Fatigue-Resistant Bioinspired Graphene-Based Nanocomposites

Graphene is an attractive building block for constructing functional materials of flexible electronic devices, due to its extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties. Up to now, large amounts of high-performance graphene-based nanocomposites are fabricated. However, the fatigue behavior of graphene-based nanocomposites, a key parameter for flexible electronic devices, is rarely investigated. According to the fatigue mechanisms of thermosetting polymer composites, the fatigue resistance of graphene-based nanocomposites can be significantly improved by effectively restricting the crack growth. Natural nacre demonstrates unique multisuppression of crack propagation, which is attributed to its sophisticated interfacial architecture over multiple length scales, resulting in remarkable fracture toughness. The crack suppression mechanisms corresponding to different interfacial design strategies within bioinspired graphene-based nanocomposites (BGBNs) are summarized in this feature article. The static mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and fatigue resistance of these BGBNs are compared and discussed. The synergistic effect from various interfacial interactions and building blocks is highlighted to serve as the guidance for constructing novel fatigue-resistant BGBNs. The promising applications of fatigue-resistant BGBNs in flexible electronic devices are reviewed, and several challenges and corresponding solutions are proposed. The perspective of fatigue-resistant BGBNs for fundamental research and commercial application is depicted.