Researchers at the University of Bayreuth present new electrospun nonwovens in a “Science Breakthrough” that features a unique combination of high electrical conductivity and high thermal conductivity. Non-visible objects represent progress in material research: it is possible to manipulate electricity and light based on material concepts that are easy to implement. Materials that are not made from ceramics based on carbon and silicon are made by electronic processes and are attractive for technical applications, for example, in energy technology and electronic equipment. They can be produced and processed economically in many factories.
Normally, high electricity is associated with high temperature air, and low temperature goes with low electricity. However, in many high-tech companies, there is a growing interest in multifunctional materials that combine good electrical transport with low temperature. Although many strategies have been developed in materials, such as inorganic materials, conjugated polymers and alloys, obtaining very low thermal conductivity and high electrical conductivity is still a major challenge for flexible materials and foldable.
A research team from the University of Bayreuth has discovered a new idea to meet this challenge: new electrospun ceramics are used that are not made from carbon and silicon and are made of fibers with water island-like nanostructures and diameters between 500 and 600 nanometers. Each fiber contains a carbon matrix that uniformly distributes the ceramic structure of nanometric size.
The particles form small “islands” in the “ocean” of the carbon matrix and have different effects and interactions. The carbon matrix helps the transfer of electrons in the fiber and therefore the electrical efficiency is high, while the nano ceramic with silicon prevents the heat energy from spreading too quickly. In fact, the interface between the nanometric ceramic and the carbon matrix is very high, while the pores of the nonwoven are small. This results in the strong scattering of phonons, which are the smallest physical particles that cause vibrations caused by light energy.
A continuous fire does not occur. This rare combination of high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity is now demonstrated by comparing more than 3,900 materials of all types, including ceramics, carbons, natural materials, synthetic polymers, metals, glass and different composition. Electron transport and energy isolation are the combined properties of the new electrospun fiber composites over these other materials.
Our electrospun nonwovens gather very good multifunctional properties that are usually distributed between different classes of materials: high electrical conductivity, thermal insulation well known from polymeric foams, and flame retardancy and heat resistant qualities of ceramics. The open thread is based on a simple material concept. , and they were made from commercial polymers,” said first author Dr. Xiaojian Liao, a postdoctoral researcher in macromolecular chemistry at the University of Bayreuth, says.
“We are convinced that our new fiber is suitable for many areas of application: for example, in the field of energy management, electric batteries, textiles or air conditioning”, Professor Seema Agarwal, professor of macromolecular chemistry at the University of Bayreuth and one of the authors of this new book agrees. An interdisciplinary team from the University of Bayreuth, experts in ceramics, polymers, electrospinning, physical chemistry and electron microscopy, made this project a success.
Source: University of Bayreuth
