Conductive nanocomposite films
View Patent ↗Methods for preparing low resistivity nanocomposite layers that simultaneously offer optical clarity, wear resistance and superior functional performance. Nanofillers and a substance having a polymer are mixed. Both low-loaded and highly-loaded nanocomposites are included. Nanoscale coated and un-coated fillers may be used. Nanocomposite films may be coated on substrates.
1. A method for preparing an optically clear nanocomposite layer with resistivity less than 4.5×10 5 ohm·cm comprising:
providing nanofillers;
providing a liquid polymer matrix;
mixing the nanofillers and the liquid polymer matrix below a loading of 80% by volume and processing the mixture to produce a nanocomposite; and
wherein the nanocomposite has a transparency to light that differs by more than 20% as compared with the transparency to light exhibited by a composite material of similar composition with filler particles having a domain size of at least one micron.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing includes adding a secondary species material selected from the group consisting of: dispersants, binders, modifiers, detergents, and additives.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the loading is heterogeneous.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanofillers comprise whiskers.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanocomposite is wear resistant.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanofillers comprise powders with an aspect ratio between 1 and 25.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanofillers comprise carbide or metal.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanofillers comprise one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, barium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, cesium, cobalt, copper, europium, gallium, gold, indium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, scandium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the nanofillers comprise one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: antimony, boron, bromine, carbon, chlorine, fluorine, germanium, hydrogen, iodine, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, selenium, silicon, sulfur, and tellurium.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer matrix comprises oxygen.
11. A method for preparing an optically clear nanocomposite layer with resistivity less than 4.5×10 5 ohm·cm comprising:
providing nanofillers;
providing a matrix;
mixing the nanofillers and the matrix below a loading of 80% by volume and processing the mixture to produce a nanocomposite, wherein the nanofillers are chemically reduced prior to the mixing; and
wherein the nanocomposite has a transparency to light that differs by more than 20% as compared with the transparency to light exhibited by a composite material of similar composition with filler particles having a domain size of at least one micron.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step wherein the nanofillers are chemically reduced prior to the mixing step.
13. A method for preparing a nanocomposite with resistivity between 1.09×10 4 ohm·cm and 5.54×10 12 ohm·cm comprising:
providing nanofillers comprising domain size less than 100 nanometers;
providing a matrix;
mixing the nanofillers and the matrix below a loading of 80% by volume and processing the mixture to produce a nanocomposite, wherein the nanofillers are chemically reduced prior to the mixing; and
wherein the nanocomposite has a transparency to light at a specific wavelength of light that differs by more than 20% as compared with the transparency to light at the specific wavelength of light exhibited by a composite material of similar composition with filler particles having a domain size of at least one micron.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the nanofillers comprise one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, arsenic, barium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, cesium, cobalt, copper, europium, gallium, gold, indium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, scandium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the nanofillers comprise powders with aspect ratio greater than one.