title: Fast optical healing of crystalline polymers enabled by gold nanoparticles.
abstract: A general method for very fast and efficient optical healing of crystalline polymers is reported. By loading a very small amount of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in either poly(ethylene oxide) (Tm ≈ 63 °C) or low-density polyethylene (Tm ≈ 103 °C), the heat released upon surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption of 532 nm light by AuNPs can melt crystallites in the interfacial region of two polymer pieces brought into contact; and the subsequent recrystallization of polymer chains on cooling merges the two pieces into one. The fracture strength of such repaired sample can reach the level of the undamaged polymer after 10 s laser exposure. Moreover, in addition to an ability of long-distance remote and spatially selective healing, the optical method also works for polymer samples immersed in water.
authors.affiliation: Département de Chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, J1K 2R1.
authors.forename: Hongji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.forename: Hesheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008853:Microscopy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes; D011108:Polymers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold
keywords: gold nanoparticles; optical healing; polymer nanocomposites; stimuli-responsive polymers