Emergent stimuli responsive nanocomposite sponges—design and high-tech revolutions

Nanocomposite sponges or foams have been established as three dimensional progressive nanomaterials. This review article fundamentally précises the design and advancements in the field of essential three-dimensional nanocomposite nanostructures. The nanocomposite sponges of nanocarbons or carbonaceous nanoparticles (graphene, carbon nanotube, etc.) as well as inorganic nanoparticles have been fabricated using facile practices such as hydrothermal, freeze-drying, infiltration, hot pressing, foaming, and others. Particularly, literature reports on the combination of nanoparticles mostly with thermoplastic polymeric matrices (polyurethane, poly (vinyl alcohol), polycaprolactone), thermoset (epoxy), and conducting polymers to form efficient nanocomposite sponges. Consequently, high performance nanocellular sponges have been developed with hierarchical nanostructure, fine nanofiller scattering, interface formation, and matrix-nanofiller interactions. Ensuing nanocomposite sponges revealed exclusive shape memory responses in addition to indispensable structural and physical features (high surface area, flexibility, porosity, conductivity, heat, and mechanical robustness). These emergent stimuli responsive cellular materials exposed high-tech potential towards supercapacitors, sensors, and electromagnetic interference shielding devices/materials. Here, shape memory nanocomposite sponges own various merits, like low density, flexibility, reversible deformability, sustainability, and external stimuli regulated device functioning, relative to traditional planar structured energy/electronic devices. In this way, the shape memory properties have further enhanced the marvelous characteristics of high performance nanocomposite sponges. Above all, using shape memory nanocomposite sponge based energy/electronic devices own next level potential of extended life spans and high performance relying upon key factors, like reversible structural deformations, revocable fatigue, and easily recoverable cracks/damages, as compared to traditional non-responsive nanomaterials.