Progress on the morphological control of conductive network in conductive polymer composites and the use as electroactive multifunctional materials

• Published in: Progress in polymer science Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 627 - 655
• Main Authors: Deng, Hua, Lin, Lin, Ji, Mizhi, Zhang, Shuangmei, Yang, Mingbo, Fu, Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Conductive network; Conductive polymer composites; Electrical percolation threshold; Electroactive multifunctional; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Morphological control; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Sensing; Technology of polymers; PP; PS; PU; ABS-g-MA; CNFs; Sensing; P3HT; PEDOT:PSS; SPM; Pc; EA; Conductive polymer composites; WAXD; ICPs; EMI; CPCs; PBT; Conductive network; Morphological control; PVDF; CVD; ILs; SWNTs; HCP; Electroactive multifunctional; PCL; SEM; ZT; HADF-STEM; NTC; PTC; PDMS; CTEM; AFM; 2D; ABS; THF; CNTs; TPU; SMPs; OM; PA6; MWNTs; PVAc; FIT; 3D; PA; TE; PMMA; PE; Electrical percolation threshold; C-AFM; TEM; PET; DC; State of the art; Conducting material; Electrical conductivity; Electrical properties; Dispersion degree; Use; Measurement sensor; Polymer; Composite material; Morphology; Manufacturing
• ISSN: 0079-6700; 1873-1619
• DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2013.07.007

Since the emergence of large aspect ratio and multifunctional conductive fillers, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoplates, etc., conductive polymer composites (CPCs) have attracted increasing attention. Although the morphological control of conductive networks in CPCs has been extensively investigated as an important issue for the preparation of high performance CPCs, recent extensive progress has not been systematically addressed in any review. It has been observed that the morphological control of conductive networks during the preparation of CPCs has crucial influence on the electrical properties of these composites. Several methods have been shown to be able to control the network structure, and thus, tune the electrical properties of CPCs, including the use of shear, polymer blends, thermal annealing, mixed filler, latex particle etc. Moreover, many novel and exciting applications have been extensively investigated for CPCs, such as stretchable conductor, electroactive sensors, shape memory materials and thermoelectric materials, etc. Therefore, the morphological control of conductive network in CPCs is reviewed here. Issues regarding morphology characterization methods, morphological control methods, resulted network morphology and electrical properties are discussed. Furthermore, the use of CPCs as electroactive multifunctional materials is also reviewed.