Search

Conductive fillers‐embedded plastic polymer hybrid composites are crucial electronic materials in modern technologies owing to their tunable conductive properties, low density, and corrosion resistance. However, the application of traditional rigid inorganic conductive fillers‐embedded plastic composites is constrained by their subpar electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. Consequently, liquid metals (LMs) including gallium and gallium‐based alloys, have recently emerged as the preferred conductive flexible fillers over traditional rigid fillers. This work employs a solvent evaporation method and phase separation‐induced conductivity mechanism. The resulting flexible and electrically conductive LM‐polycarbonate (PC) film circuits demonstrate ultrahigh metallic conductivity, robust mechanical performance, excellent solvent recyclability, and notable processability. The fluidic nature of LMs and the superior mechanical properties of the PC polymer confer high electrical stability and durability to the LM‐PC film circuits under diverse mechanical forces and environmental conditions. The LM‐PC film circuits are exceedingly promising and apt for use as flexible conductors in contemporary electrical applications, including electricity transmission and underwater working. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two series of dissymmetric hydrazide derivatives containing alkoxyazobenzene with nitro terminal group and octyloxy terminal group, N-4-alkoxyphenyl-N′-4-((4-nitrophenyl)azophenyl) benzohydrazide (Bn-NO2, n indicates the number of carbon atoms) and N-4-octyloxyphenyl-N′-4-((4-octyloxyphenyl)azophenyl) benzohydrazide (B8-B8), were designed and synthesised, and their liquid crystalline properties were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. It was found thatB8-B8with octyloxy terminal chains displayed monolayer smectic C phase, whereasBn-NO2with nitro terminal group displayed SmAdphase, and intermolecular hydrogen bonding was confirmed as the driving force. In addition, the effect of hydrogen bonding, dipole–dipole interactions and steric hindrance effect on the liquid crystalline structures were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]