Recently emerging trends in flame retardancy of phosphorene polymeric nanocomposites and applications

As a result of their inherent organic constitution, polymeric materials present affinity for elevated inflammability, thereby demanding increased quest for fire safety to facilitate their application in areas requiring enhanced fire resistance like the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas sectors, and so on. Hence, to guaranty safety of lives and properties, the enhancement of fire resistance of polymeric composites has become a huge challenge requiring urgent panacea. Recently emerging nanotechnological advancements in 2-D nanomaterials (NMs) have enlarged their scope of application as multifunctional materials and their inclusion in numerous polymeric matrices have induced superior properties for multifunctional applications. However, due to inherent deficiencies in some of these 2-D NMs such as graphene (GN), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and so on, researchers have continually quested for novel 2-D NMs capable of filling the gap created by these deficiencies. These have resulted in the development of phosphorene (P-N), a new 2-D NM, similar to GN, and an allotrope of phosphorous (PH). The embedment of P-N into various polymeric matrices have resulted in formation of superior PN@polymer nanocomposites applicable in energy, electronics, sensing, photo-thermal gadgets, optoelectronics, photovoltaic, batteries, biomedicals, and so on. Therefore, this elucidation offers insight into the flame retardancy, synthesis, preparation, characterization, properties and applications of P-N@polymeric nanocomposites.

Automated summary

Due to the high inflammability of polymeric materials, enhancing their fire resistance has become a huge challenge in order to ensure safety in areas such as aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas industries. Recent advancements in 2-D nanomaterials, like graphene and carbon nanotubes, have offered superior properties for multifunctional applications, but researchers are searching for new 2-D nanomaterials to overcome their deficiencies. Phosphorene, a 2-D nanomaterial similar to graphene, has been developed and embedded into various polymeric matrices to create PN@polymer nanocomposites with applications in energy, electronics, sensing, and other fields. This article provides insights into the flame retardancy, synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of P-N@polymeric nanocomposites.