Issue 19, 2019

Boron nitride nanosheet embedded bio-inspired wet adhesives with switchable adhesion and oxidation resistance

Abstract

Smart adhesives that can debond from a surface on-command in response to stimuli are highly desired. However, the over-oxidation of mussel-mimetic adhesives greatly reduces free-catechol groups and results in an irreversible cross-linked network, especially in alkaline environments. Driven by the synergistic effects of reconstructive Schiff base equilibrium and adjustable dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) wettability, an insulated and bactericidal mussel-mimetic nanocomposite adhesive is developed with switchable adhesion and oxidation resistance. Amino-decorated boron nitride nanosheets serve as adhesive building blocks, which can interact with aldehyde group-terminated PEG side chains to form pH-responsive Schiff base networks in situ, reinforcing the cohesion of the adhesive. The alkaline-induced hydrophobic DMAEMA, displaying oxidation inhibiting effects, is subtly incorporated; it can maintain sufficient free-catechol groups to provide desirable adhesion and hinder the irreversible crosslinking of catechols. After acid treatment, the debonding of imine linkages together with acid-induced hydrophilic DMAEMA can drastically decrease bonding strength. Besides, the unique electric properties of BNNSs and the inherent antibacterial activity of Schiff bases endow the as-prepared adhesive with additional prominent functionality, such as high breakdown strength, a low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss and superior bactericidal effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This multifunctional adhesive may possess extensive applications in the biomedical and marine industries.

Graphical abstract: Boron nitride nanosheet embedded bio-inspired wet adhesives with switchable adhesion and oxidation resistance

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 mar 2019
Accepted
05 apr 2019
First published
15 apr 2019

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019,7, 12266-12275

Boron nitride nanosheet embedded bio-inspired wet adhesives with switchable adhesion and oxidation resistance

B. Jin, G. Zhang, J. Lian, Q. Zhang, X. Zhan and F. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 12266 DOI: 10.1039/C9TA02827G

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