Diels-Alder chemistry: An old workhorse for new self-healing nanocomposites and adhesives

Self-healing polymers have developed rapidly in recent years due to the increasing demand for plastic waste management and sustainability. Among various approaches, intrinsic healing based on dynamic chemical interactions is particularly favored as they can be repeated multiple times without compromising materials performance. These dynamic interactions can also transform existing polymers into reversible systems. This thesis specifically studies the Diels-Alder (DA) reaction, known for its versatility and reversibility upon temperature changes. It is widely used in various applications such as drug delivery, 3D printing, electronic devices, coatings, and adhesives. The structure of this thesis is divided into two main sections: the first half investigates direct deployment of pristine carbon nanotubes into self-healing nanocomposites via the DA reaction, and the second half focuses on the fabrication of a reversible thin film adhesive through the DA linkage. Through these studies, it is expected to further advance the application of the DA reaction in the development of self-healing materials, expanding its potential in innovative and sustainable solutions.