Nanowerk February 28, 2022
The weak nature of van der Waals interactions limits the CNT mats from achieving greater performance. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed an efficient approach to augment the inter-fiber interactions by introducing aramid nanofiber (ANF) links between CNTs, which forms stronger and reconfigurable interfacial hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions, leading to synergistic performance improvement with failure retardation. In experiments under supersonic impacts, strengthened interactions in CNT mats enhanced their specific energy absorption up to 3.6 MJ/kg which outperformed bulk Kevlar-fiber-based protective materials. By modifying the interfacial interactions in the mats by adding Kevlar nanofibers they achieved nearly 100% improvement in energy dissipation performance at certain supersonic impact velocities. The findings show the potential of nanofiber mats augmented with interfacial dynamic bonds as low-density structural materials with superior specific properties and high-temperature stability for extreme engineering applications…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Graphical abstract. Credit: ACS Nano 2021, 15, 12, 19945–19955, December 6, 2021Â