Electron tunneling of hierarchically structured silver nanosatellite particles for highly conductive healable nanocomposites
Open Access
- 7 May 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature Communications
- Vol. 11 (1), 1-11
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15709-8
Abstract
Healable conductive materials have received considerable attention. However, their practical applications are impeded by low electrical conductivity and irreversible degradation after breaking/healing cycles. Here we report a highly conductive completely reversible electron tunneling-assisted percolation network of silver nanosatellite particles for putty-like moldable and healable nanocomposites. The densely and uniformly distributed silver nanosatellite particles with a bimodal size distribution are generated by the radical and reactive oxygen species-mediated vigorous etching and reduction reaction of silver flakes using tetrahydrofuran peroxide in a silicone rubber matrix. The close work function match between silicone and silver enables electron tunneling between nanosatellite particles, increasing electrical conductivity by ~5 orders of magnitude (1.02×103 Scm−1) without coalescence of fillers. This results in ~100% electrical healing efficiency after 1000 breaking/healing cycles and stability under water immersion and 6-month exposure to ambient air. The highly conductive moldable nanocomposite may find applications in improvising and healing electrical parts.Funding Information
- National Research Foundation of Korea (2020R1A2C3003199, NRF-2017R1A2A1A17069289)
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