School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
Adv Mater. 2014 Jan 15;26(2):201-34. doi: 10.1002/adma.201303070. Epub 2013 Dec 9.
Polymer-particle composites are used in virtually every field of technology. When the particles approach nanometer dimensions, large interfacial regions are created. In favorable situations, the spatial distribution of these interfaces can be controlled to create new hybrid materials with physical and transport properties inaccessible in their constituents or poorly prepared mixtures. This review surveys progress in the last decade in understanding phase behavior, structure, and properties of nanoparticle-polymer composites. The review takes a decidedly polymers perspective and explores how physical and chemical approaches may be employed to create hybrids with controlled distribution of particles. Applications are studied in two contexts of contemporary interest: battery electrolytes and electrodes. In the former, the role of dispersed and aggregated particles on ion-transport is considered. In the latter, the polymer is employed in such small quantities that it has been historically given titles such as binder and carbon precursor that underscore its perceived secondary role. Considering the myriad functions the binder plays in an electrode, it is surprising that highly filled composites have not received more attention. Opportunities in this and related areas are highlighted where recent advances in synthesis and polymer science are inspiring new approaches, and where newcomers to the field could make important contributions.
聚合物-粒子复合材料几乎在技术的每一个领域都有应用。当粒子达到纳米尺寸时，会产生很大的界面区域。在有利的情况下，可以控制这些界面的空间分布，从而创造出具有在其组成部分或制备不良的混合物中无法获得的物理和传输特性的新型混合材料。本综述调查了过去十年中对纳米粒子-聚合物复合材料的相行为、结构和性质的理解进展。该综述从聚合物的角度出发，探讨了如何采用物理和化学方法来创建具有可控粒子分布的混合物。在两个当前感兴趣的背景下研究了应用：电池电解质和电极。在前一种情况下，考虑了分散和聚集粒子对离子传输的作用。在后一种情况下，聚合物的用量非常小，以至于在历史上它被赋予了诸如粘结剂和碳前体等名称，这突显了其被认为是次要的作用。考虑到粘结剂在电极中所扮演的众多角色，令人惊讶的是，高填充复合材料并没有受到更多的关注。在这方面和相关领域，突出了一些机会，最近在合成和聚合物科学方面的进展激发了新的方法，而该领域的新进入者可以做出重要的贡献。
