High-Performance and Rapid-Response Electrical Heaters Based on Ultraflexible, Heat-Resistant, and Mechanically Strong Aramid Nanofiber/Ag Nanowire Nanocomposite Papers

High-performance and rapid response electrical heaters with ultraflexibility, superior heat-resistance and mechanical properties are highly desirable for the development of wearable devices, artificial intelligence and high-performance heating systems in areas such as aerospace and military. Herein, a facile and efficient two-step vacuum assisted filtration (TVAF) followed by hot-pressing approach is presented to fabricate versatile electrical heaters based on the high-performance aramid nanofibers (ANFs) and highly conductive Ag nanowires (AgNWs). The resultant ANF/AgNW nanocomposite papers present ultraflexibility, extremely low sheet resistance (minimum Rs of 0.12 Ω/sq), as well as outstanding heat resistance (thermal degradation temperature above 500°C) and mechanical properties (tensile strength of 285.7 MPa, tensile modulus of 6.51 GPa with a AgNW area fraction of 0.4 g/m2), benefiting from the partially embedding of AgNWs into the ANF substrate and the extensive hydrogen bonding interactions. Moreo...