Liang Shuofeng, Yuan Chenrui, Nie Chen, Liu Yazhi, Zhang Dachuan, Xu Wen-Cong, Liu Chengwei, Xu Guofeng, Wu Si
Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Anhui Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Science and Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Adv Mater. 2024 Sep;36(38):e2408159. doi: 10.1002/adma.202408159. Epub 2024 Jul 31.
Intelligent polymer nanocomposites are multicomponent and multifunctional materials that show immense potential across diverse applications. However, to exhibit intelligent traits such as adaptability, reconfigurability and dynamic properties, these materials often require a solvent or heating environment to facilitate the mobility of polymer chains and nanoparticles, rendering their applications in everyday settings impractical. Here intelligent azopolymer nanocomposites that function effectively in a solvent-free, room-temperature environment based on photocontrolled reversible solid-fluid transitions via switching flow temperatures (Ts) are shown. A range of nanocomposites is synthesized through the grafting of Au nanoparticles, Au nanorods, quantum dots, or superparamagnetic nanoparticles with photoresponsive azopolymers. Leveraging the reversible cis-trans photoisomerization of azo groups, the azopolymer nanocomposites transition between solid (T above room temperature) and fluid (T below room temperature) states. Such photocontrolled reversible solid-fluid transitions empower the rewriting of nanopatterns, correction of nanoscale defects, reconfiguration of complex multiscale structures, and design of intelligent optical devices. These findings highlight T-switchable polymer nanocomposites as promising candidates for the development of intelligent nanomaterials operative in solvent-free, room-temperature conditions.
智能聚合物纳米复合材料是多组分、多功能材料，在各种应用中显示出巨大潜力。然而，为了展现出适应性、可重构性和动态特性等智能特性，这些材料通常需要溶剂或加热环境来促进聚合物链和纳米颗粒的移动，这使得它们在日常环境中的应用不切实际。本文展示了基于通过切换流动温度（Ts）实现的光控可逆固液转变，在无溶剂、室温环境中有效发挥作用的智能偶氮聚合物纳米复合材料。通过将金纳米颗粒、金纳米棒、量子点或超顺磁性纳米颗粒与光响应偶氮聚合物接枝，合成了一系列纳米复合材料。利用偶氮基团可逆的顺反光异构化，偶氮聚合物纳米复合材料在固体状态（温度高于室温）和流体状态（温度低于室温）之间转变。这种光控可逆固液转变能够实现纳米图案的重写、纳米级缺陷的校正、复杂多尺度结构的重构以及智能光学器件的设计。这些发现突出了温度可切换的聚合物纳米复合材料作为在无溶剂、室温条件下运行的智能纳米材料开发的有前景候选材料。
