Polymer Composites of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials for Structural Applications

Polymer composites of two-dimensional (2D) layered nanostructures such as graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and h-BN have promising potential in future technologies. However, although it has been more than a decade polymer composites of 2D-layered materials have been investigated, still fundamental challenges remain for practical applications. Currently, poor load transfer, good interfacial engineering and dispersion of layered materials in polymer matrix remain as a big challange that needs to be overcome for the commercialization of these materials. 2D-layered materials offer significant advantages for developing thermally stable with robust mechanical properties, high electrical and thermal conductivities toward building ultra-lightweight multifunctional composites. Here, we report the development of highly porous, ultralight-weight and flexible polymer composite of 2D-layered structures for high temperature environmental applications. Physical, chemical and interfacial interactions of various polymer and 2D-layered structures will be discussed with the support of fully atomistic reactive molecular dynamics simulations that discloses unusual interface interactions between polymer matrix and 2D-layered structures.