Electrorheological response of inorganic-coated multi-wall carbon nanotubes with core-shell nanostructure

Nanoparticles Functionalized by Conducting Polymers and Their Electrorheological and Magnetorheological Applications

Conducting polymer-coated nanoparticles used in electrorheological (ER) and magnetorheological (MR) fluids are reviewed along with their fabrication methods, morphologies, thermal properties, sedimentation stabilities, dielectric properties, and ER and MR characteristics under applied electric or magnetic fields. After functionalization of the conducting polymers, the nanoparticles exhibited properties suitable for use as ER materials, and materials in which magnetic particles are used as a core could also be applied as MR materials. The conducting polymers covered in this study included polyaniline and its derivatives, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(3-octylthiophene), polypyrrole, and poly(diphenylamine). The modified nanoparticles included polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), silica, titanium dioxide, maghemite, magnetite, and nanoclay. This article reviews many core-shell structured conducting polymer-coated nanoparticles used in ER and MR fluids and is expected to contribute to the understanding and development of ER and MR materials.

Fabrication and excellent electroresponsive properties of ideal PMMA@BaTiO3 composite particles

A series of core–shell-structured poly(methylmethacrylate)@BaTiO₃ (PMMA@BT) composite particles were constructed via the self-assembly of BT nanoparticles on the surfaces of PMMA cores through the covalent bonding of siloxane groups at room temperature. The PMMA@BT composite particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, video-based optical contact angle measurement, thermogravimetric analysis, and impedance analysis. The electroresponses of the obtained PMMA@BT composite particles were all stronger than that of pure BT, and the electroresponse depended on the weight percentage of the BT shell. The PMMA@BT particles with the optimal core–shell structure contained 58.14 wt% of BT shell. The surface hydrophilicity of the optimal particles was close to that of pure BT, and the dielectric constant was the greatest among the series of synthesized PMMA@BT particles. Thus, the optimized PMMA@BT particles demonstrated the strongest electroresponsive behavior in gelatin hydrogel elastomer, as demonstrated by polarized microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. The excellent electroresponsive property of the optimal PMMA@BT particles is reflected by the large sensitivity of the increase in storage modulus for the gelatin hydrogel elastomer containing the composite particles (21% at E = 0.8 kV mm⁻¹ and a particle loading of 1.0 wt%), far greater than that of pure BT particles (4.7%). Based on the sensitive electroresponsive properties, the PMMA@BT particles have potential applications as electroresponsive materials.

A series of core–shell-structured poly(methylmethacrylate)@BaTiO₃ (PMMA@BT) composite particles were constructed via the self-assembly of BT nanoparticles on the surfaces of PMMA cores through the covalent bonding of siloxane groups at room temperature.

Self-assembly preparation of SiO2@Ni-Al layered double hydroxide composites and their enhanced electrorheological characteristics

The core-shell structured SiO₂@Ni-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) composites were prepared via self-assembly of Ni-Al LDH on the surface of SiO₂ spheres. Only coating a layer of ultrathin Ni-Al LDH sheet, the resulting SiO₂@Ni-Al LDH composites exhibit significantly enhanced electrorheological (ER) characteristics compared to conventional bare SiO₂ spheres. The monodispersed SiO₂ spheres with average diameters of 260 nm were synthesized by the hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), while the shell part, Ni-Al LDH sheet was prepared by the hydrothermal procedure. The morphology of the samples was investigated via scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The structure of the samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The species and distribution of elements in samples were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDX) and elemental mapping in STEM. Subsequently, the ER characteristics of the composites dispersed in insulating oil were characterized by a rotational rheometer. The electric field-stimulated rheological performances (yield stress, viscosity, modulus, etc.) were observed under an external electric field, which is different from the Newtonian state in the free electric field.

Core-Shell-Structured Copolyaniline-Coated Polymeric Nanoparticle Suspension and Its Viscoelastic Response under Various Electric Fields

Semi-conducting poly(n-methylaniline) (PNMA)-coated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite nanoparticles were synthesized using cross-linked and grafted PMMA particles as a core, and then, the PNMA shell was coated via chemical oxidative polymerization on the surface of modified PMMA nanoparticles. Their electroresponsive electrorheological characteristics when dispersed in silicone were confirmed under applied electric fields using a rotational rheometer, focusing on their viscoelastic response. Using a frequency sweep test, the frequency dependence of both the storage and loss moduli was confirmed to increase upon increasing the electric field, with a stable plateau regime over the entire angular frequency range.

Silicone-grafted carbonaceous nanotubes with enhanced dispersion stability and electrorheological efficiency

Carbonaceous particles are types of important fillers or dispersed phases of electro-responsive electrorheological (ER) suspensions. But carbonaceous particles, in particular with nano-order size, are easy to aggregate in oils. This characteristic limits the application of ER suspensions based on carbonaceous particles. In order to improve dispersion stability and ER efficiency, in this paper, we develop silicone-grafted carbonaceous nanotubes (CTs) by grafting oxidized carbonaceous nanotubes with epoxy-terminated silicone. The samples are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The wettability and dispersion stability of nanotubes in silicone oil are investigated by wetting curves and sedimentation tests. The ER properties of CTs when dispersed in silicone oil are measured by a rheometer under electric fields. It demonstrates that grafting with silicone can distinctly improve the wettability of CTs in silicone oil and decrease the re-aggregation of CTs. As a result, the suspension of silicone-grafted CTs in silicone oil shows high dispersion stability. Compared to the suspension of bare CTs, the suspension of silicone-grafted CTs exhibits lower zero-field viscosity but higher field-induced viscosity; thus it possesses higher ER efficiency. This enhanced ER efficiency is related to the improved wettability of silicone-grafted CTs in silicone oil.

Facile synthesis of polyaniline nanotubes and their enhanced stimuli-response under electric fields

Polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes were fabricated successfully using a micelle soft-template method in the presence of oxalic acid as a dopant and applied as the dispersed phase of an electrorheological (ER) fluid.

Core/shell-structured, covalently bonded TiO2/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) dispersions and their electrorheological response: the effect of anisotropy

Higher surface area, rod-to-rod interactions and conducting thin shell induced covalently-bonded core/shell nanorod-TiO₂/PEDOT nanocomposite to show stronger ER activity and higher recovery after stress loading compared to particulate one.

Core-Shell Structured Electro- and Magneto-Responsive Materials: Fabrication and Characteristics

Core-shell structured electrorheological (ER) and magnetorheological (MR) particles have attracted increasing interest owing to their outstanding field-responsive properties, including morphology, chemical and dispersion stability, and rheological characteristics of shear stress and yield stress. This study covers recent progress in the preparation of core-shell structured materials as well as their critical characteristics and advantages. Broad emphasises from the synthetic strategy of various core-shell particles to their feature behaviours in the magnetic and electric fields have been elaborated.