Supramolecular Damping Materials with High Energy Dissipation and High Toughness Derived from Side-Chain-Mediated Hydrogen Bonds
Damping materials are critical for mitigating vibrations and noise across various frequencies by converting mechanical energy into thermal energy. However, achieving a simultaneous high damping capacity and high toughness remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report a supramolecular polymer (SMP) that integrates high damping and toughness through the synergistic action of dynamic hydrogen bonds and side-chain relaxation. The polymer exhibits exceptional mechanical properties: a Young's modulus of 47.08 MPa, elongation at break of 605%, and toughness of 15.24 MJ m−3. The dynamic hydrogen bonds confer dual responsiveness to strain rate and temperature, with a 6.7-fold variation in Young's modulus under different stretching rates and a five-order-of-magnitude change in storage modulus across a temperature range. Under mechanical force, the interpenetrating side chains undergo mutual friction, enabling repetitive energy dissipation. This mechanism yields superior damping ability with a loss factor (tanδ) of 1.6 at 1 Hz, demonstrating outstanding performance in vibration absorption and noise reduction. The material's design offers a promising strategy for developing high-performance damping materials that balance energy dissipation and mechanical robustness, suitable for applications in wearable electronics, protective equipment, and structural vibration control.