Bio-inspired MXene/graphene oxide-based nanocomposites with enhanced interfacial self-healing effects and multifunctional integration

Self-healing materials have garnered considerable attention for their remarkable damage recovery capabilities. Nonetheless, the trade-off between enhanced mechanical strength and self-healing efficiency poses a formidable challenge. Inspired by the structure of biological enthesis, this study presents a self-healing polymer composite with complementary hydrogen bonding sites and gradient interface. The self-healing matrix is synthesized by incorporating multi-strength hydrogen bonds sites within a flexible polydimethylsiloxane backbone. The gradient interface is a character with “core-sheath” structure that integrates a rigid core (Ti 3 C 2 -MXene-grafted graphene oxide) and a soft shell (a cerium-polyphenol complex). The result exhibits impressive tensile strength (5.44 MPa, lifting approximately 4,434 times its own weight) and self-healing efficiency (96.4%) without requiring external stimuli. The resultant composite breaks through the monotony of the traditional two-dimensional (2D) nanofiller interface design and has the best mechanical performance in its kind. This composite coating also offers superior corrosion resistance (achieving a low-frequency impedance modulus of up to 5.25 × 10 9  ohm cm 2 ) and healing corrosion resistance after damage for magnesium. Furthermore, this composite integrates self-healing properties, corrosion resistance, flame retardancy, and recyclability, offers a promising avenue of self-healing polymer composite for practical applications.