title: High-Performance Poly(ethylene oxide)/Molybdenum Disulfide Nanocomposite Films: Reinforcement of Properties Based on the Gradient Interface Effect.
abstract: Herein, the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was simultaneously exfoliated and noncovalently functionalized by ultrasonication in a Pluronic aqueous solution and then was used to prepare the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based nanocomposite films. The homogeneous dispersion of MoS2 and strong nanosheets/matrix interfacial adhesion were confirmed by representative electron microscopes. The considerable barrier action of the effective MoS2 nanosheets obviously restricted the ordering of crystal lamellae and the motion of polymer chains and then resulted in the formation of the devastated spherocrystal structure and morphological alterations in the nanocomposites, which were confirmed by polarized optical microscopy and the high value of the glass transition temperature. Importantly, MoS2 nanosheets hold great promise in reinforcing the thermal stability and mechanical property of polymer by increasing the effective volume of MoS2 nanosheets. A substantial reinforcement effect of PEO/MoS2 composite films was achieved: even at a relatively low loading level (0.9 wt %), 88.1% increase in Young's modulus, 72.7% increase in stress-at-failure, and 62.1 °C increment of the temperature corresponding to half weight loss were obtained. These significant reinforcements can be attributed to the gradient interface region, which could effectively transfer the stress from the weak polymer chains to the robust nanosheets, thus endowing the PEO/MoS2 composite films with excellent properties.
authors.affiliation: †State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui 230026, P.R. China.|‡Suzhou Key Laboratory of Urban Public Safety, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: †State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui 230026, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weiyi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: †State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui 230026, P.R. China.|‡Suzhou Key Laboratory of Urban Public Safety, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: †State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui 230026, P.R. China.|‡Suzhou Key Laboratory of Urban Public Safety, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bihe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: †State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui 230026, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: †State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui 230026, P.R. China.|‡Suzhou Key Laboratory of Urban Public Safety, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: ‡Suzhou Key Laboratory of Urban Public Safety, Suzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P.R. China.|§Department of Architectural and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kim Meow
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Liew
keywords: MoS2 nanosheets; gradient interface; mechanical properties; noncovalent functionalization; poly(ethylene oxide); thermal stability