Skin-inspired thermoelectric nanocoating for temperature sensing and fire safety

Temperature sensing enables flammable materials to respond intelligently at high temperature, which is conducive to further improving their fire safety. However, it is still challenging to develop a smart nanocoating with sensitive temperature-sensing and efficient flame retardancy. Inspired by human skin, a thermoelectric flame retardant (TE-FR) nanocoating was fabricated by combining a dermis-mimicking thermoelectric (TE) layer and an epidermis-mimicking flame retardant (FR) layer. The TE-FR nanocoating exhibited accurate temperature sensing at 100-300 celcius and repeatable fire-warning capability. When being burned, the fire-warning response time of the TE-FR nanocoating was only 2.0 s, and it retriggered the fire-warning device within 2.8 s when it was reburned. Meanwhile, the TE-FR nanocoating exhibited outstanding flame retardancy. The coated polypropylene self-extinguished in the horizontal and vertical burning tests. Besides, its peak heat release rate, total heat release, and peak smoke production rate were significantly reduced. This work proposed an ingenious strategy to fabricate smart nanocoating for tem-perature sensing and fire safety, which revealed an enticing prospect in the fields of fire protection, elec-tronic skin, and temperature monitor. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Inspired by human skin, a thermoelectric flame retardant nanocoating with temperature sensing and fire safety functions was developed, showing accurate temperature sensing and fire-warning capability at high temperatures. The nanocoating exhibited outstanding flame retardancy and self-extinguishing properties, presenting an enticing prospect in the fields of fire protection, electronic skin, and temperature monitor.