Tacky Elastomers to Enable Tear-Resistant and Autonomous Self-Healing Semiconduction Composites

Song Zhang, University of Southern Mississippi
Yu-Hsuan Cheng, National Taiwan University
Luke Galuska, University of Southern Mississippi
Anirban Roy, Bruker Corporation
Matthias Lorenz, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Beibei Chen, University of Southern Mississippi
Shaochuan Luo, Nanjing University
Yen-Ting Li, National Taiwan University
Chih-Chen Hung, National Taiwan University
Zhiyuan Qian, University of Southern Mississippi
Peter Blake Joseph St. Onge, University of Windsor
Gage T. Mason, University of Windsor
Lewis Cowen, University College London
Dongshan Zhou, Nanjing University
Sergei I. Nazarenko, University of Southern Mississippi
Robson F. Storey, University of Southern Mississippi
Bob C. Schroeder, University College London
Simon Rondeau-Gagné, University of Windsor
Yu-Cheng Chiu, National Taiwan University
Xiaodan Gu, University of Southern Mississippi

Abstract

Mechanical failure of π‐conjugated polymer thin films is unavoidable under cyclic loading conditions, due to intrinsic defects and poor resistance to crack propagation. Here, the first tear‐resistant and room‐temperature self‐healable semiconducting composite is presented, consisting of conjugated polymers and butyl rubber elastomers. This new composite displays both a record‐low elastic modulus (