (LiOH) into the PU/LiTFSI system, the ion conductivity of the SPE reaches 2 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature. Exploiting LiFePO₄ (LFP)‖Li as electrodes, the PU-based composite lithium battery is prepared. The experimental result shows that the LFP|SPE|Li displays high specific discharge capacity. The first specific discharge capacities at 0.2C, 0.5C, 1C and 3C are 159.6, 126, 110 and 90.1 mA h g⁻¹ respectively, and the Coulomb efficiency is found to be stable in the region of 92–99% which also shows a desirable cyclic stability after 150 cycles.

Adding inert filler to reduce the coupling effect of functional groups to Li⁺ and modifying the functional groups to reduce the adsorption of Li⁺ can lead to high ionic conductivity.

LLCZN/PEO/LiPF6 Composite Solid-State Electrolyte for Safe Energy Storage Application

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are gaining traction in the arena of energy storage due to their promising results in producing high energy density and long cycle life coupled with their capability of being safe. The key challenges facing ASSBs are low conductivity and slow charge transfer kinetics at the interface between the electrode and the solid electrolyte. Garnet solid-state electrolyte has shown promising results in improving the ion conductivity but still suffers from poor capacity retention and rate performance due to the interfacial resistance between the electrodes. To improve the interfacial resistance, we prepared a composite consisting of Li7La2.75Ca0.25Zr1.75Nb0.25O12 (LLCZN) garnet material as the ceramic, polyethylene oxide (PEO) as the polymer, and lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) as the salt. These compounds are mixed in a stoichiometric ratio and developed into a very thin disc-shaped solid electrolyte. The LLCZN provides a lithium-ion transport path to enhance the lithium-ion conduction during charging and discharging cycles, while the LiPF6 contributes more lithium ions via the transport path. The PEO matrix in the composite material aids in bonding the compounds together and creating a large contact area, thereby reducing the issue of large interfacial resistance. FESEM images show the porous nature of the electrolyte which promotes the movement of lithium ions through the electrolyte. The fabricated LLCZN/PEO/LiPF6 solid-state electrolyte shows outstanding electrochemical stability that remains at 130 mAh g−1 up to 150 charging and discharging cycles at 0.05 mA cm−2 current. All the specific capacities were calculated based on the mass of the cathode material (LiCoO2). In addition, the coin cell retains 85% discharge capacity up to 150 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of approximately 98% and energy efficiency of 90% during the entire cycling process.

Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Nanoparticles as Functional Fillers for Solid Electrolytes in Lithium Metal Batteries

Composite solid electrolytes including inorganic nanoparticles or nanofibers which improve the performance of polymer electrolytes due to their superior mechanical, ionic conductivity, or lithium transference number are actively being researched for applications in lithium metal batteries. However, inorganic nanoparticles present limitations such as tedious surface functionalization and agglomeration issues and poor homogeneity at high concentrations in polymer matrixes. In this work, we report on polymer nanoparticles with a lithium sulfonamide surface functionality (LiPNP) for application as electrolytes in lithium metal batteries. The particles are prepared by semibatch emulsion polymerization, an easily up-scalable technique. LiPNPs are used to prepare two different families of particle-reinforced solid electrolytes. When mixed with poly(ethylene oxide) and lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI/PEO), the particles invoke a significant stiffening effect (E' > 10⁶ Pa vs 10⁵ Pa at 80 °C) while the membranes retain high ionic conductivity (σ = 6.6 × 10^-4 S cm^-1). Preliminary testing in LiFePO₄ lithium metal cells showed promising performance of the PEO nanocomposite electrolytes. By mixing the particles with propylene carbonate without any additional salt, we obtain true single-ion conducting gel electrolytes, as the lithium sulfonamide surface functionalities are the only sources of lithium ions in the system. The gel electrolytes are mechanically robust (up to G' = 10⁶ Pa) and show ionic conductivity up to 10^-4 S cm^-1. Finally, the PC nanocomposite electrolytes were tested in symmetrical lithium cells. Our findings suggest that all-polymer nanoparticles could represent a new building block material for solid-state lithium metal battery applications.

A surprisingly gentle approach to cavity containing spherocylindrical microparticles from ordinary polymer dispersions in flow

Herein, we demonstrate a facile approach to fully transform spherical polymeric microparticles to elongated spherocylinders containing an internal cavity under ambient and mild stirring conditions. Critical to the process is to deform the amorphous and non-crosslinked particles under glassy conditions for an unusually long time; 120 hours for the poly(styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles discussed in greatest detail. Larger particles in the 5 micron and greater range were markedly more susceptible to the shear imposed by stirring the aqueous dispersion. The resulting morphology is robust and kinetically frozen yet reverts to the original spherical shape if annealed above the glass transition temperature with suitable temperature or plasticizer. The volume fraction of the internal void can be modulated by particle composition and process conditions and is irregular in shape we believe as a result of a cavitation event during plastic deformation.

Block-copolymer-like self-assembly behavior of mobile-ligand grafted ultra-small nanoparticles

We use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to study the self-assembly behavior of polyoxometalate (POM) nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with mobile polymer ligands under melt conditions. We demonstrate that due to the mobile nature of the grafted ligands on the NP surface, NPs have the ability to expose a part of their surfaces, leading to a block-copolymer-like self-assembly behavior. The exposed NP surface serves as one block and the grafted ligand polymers as another. This system has a strong ability to self-assemble into long-range ordered structures such as block copolymers due to large incompatibility between POM and ligand polymers, i.e., POM NPs can form lamellar, cylindrical, and spherical structures, which are consistent with previous experimental results. More importantly, these ordered structures are on the sub-10 nm scale, which is an important requirement for many applications. At low graft density, we find a new inverse-cylindrical structure formation where polymers form cylinders and POMs form a continuous network structure. A full self-assembly phase diagram is constructed which illustrates rules to manipulate the self-assembly structures of NPs decorated with mobile polymer ligands. We hope that these computational results will be useful for the new design of nanostructures with improved optical or electronic functions.

Static-state particle fabrication via rapid vitrification of a thixotropic medium

Functional particles that respond to external stimuli are spurring technological evolution across various disciplines. While large-scale production of functional particles is needed for their use in real-life applications, precise control over particle shapes and directional properties has remained elusive for high-throughput processes. We developed a high-throughput emulsion-based process that exploits rapid vitrification of a thixotropic medium to manufacture diverse functional particles in large quantities. The vitrified medium renders stationary emulsion droplets that preserve their shape and size during solidification, and energetic fields can be applied to build programmed anisotropy into the particles. We showcase mass-production of several functional particles, including low-melting point metallic particles, self-propelling Janus particles, and unidirectionally-magnetized robotic particles, via this static-state particle fabrication process.

Solid Polymer Electrolytes with High Conductivity and Transference Number of Li Ions for Li-Based Rechargeable Batteries

Smart electronics and wearable devices require batteries with increased energy density, enhanced safety, and improved mechanical flexibility. However, current state-of-the-art Li-based rechargeable batteries (LBRBs) use highly reactive and flowable liquid electrolytes, severely limiting their ability to meet the above requirements. Therefore, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are introduced to tackle the issues of liquid electrolytes. Nevertheless, due to their low Li⁺ conductivity and Li⁺ transference number (LITN) (around 10^-5 S cm^-1 and 0.5, respectively), SPE-based room temperature LBRBs are still in their early stages of development. This paper reviews the principles of Li⁺ conduction inside SPEs and the corresponding strategies to improve the Li⁺ conductivity and LITN of SPEs. Some representative applications of SPEs in high-energy density, safe, and flexible LBRBs are then introduced and prospected.

Interface and Interphase in Polymer Nanocomposites with Bare and Core-Shell Gold Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles are used to modify/enhance the properties of a polymer matrix for a broad range of applications in bio-nanotechnology. Here, we study the properties of polymer/gold nanoparticle (NP) nanocomposites through atomistic molecular dynamics, MD, simulations. We probe the structural, conformational and dynamical properties of polymer chains at the vicinity of a gold (Au) NP and a functionalized (core/shell) Au NP, and compare them against the behavior of bulk polyethylene (PE). The bare Au NPs were constructed via a systematic methodology starting from ab-initio calculations and an atomistic Wulff construction algorithm resulting in the crystal shape with the minimum surface energy. For the functionalized NPs the interactions between gold atoms and chemically adsorbed functional groups change their shape. As a model polymer matrix we consider polyethylene of different molecular lengths, from the oligomer to unentangled Rouse like systems. The PE/Au interaction is parametrized via DFT calculations. By computing the different properties the concept of the interface, and the interphase as well, in polymer nanocomposites with metal NPs are critically examined. Results concerning polymer density profiles, bond order parameter, segmental and terminal dynamics show clearly that the size of the interface/interphase, depends on the actual property under study. In addition, the anchored polymeric chains change the behavior/properties, and especially the chain density profile and the dynamics, of the polymer chain at the vicinity of the Au NP.

Constructing Strong Interfacial Interactions under Mild Conditions in MOF-Incorporated Mixed Matrix Membranes for Gas Separation

Although mixed matrix membranes (MMM) possess remarkably improved gas separation performance compared to traditional polymeric membranes, membrane stability including CO₂ plasticization and aging is still a serious issue due to the existence of interfacial defects. In this work, we report an efficient and less destructive route to cross-link the MOFs/polyimide (PI) MMM, where amine group-functionalized MOF (NH₂-UiO-66) nanoparticles are thermally cross-linked with a carboxylic acid-functionalized PI (COOH-PI) matrix to form an amide bond at the interface at 150 °C under vacuum condition. Such a chemical cross-linking strategy conducted at a relatively mild condition improves membrane stability greatly while ensuring that the membrane structure is not destroyed. The resulting cross-linked MMM achieves enhanced mechanical strength with higher Young's modulus than a pristine polymer membrane. The CO₂ antiplasticization pressure of the MMM after cross-linking is enhanced by 200% from ∼10 to >30 bar and the CO₂ permeability of MMM only drops slightly from 995 to 735 Barrer after 450 days. At the same time, the separation performance of H₂/CH₄ gas pair surpasses the 2008 upper bound and that of CO₂/CH₄ gas pair nearly approaches the 2008 upper bound. The cross-linking strategy used herein provides a feasible and effective route for improving membrane stability and membrane performance in the MMM system for gas separation.

A highly conductive quasi-solid-state electrolyte based on helical silica nanofibers for lithium batteries

The replacement of flammable liquid electrolytes by inorganic solid ones is considered the most effective approach to enhancing the safety of Li batteries. However, solid electrolytes usually suffer from low ionic conductivity and poor rate capability. Here we report a unique quasi-solid-state electrolyte based on an inorganic matrix composed of helical tubular silica nanofibers (HSNFs) derived from the self-assembly of chiral low-molecular-weight amphiphiles. The HSNFs/ionic liquid quasi-solid-state electrolyte has high thermal stability (up to ∼370 °C) and good ionic conductivity (∼3.0 mS cm⁻¹ at room temperature). When tested as the electrolyte in a LiFePO₄/Li cell, excellent rate capability and good cycling stability are demonstrated, suggesting that it has potential be the electrolyte for a new generation of safer Li batteries.

A quasi-solid-state electrolyte of high-ionic conductivity is constructed from an inorganic matrix composed of helical silica nanofibers (HSNFs) derived from the self-assembly of chiral gelators.

Particle Dynamics in Colloid-Polymer Mixtures with Different Polymer Architectures

Nonadsorbing polymers are widely used as thickening agents for colloids. A quantitative description of the structure and dynamics of such colloid-polymer mixtures is crucial to reveal the mechanisms accounting for the desired mechanical properties. We use confocal microscopy to study colloids with three types of commonly used polymers with different architectures: linear, subgranular cross-linked, and branched microgels. All three thickeners give rise to heterogeneous colloidal dynamics, characterized by non-Gaussian displacement distributions. However, while the ensemble-averaged particle dynamics in these materials are very similar, the underlying individual particle dynamics are not. Linear polymers give rise to depletion attraction and the formation of colloidal gels, in which the majority of particles are immobilized, while a few weakly bound particles have much higher mobility. By contrast, the branched and cross-linked polymers thicken the continuous phase of the colloid, squeezing the particles into dense pockets, where the mobility is reduced and requires more cooperative rearrangements.

Single- versus Dual-Ion Conductors for Electric Double Layer Gating: Finite Element Modeling and Hall-Effect Measurements

Electric double layer (EDL) gating using a single-ion conductor is compared to a dual-ion conductor using both finite element modeling and Hall-effect measurements. Modified Nernst-Planck Poisson (mNPP) equations are used to calculate the ion density per unit area in a parallel plate capacitor geometry with a bulk ion concentration of 215 ≤ c_bulk ≤ 1782 mol/m³. With electrodes of equal size at a 2 V potential difference, the EDL ion density of the single-ion conductor is ∼7 × 10¹³ ions/cm², which is approximately 50% of the ion density induced in the dual-ion conductor. However, this difference is reduced to 8% when the electrode at which the cationic EDL forms is 10 times smaller than the counter electrode. Thus, for a field-effect transistor gated by a single-ion conductor, it is especially important to have a large gate-to-channel size ratio to achieve strong ion doping. The modeled ion densities are validated by Hall-effect measurements on graphene Hall bars gated by a polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based single-ion conductor. The sheet carrier density, n_S, is ∼2 × 10¹³ cm^-2 at V_g = 2 V, which is 3.5 times smaller than the predicted value and has the same order of magnitude as the n_s measured for a PEO-based, dual-ion conductor on the same graphene. The numerical modeling results can be approximated by a simple analysis of capacitors in series, where the EDLs are modeled as capacitors with thickness estimated by the sum of the Debye screening length and the Stern layer. The series of capacitor estimate agrees with the numerical modeling of the dual-ion conductor to within 10% and the single-ion conductor to within 30% from 0.25 to 2 V (c_bulk = 925 mol/m³); similar agreement is observed in the concentration range of 353-1650 mol/m³ for both single- and dual-ion conductors.

Progress and Perspective of Ceramic/Polymer Composite Solid Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries

Solid composite electrolytes (SCEs) that combine the advantages of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) and inorganic ceramic electrolytes (ICEs) present acceptable ionic conductivity, high mechanical strength, and favorable interfacial contact with electrodes, which greatly improve the electrochemical performance of all-solid-state batteries compared to single SPEs and ICEs. However, there are many challenges to overcome before the practical application of SCEs, including the low ionic conductivity less than 10-3 S cm-1 at ambient temperature, poor interfacial stability, and high interfacial resistance, which greatly restrict the room temperature performance. Herein, the advances of SCEs applied in all-solid-state lithium batteries are presented, including the Li ion migration mechanism of SCEs, the strategies to enhance the ionic conductivity of SCEs by various morphologies of ICEs, and construction methods of the low resistance and stable interfaces of SCEs with both cathode and anode. Finally, some typical applications of SCEs in lithium batteries are summarized and future development directions are prospected. This work presents how it is quite significant to further enhance the ionic conductivity of SCEs by developing the novel SPEs with the special morphology of ICEs for advanced all-solid-state lithium batteries.

Kinetically assembled binary nanoparticle networks

Embedding percolating networks of nanoparticles (NPs) within polymers is a promising approach for mechanically reinforcing polymers and for introducing novel electronic, transport, and catalytic properties into otherwise inert polymers. While such networks may be obtained through kinetic assembly of unary system of NPs, the ensuing structures exhibit limited morphologies. Here, we investigate the possibility of increasing the diversity of NP networks through kinetic assembly of multiple species of NPs. Using lattice Monte Carlo simulations we show that networks obtained from co-assembly of two NP species of different sizes exhibit significantly more diverse morphology than those assembled from a single species. In particular, we achieved considerable variations in the particle spatial distribution, proportions of intra- and interspecies contacts, fractal dimension, and pore sizes of the networks by simply modulating the stoichiometry of the two species and their intra and inter-species affinities. We classified these distinct morphologies into "integrated", "coated", "leaved", and "blocked" phases, and provide relevant phase diagrams for achieving them. Our findings are relevant to controlled and predictable assembly of particle networks for creating multifunctional composites with improved properties.

Designing All-Polymer Nanostructured Solid Electrolytes: Advances and Prospects

Multi-phase nanostructured polymer electrolytes, where the one phase conducts ions while the other imparts the desired mechanical properties, are currently the most promising candidates for solid-state electrolytes in high-density lithium metal batteries. In contrast to homogeneous polymer electrolytes, where ion transport is coupled with polymer segmental dynamics and any attempt to improve conductivity via faster polymer motions results in a decrease in stiffness, nanostructured materials efficiently decouple these two antagonistic parameters. Nevertheless, for reasons discussed herein the synthesis of a polymer electrolyte that simultaneously has a shear modulus of G' ≈ GPa and an ion conductivity of σ > 10-4 S/cm (in the case dual ion conductor) or of σ > 10-5 S/cm (in the case of single-ion conductor) remains a challenge. This review focuses on recent designing strategies for the synthesis of all-polymer nanostructured electrolytes, and protocols for introducing a single-ion character in such materials.

Mixing-demixing transition in polymer-grafted spherical nanoparticles

Polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNPs) can provide property profiles that cannot be obtained individually by polymers or nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we have studied the mixing-demixing transition of symmetric copolymer melts of polymer-grafted spherical nanoparticles by means of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation and a theoretical mean-field model. We find that a larger size of NPs leads to higher stability for a given number of grafted chains and chain lengths, reaching a point where demixing is not possible. Most importantly, the increase in the number of grafted chains, Ng, can initially favour the phase separation of PGNPs, but a further increase can lead to more difficult demixing. The reason is the increasing impact of an effective core that forms as the grafting density of the tethered polymer chains around the NPs increases. The range and exact values of Ng where this change in behaviour takes place depend on the NP size and the chain length of the grafted polymer chains. Our study elucidates the phase behaviour of PGNPs and in particular the influence of the grafting density on the phase behaviour of the systems, anticipating that it will open new doors in the understanding of these systems with implications in materials science and medicine.

Polymer-functionalized polymer nanoparticles and their behaviour in suspensions

In concentrated suspensions of polymer-functionalized nanoparticles, the softness of the core nanoparticles has a crucial effect on the mechanical behaviour of the resulting colloidal gels.

Three-Dimensional Garnet Framework-Reinforced Solid Composite Electrolytes with High Lithium-Ion Conductivity and Excellent Stability

We report a three-dimensional (3D) garnet framework-reinforced solid composite electrolyte with enhanced Li-ion conductivity and excellent thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical stabilities. The 3D garnet framework is fabricated via the polymeric sponge method, using low-cost polyurethane foam as the template. The interconnected 3D garnet framework not only reinforces the composite electrolyte but also forms continuous Li-ion transport pathways, thereby increasing the ionic conductivity. The 3D garnet composite electrolyte shows an ionic conductivity of 1.2 × 10^-4 S cm^-1 at 30 °C, about two times as high as that of the garnet particle-reinforced composite electrolyte. The Li-Li symmetric cell based on the 3D garnet composite electrolyte can be cycled more than 360 h without short circuit, suggesting an improved ability to suppress Li-dendrites. The Li/3D garnet composite electrolyte/LiFePO₄ battery demonstrates stable cycling performance at 0.5 C. Owing to the cost-saving characteristics, the 3D garnet-reinforced solid composite electrolyte is promising for mass production.

Stabilizing polymer electrolytes in high-voltage lithium batteries

Electrochemical cells that utilize lithium and sodium anodes are under active study for their potential to enable high-energy batteries. Liquid and solid polymer electrolytes based on ether chemistry are among the most promising choices for rechargeable lithium and sodium batteries. However, uncontrolled anionic polymerization of these electrolytes at low anode potentials and oxidative degradation at working potentials of the most interesting cathode chemistries have led to a quite concession in the field that solid-state or flexible batteries based on polymer electrolytes can only be achieved in cells based on low- or moderate-voltage cathodes. Here, we show that cationic chain transfer agents can prevent degradation of ether electrolytes by arresting uncontrolled polymer growth at the anode. We also report that cathode electrolyte interphases composed of preformed anionic polymers and supramolecules provide a fundamental strategy for extending the high voltage stability of ether-based electrolytes to potentials well above conventionally accepted limits.

Multiscale Self-Assembly of Mobile-Ligand Molecular Nanoparticles for Hierarchical Nanocomposites

Multiscale hierarchical morphologies are greatly desired for fabricating nanocomposites with tunable macroscopic properties, but challenges remain in precisely manipulating the spatial arrangement of nanoparticles in polymer matrices across multiple length scales. Here, we demonstrate a class of mobile-ligand nanoparticle system built upon 1 nm anionic polyoxometalate molecular nanoparticles and cationic terminated polymer chains by electrostatic interaction. The highly rearrangeable polymer chains can serve as mobile ligands to direct the polyoxometalates to align into sub-10 nm anisotropic superlattice-like nanoarrays in the bulk state. Moreover, these nanoarrays can further serve as structural units to assemble into hierarchically ordered morphologies in polymer matrices, e.g., percolated networks over hundreds of micrometers which are comprised of cylindrically packed polyoxometalate superlattices down to sub-10 nm scale. These hierarchical morphologies enable the nanocomposites with reinforced mechanical performance. The presented mobile-ligand approach can provide a paradigm to design functional polymer nanocomposites with improved properties such as mechanical reinforcement and collective optical and electronic functions.

Heterogeneous dynamics of unentangled chains in polymer nanocomposites

We present a systematic investigation on the effect of adding nanoparticles on the dynamics of polymer chains by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation. The dynamics is characterized by three aspects: molecular motion, relaxation at different length scales, and dynamical heterogeneity. It is found that the motion of polymer chains slows down and the deviation from Gaussian distribution becomes more pronounced with increasing nanoparticle volume fractions. For polymer nanocomposites with R ≤ R_g, the relaxation at the wave vector q = 7.0 displays multistep decay, consistent with the previous reports in strongly interacting polymer nanocomposites. Moreover, a qualitatively universal law is established that dynamic heterogeneity at whole chain's scale follows a nonmonotonic increase with increasing nanoparticle loadings, where the volume fraction of the maximum dynamic heterogeneity corresponds to the particle loading when the average distance between nanoparticles is equal to the Kuhn length of polymer chains. We show that the decoupling between whole chain's dynamics and segment dynamics is responsible for the nonmonotonic behavior of dynamic heterogeneity of whole chains.