Recent Trends and Developments in Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites for Multifunctional Applications

Abstract

Electrically-conducting polymers (CPs) were first developed as a revolutionary class of organic compounds that possess optical and electrical properties comparable to that of metals as well as inorganic semiconductors and display the commendable properties correlated with traditional polymers, like the ease of manufacture along with resilience in processing. Polymer nanocomposites are designed and manufactured to ensure excellent promising properties for anti-static (electrically conducting), anti-corrosion, actuators, sensors, shape memory alloys, biomedical, flexible electronics, solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitors, LEDs, and adhesive applications with desired-appealing and cost-effective, functional surface coatings. The distinctive properties of nanocomposite materials involve significantly improved mechanical characteristics, barrier-properties, weight-reduction, and increased, long-lasting performance in terms of heat, wear, and scratch-resistant. Constraint in availability of power due to continuous depletion in the reservoirs of fossil fuels has affected the performance and functioning of electronic and energy storage appliances. For such reasons, efforts to modify the performance of such appliances are under way through blending design engineering with organic electronics. Unlike conventional inorganic semiconductors, organic electronic materials are developed from conducting polymers (CPs), dyes and charge transfer complexes. However, the conductive polymers are perhaps more bio-compatible rather than conventional metals or semi-conductive materials. Such characteristics make it more fascinating for bio-engineering investigators to conduct research on polymers possessing antistatic properties for various applications. An extensive overview of different techniques of synthesis and the applications of polymer bio-nanocomposites in various fields of sensors, actuators, shape memory polymers, flexible electronics, optical limiting, electrical properties (batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitors, LEDs), corrosion-protection and biomedical application are well-summarized from the findings all across the world in more than 150 references, exclusively from the past four years. This paper also presents recent advancements in composites of rare-earth oxides based on conducting polymer composites. Across a variety of biological and medical applications, the fact that numerous tissues were receptive to electric fields and stimuli made CPs more enticing.

Keywords: actuators; biomedical; conducting polymers; corrosion; doped; electronics; optical limiting; sensors; shape memory polymers.

Figure 1

Intrinsically conducting polymers. Reproduced with permission from [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19].

Figure 2

(a). PPY; (b). PIN; (c). PCbz; (d). Pac; (e). PANI; and (f). PTh-based CPs are used for semiconducting and electrochemical applications. Reproduced with permission from [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16].

Figure 3

Systematic mapping summary of scientific advancements on polymer bio-nanocomposites for Multifunctional applications in anti-static, anti-corrosion, actuators, sensors, shape memory alloys, biomedical application, flexible electronics, solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitors, LEDs, and adhesive domains.

Figure 4

Reaction showing Chemical Polymerization of aniline. Reproduced with permission from [27,28,29,30].

Figure 5

Conduction mechanism through polaron theory.

Figure 6

Binders, (a). PVDF-polymeric structure; (b). PTFE-polymeric structure; and (c). SPS-polymeric structures, used for electrode fabrication. Reproduced with permission from [11,13,14].

Figure 7

Numerous applications and properties of conducting polymers. Reproduced with permission from [62,63].

Figure 8

Hybrid type supercapacitor. Reproduced with permission from [75].

Figure 9

DTA curve (a). Load-deflection curves; (b) of Polyurethane and 1.5 wt. percent poly(methylmethacrylate) functionalized graphene–polyurethane, dielectric-constant; (c) and dielectric-loss; (d) of poly(methylmethacrylate) functionalized graphene–polyurethane composites, electrical field induced strain-nephograms; ((e) Voltage-off, (f) Voltage-on) of 1.50 wt. percent poly(methylmethacrylate) functionalized graphene–polyurethane composite film. Reproduced with permission from [105].

Figure 10

A Graphene on organic film in the form of a dragonfly wing. Reproduced with permission from [106].

Figure 11

(a). Tip-displacement of the graphene-based polymer composite actuator in excitation-voltage of 3 V DC; (b). At 0.1 wt. percent graphene loading; (c). At 0.25 percent graphene loading and (d). At 0.5 percent graphene loading. Reproduced with permission from [108].

Figure 12

Variations in resistance as a function of bending-radius for the graphene aerogel/PDMS composites. Reproduced with permission from [116].

Figure 13

Thermal-shrinkage during physical-testing of pristine SMPU/GO nanofibrous mats. Reproduced with permission from [118].

Figure 14

Average fixation-ratio of SMPU/GO nanofibrous mats during cyclic-tensile test resembling shape-memory effect. Reproduced with permission from [118].

Figure 15

Poly-pyrrole (PPy) polymeric-coatings on carbon-steel for bio-medical applications. Reproduced with permission from [164].

Figure 16

Sensitivity response of reduced graphene-oxide–PANI hybridized thin films towards various gases at 100 ppm. Reproduced with permission from [166].