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Download fileAn Epidermis-like Hierarchical Smart Coating with a Hardness of Tooth Enamel
journal contribution
posted on 31.01.2018, 00:00 authored by Xiaodong Qi, Dan Zhang, Zhongbao Ma, Wenxin Cao, Ying Hou, Jiaqi Zhu, Yang Gan, Ming YangWe overcome the fundamental
dilemma in achieving hard materials
with self-healing capability by integrating an epidermis-like hierarchical
stratified structure with attractive mechanical and barrier properties
of graphene oxide and show that such biomimetic design enables a smart
hierarchical coating system with a synergetic healing effect and a
record-high stiffness (31.4 ± 1.8 GPa)/hardness (2.27 ±
0.09 GPa) among all self-healable polymeric films even comparable
to that of tooth enamel. A quasi-linear layer-by-layer (LBL) film
with constituent graphene oxide is deposited on top of an exponential
LBL counterpart as a protective hard layer, forming a hierarchical
stratified assembly mimicking the structure of epidermis. The hybrid
multilayers can achieve a complete restoration after scratching thanks
to the mutual benefit: The soft underneath cushion can provide additional
polymers to assist the recovery of the outer hard layer, which in
turn can be a sealing barrier promoting the self-healing of the soft
layer during stimulated polymer diffusion. The presenting hybridization
mode of LBL assembly represents a promising tool for integrating seemingly
contradictory properties in artificial materials with potential performances
surpassing those in nature.
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Keywords
coating systemgraphene oxideLBL assemblyconstituent graphene oxidepolymer diffusionhybridization modeLBL counterpartsynergetic healing effectbiomimetic designsealing barrierfilmTooth Enamelmaterialquasi-linear layer-by-layerbarrier propertiesGPatooth enamelEpidermis-like Hierarchical Smart Coatingself-healing capability