Volume 19, Issue 6 2205797
Research Article

Triple Stimuli-Responsive Flexible Shape Memory Foams with Super-Amphiphilicity

Xinyun Ding

Xinyun Ding

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804 China

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Yunan Shi

Yunan Shi

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804 China

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Shijie Xu

Shijie Xu

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804 China

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Yukun Zhang

Yukun Zhang

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804 China

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Jiang Du

Corresponding Author

Jiang Du

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804 China

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

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Jun Qiu

Corresponding Author

Jun Qiu

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804 China

Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials, Tongji University, Education of Ministry, Shanghai, 201804 China

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

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First published: 03 December 2022
Citations: 5

Abstract

Highly porous multi-responsive shape memory foams have unique advantages in designing 3D materials with lightweight for varied applications. Herein, a facile and efficient approach to fabricating a thermo-, electro-, and photo-responsive shape memory composite foam is demonstrated. A specific multi-step carbonization protocol is adopted for transforming commercial melamine sponge (MS) to highly porous carbon foam (CF) with robust elastic resilience, efficient electrothermal/photothermal conversions, and super-amphiphilicity. It is a novel proposal for CF to take the dual role of the elastic supporting framework and 3D energy conversion/transmission network without any functional fillers. The composite foam cPCL@CF incorporates the CF skeleton with in situ crosslinked polycaprolactone (PCL) layers, which exhibits high conductivity (≈140 S m−1) and excellent light absorption (≈97.7%) in the range of 250–2500 nm. By triggering the crystalline transition of PCL, the composite foam displays sensitive electro- and photo-induced shape memory effect (SME) with outstanding shape fixation ratio (Rf) and recovery ratio (Rr). Thanks to the super-amphiphilicity and high electrical conductivity, the cPCL@CF composite foam can give rapid and distinguishable electric signals upon tiny drips of salt solutions or lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrolytes, making it a new type of sensor for detecting electrolyte leakage.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

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