The electrical and electrothermal de-icing performance of graphene/polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and graphene/polylactic acid (PLA) composites with different thicknesses were systematically compared and investigated. Graphene/PHA with 1 mm thickness shows a slightly lower electrical resistivity than graphene/PLA. However, the results are contrary for 0.1 mm-thick samples, likely due to poorer interfacial adhesion between graphene and PHA. Besides, all 0.1 mm-thick samples show higher electrical resistivity than 1 mm-thick samples, likely attributed to the alignment of graphene. The current-voltage curves of graphene/PHA exhibit nonlinear behavior with fluctuations, whereas all graphene/PLA samples show linear behavior. This result enables the graphene/PLA to exhibit superior electrothermal stability than graphene/PHA. An excellent electrothermal performance is obtained for these composites. The temperature increases from –40.2 to 95 °C within 17 s under 7 V. While these composites cannot be self-heated and utilized above 95 °C, this is because the composites would undergo electrical breakdown when heated to temperatures above 95°C for 5~10 s. The composite can melt ice within 550 s at –40 °C and within 447 s at –20 °C. These findings suggest that graphene/PHA and graphene/PLA composites hold significant potential for de-icing applications.

Polymer nanocomposites are drawing considerable interest in electrical energy storage research owing to their distinctive characteristics and promising roles in various devices, such as batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. This review examines the selection criteria of polymer nanocomposites for electrical energy storage applications and the current advancements in developing and producing polymer nanocomposites specifically tailored for electrical energy storage applications. Key topics covered include the selection of polymer matrices, choice of nanofillers, fabrication techniques, characterization methods, and performance evaluation of the resulting nanocomposites. The impact of nanofiller dispersion, interface engineering, and morphology control on electrical storage properties is emphasized. Proper dispersion enhances uniformity and interfacial interactions, improving electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Interface engineering boosts polymer-nanofiller compatibility, while morphology control optimizes nanofiller structure and arrangement for better storage efficiency. Emerging trends, challenges, and future research directions are also discussed, providing insights for developing advanced polymer nanocomposites with improved electrical energy storage capabilities.

This is an editorial article. It has no abstract.

This is an editorial article. It has no abstract.