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Bio-based polyester nanocomposites offer high performance and reprocessability

A research team led by Prof. Zhu Jin from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has synthesized a novel bio-based polyester nanocomposite with high performance and reprocessability through an in-situ innovative catalysis strategy. The study was in Nano-Micro Letters.

Renewable bio-based materials show promise in replacing traditional plastics, offering an eco-friendly solution to the global energy crisis and environmental pollution. The 2,5-furanodicarboxylic acid (FDCA)-based polyesters, in particular, are promising candidates for sustainable and recyclable packaging materials.

However, the overall properties of these bio-based polyesters do not yet match those of petrochemical-based plastics, primarily due to limitations in molecular and microstructural design.

To address this, researchers utilized two-dimensional (2D) MXene nanosheets to encapsulate one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers, resulting in dendritic MXene@CNT heterostructures with enhanced dispersion and structural stability. This innovative heterostructured MXene@CNT acts as a catalyst, nucleator, and interface enhancer for polyesters.

By embedding the dendritic MXene@CNT into a bio-based polybutylene furandicarboxylate (PBF) matrix, the MXene@CNT/PBF (MCP) nanocomposite was synthesized through in-situ catalytic polymerization and hot pressing.

Thanks to its multi-scale energy-dissipating structure, the MCP nanocomposite achieved impressive mechanical properties, including a strength of approximately 101 MPa, stiffness of about 3.1 GPa, and toughness of around 130 MJ m^-3.

When compared to various commercial bio-based materials and plastics, the MCP nanocomposite exhibits resistance to UV light, solvents, and improved gas barrier performance against O₂, CO₂, and H₂O. Notably, the nanocomposite retains 90% of its strength after five recycling cycles.

The integration strategy of catalysis and interfacial strengthening presented in this study paves the way for advancements in high-performance polyester materials. This multifunctional bio-based MCP nanocomposite offers a viable sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics in packaging and engineering applications, representing a significant step toward achieving carbon neutrality goals.