Abstract
Polymeric nanofibers are attractive nanomaterials owing to their high surface-area-to-volume ratio and superior flexibility. However, a difficult choice between durability and recyclability continues to hamper efforts to design new polymeric nanofibers. Herein, we integrate the concept of covalent adaptable networks (CANs) to produce a class of nanofibers ⎯ referred to dynamic covalently crosslinked nanofibers (DCCNFs) via electrospinning systems with viscosity modulation and in-situ crosslinking. The developed DCCNFs possess homogeneous morphology, flexibility, mechanical robustness, and creep resistance, as well as good thermal and solvent stability. Moreover, to solve the inevitable issues of performance degradation and crack of nanofibrous membranes, DCCNF membranes can be one-pot closed-loop recycled or welded through thermal-reversible Diels-Alder reaction. This study may unlock strategies to fabricate the next generation nanofibers with recyclable features and consistently high performance via dynamic covalent chemistry for intelligent and sustainable applications.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2 2023 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2023-03-06Acknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge the financially supported from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) under its RIE2025 Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity (MTC) Programmatic Funding (Grant No. M22K9b0049, Z.L.), AME Young Individual Research Grants (YIRG) (Grant No. A2084c0168, Z.L.), A*STAR Central Funds (Grant No. C211718004, Z.L.) and A*STAR Career Development Fund – Seed Project 2022 (Grant No. C222812032, B.L.). N.H. acknowledges the support of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Chemistry
- General Physics and Astronomy