Biomimetic Supramolecular Polymer Networks Exhibiting both Toughness and Self-Recovery

Ji Liu; Cindy Soo Yun Tan; Ziyi Yu; Yang Lan; Chris Abell; Oren A Scherman

doi:10.1002/adma.201604951

Biomimetic Supramolecular Polymer Networks Exhibiting both Toughness and Self-Recovery

Adv Mater. 2017 Mar;29(10). doi: 10.1002/adma.201604951. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Authors

Ji Liu¹, Cindy Soo Yun Tan^{1

2}, Ziyi Yu³, Yang Lan¹, Chris Abell³, Oren A Scherman¹

Affiliations

¹ Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
² Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
³ Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.

PMID: 28092128
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201604951

Abstract

Biomimetic supramolecular dual networks: By mimicking the structure/function model of titin, integration of dynamic cucurbit[8]uril mediated host-guest interactions with a trace amount of covalent cross-linking leads to hierarchical dual networks with intriguing toughness, strength, elasticity, and energy dissipation properties. Dynamic host-guest interactions can be dissociated as sacrificial bonds and their facile reformation results in self-recovery of the dual network structure as well as its mechanical properties.

Keywords: biomimetics; cucurbit[n]uril host-guest interaction; self-recovery; supramolecular dual networks; toughness.