Layered and scrolled nanocomposites with aligned semi-infinite graphene inclusions at the platelet limit
A composite can include alternating layers of a first layer including a 2D material and a second layer including a polymer matrix. Fabrication methods can take a thin layer of molecular thickness and construct large composite stacks that scale exponentially with the number of processing steps. An analogous shear scrolling method can create Archimedean scroll fibers from single layers with similar scaling. These methods can produce materials that demonstrate the α→∞ limit while combining electrical and optical properties minimal volume fraction of the filler.
1 . A composite comprising:
alternating layers of a first layer comprising a 2D material and a second layer including a polymer matrix,
wherein the 2D material comprises aligned nanoplatelets that create a sheet structure of a near infinite aspect ratio,
wherein the 2D material is present at a volume fraction (V G ) of between about 0.003% and about 0.185%,
wherein the composite comprises at least i stacked alternating layers of the first layer and the second layer;
wherein i is between about 1 and 1000; and
wherein the aligned nanoplatelets for each first layer in the alternating layers of the composite are aligned along an axis.
2 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the 2D material comprises graphene, graphyne, borophene, germanene, silicene, Si 2 BN, stanene, phosphorene, molybdenite, or a single atom layer of metals.
3 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a polyolefin, polyacrylate, polyester, polycyanate, polystyrene, polyamide, or blend thereof.
4 . A method of making the composite of claim 1 comprising:
(1) depositing a layer including a polymer matrix;
(2) depositing a layer including a 2D material on the layer including the polymer matrix;
(3) repeating step (1) and step (2) to make stacked layers; and
(4) quadrant-folding the stacked layers,
wherein the 2D material is present at a volume fraction (V G ) of between about 0.003% and about 0.185%;
wherein the composite comprises at least i stacked alternating layers of the first layer and the second layer;
wherein i is between about 1 and 1000; and
wherein the aligned nanoplatelets for each first layer in the alternating layers of the composite are aligned along an axis.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising hot-pressing the stacked layers.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer matrix is deposited by spin-coating.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the 2D material is depositing by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
8 . The composite of claim 4 , wherein the 2D material includes graphene.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer matrix includes polycarbonate.
10 . The composite of claim 2 , wherein the 2D material comprises graphene.
11 . The composite of claim 3 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polycarbonate.
12 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the near infinite aspect ratio is at least about 100,000, or at least about 1,000,000, or at least about 10,000,000, or at least about 50,000,000, or at least about 60,000,000, or at least about 100,000,000.
13 . The composite of claim 12 , wherein the near infinite aspect ratio is at least about 60,000,000.
14 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the uniaxial tensile storage (E′) and/or loss (E″) moduli are greater than the polymer matrix alone.
15 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the stacked alternating layers are segmented and stacked or quadrant folded j times, wherein j is 1 to 10.
16 . The composite of claim 15 , wherein j is 1 or 2.
17 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite is transparent.
18 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite is anisotropically electrically conductive.
19 . A composite fiber comprising:
alternating layers of a first layer comprising a 2D material and a second layer including a polymer matrix,
wherein the 2D material comprises aligned nanoplatelets that create a sheet structure of a near infinite aspect ratio,
wherein the 2D material is present at a volume fraction (V G ) of between about 0.003% and about 0.185%, and
wherein the composite is rolled into a scroll fiber such that a single first layer and second layer form multiple alternating layers in a cross section of the composite fiber.
20 . The composite fiber of claim 19 , wherein the 2D material comprises graphene, graphyne, borophene, germanene, silicene, Si 2 BN, stanene, phosphorene, molybdenite, or a single atom layer of metals.
21 . The composite fiber of claim 20 , wherein the 2D material is graphene.
22 . The composite fiber of claim 19 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a polyolefin, polyacrylate, polyester, polycyanate, polystyrene, polyamide, or blend thereof.
23 . The composite fiber of claim 22 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polycarbonate.
24 . The composite fiber of claim 19 , wherein the aligned nanoplatelets of the first layer are aligned along an axis when rolled into a scroll fiber.
25 . The composite fiber of claim 24 , wherein the axis is the long axis of the composite fiber.
26 . The composite fiber of claim 24 , wherein the effective modulus (GPa) is at least about 20% greater than a fiber of polymer matrix alone.