Nickel-plated melamine sponges for versatile applications in flame resistance, electromagnetic absorption and advanced sensing

In this study, nickel-plated melamine sponge composites were prepared via a simple autocatalytic deposition for potential applications in flame resistance, electromagnetic absorption, and strain/pressure sensing. Commercial melamine foams were used as the base material, and nickel plating was achieved through a controllable process involving sensitizing, activating, and autocatalytic plating steps. The obtained Ni@Sponge composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) to collect the structure and thermal information. SEM images reveal uniform nickel distribution on the surface of the Ni@Sponge-High skeleton without significant structural deformation. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and FTIR analysis results confirm the nickel deposition, while TGA indicates enhanced thermal stability in the nickel-plated composite samples. Flame resistance tests demonstrate improved fire retardancy in the nickel-plated samples compared to that of the original sponge. Moreover, excellent electromagnetic absorption and strain/pressure sensing capabilities of Ni@Sponge-High based electronic sensors were observed, showcasing the potential applications of the composites in future human-machine interaction and artificial intelligence fields.