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MXene-enhanced epoxy film achieves 96 % self-healing efficiency
Researchers have developed a high-performance epoxy resin film that combines MXenes with dynamic diselenide bonds, enabling efficient photothermal self-healing. The new formulation overcomes the brittleness and poor film-forming properties typically associated with epoxy resins.
Epoxy resins are widely valued for their mechanical strength and thermal stability, making them attractive candidates for flexible electronic films. However, their inherent brittleness, limited film-forming capability and lack of self-healing functionality have restricted broader application in advanced film technologies. To address these limitations, a research team has synthesised a novel epoxy resin system that integrates MXenes with dynamic reversible diselenide bonds.
The combined approach improves both flexibility and processability while introducing a self-healing mechanism. MXenes provide photothermal conversion under light irradiation, generating localised heat that activates the reversible exchange reaction of diselenide bonds within the polymer network.
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Mechanical performance and self-healing efficiency
The optimised formulation, containing 1.0 wt% MXenes and 4.0 wt% bis(1-hydroxyethyl)diselenide, delivered significantly enhanced toughness compared with conventional epoxy films. The film achieved a tensile strength of 22.07 MPa together with a self-healing efficiency of 96.3 %, demonstrating effective damage recovery under light stimulation.
By coupling photothermal conversion with dynamic covalent chemistry, the study presents a viable route for developing light-responsive, self-healing epoxy materials with potential applications in flexible electronics, protective coatings and other functional film systems requiring durability and reparability.
Source: Ma, Y. et al., High-performance self-healing epoxy resin film based on the synergistic effect of photothermal conversion and dynamic bonds. Journal of Materials Chemistry C (2026).
