Issue 22, 2021

Electrical resistance change in thermally reconfigured nanoporous ionomer-bound carbon films

Abstract

The electrical resistance of nanoporous ionomer-bound carbon films is critical for the performance of future devices that utilize these films. However, the thermally self-changed electrical characteristics remain concealed, although the films are exposed to various temperatures during their fabrication and operation. Here, we present the self-changed characteristics and reveal their nanostructural origin. The thermal transitions of the few-nanometer ionomer binder cause the structural reconfiguration of the charge conductors. These thermomechanical behaviors allow for optimal continuities in the ionic and electronic conductors, the nano-networking of which becomes highly self-enhanced as the reconfiguration temperature increases. The thermal kinetics of nanoporous films are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, and the characterization indicates that the nanostructural alterations of the conductors originate from the crystallized packing and melt flow of the ionomer binder. Such thermal behavior causes the initially disconnected ionomer-bound carbon agglomerates to be bridged, which is visually examined using a scanning transmission electron microscope. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measures ∼40% enhancements in ionic and electronic resistances owing to the higher degree of nano-networking in the conductors. Above the second transition temperature, the nanoporous films demonstrate electronic degradation as the ionomer penetrates into the niche spaces between carbon particles, resulting in electron path insulation.

Graphical abstract: Electrical resistance change in thermally reconfigured nanoporous ionomer-bound carbon films

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Mar 2021
Accepted
04 May 2021
First published
05 May 2021

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021,9, 13019-13025

Electrical resistance change in thermally reconfigured nanoporous ionomer-bound carbon films

J. Pyo, J. H. Kim, K. Kim and T. Kim, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 13019 DOI: 10.1039/D1TA02098F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements