Facile Supramolecular Processing of Carbon Nanotubes and Polymers for Electromechanical Sensors

We herein report a facile, cost‐competitive, and scalable method for producing viscoelastic conductors via one‐pot melt‐blending using polymers and supramolecular gels composed of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), diphenylamine (DP), and benzophenone (BP). When mixed, a non‐volatile eutectic liquid (EL) produced by simply blending DP with BP (1:1 molar ratio) enabled not only the gelation of CNTs (EL‐CNTs) but also the dissolution of a number of commodity polymers. To make use of these advantages, viscoelastic conductors were produced via one‐pot melt‐blending the EL and CNTs with a model thermoplastic elastomer, poly(styrene‐b‐butadiene‐b‐styrene) (SBS, styrene 30 wt %). The resulting composites displayed an excellent electromechanical sensory along with re‐mendable properties. This simple method using cost‐competitive EL components is expected to provide an alternative to the use of expensive ionic liquids as well as to facilitate the fabrication of novel composites for various purposes. Sense of gel: A supramolecular, non‐volatile eutectic liquid (EL), consisting of diphenylamine and benzophenone, can not only dissolve many commodity polymers but also form bucky gels with CNTs upon grinding. A viscoelastic conductor composed of the EL, CNTs, and polymers was prepared by one‐pot melt‐blending. The resulting viscoelastic conductor behaves as a highly sensitive, self‐healing electromechanical sensor.