Designing Mechanomutable Composites: Reconfiguring the Structure of Nanoparticle Networks through Mechanical Deformation

• Published in: Nano letters Vol. 14; no. 8; pp. 4745 - 4750
• Main Authors: Hamer, Matthew J, Iyer, Balaji V. S, Yashin, Victor V, Balazs, Anna C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 13-08-2014
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials science; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Physics; Specific phase transitions; Structural transitions in nanoscale materials; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); mecho-responsive composites; mechanomutable materials; reconfigurable nanocomposites; Polymer-grafted nanoparticle networks; Nanoparticles; Tensile stress; Three dimensional model; Composite materials; Phase transformations; Strains; Experimental design; Cross-linking; Hybrid material; Morphology; Polymers; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/nl501871e

Via a new dynamic, three-dimensional computer model, we simulate the tensile deformation of polymer-grafted nanoparticles that are cross-linked by labile bonds, which can readily rupture and reform. For a range of relatively high strains, the network does not fail, but rather restructures into a stable, ordered structure. Within this network, the reshuffling of the labile bonds enables the formation of this new morphology. The results provide guidelines for designing mechano-responsive hybrid materials that undergo controllable structural transitions through the application of applied forces.