For the first time Vietnam created smart silicon materials

Materials can regenerate themselves, heal when scratched, implantable biomedical applications or coating.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Le Thu , Faculty of Materials Technology (Polytechnic University, National University of Ho Chi Minh City) is researching to create new materials capable of "self-healing" when damaged, scratched. This material can be applied in biomedical implants and coatings on cars or mobile phones. Using this material to replace the normal paint, scratched cars will also heal themselves when going out in the hot sun.

Materials can regenerate themselves based on the mechanism of chemical bonding, when the fracture will recombine. Currently the author has completed basic studies, creating a small model of a laboratory model.

To create the ability to 'heal' the material, the Diels-Alder reversible covalent bonds will be used as a network bridge for polydimethylsiloxane and polycaprolactone circuits.(Illustration).

This is a new study aimed at high application, to create a silicon-based polymer material with a combination of 'remember shape' and 'self-healing' properties.

The world has done a lot of research in this direction, but to make the application material really effective little. Currently Japan and South Korea have applied smart materials to create coatings for phones and cars, but only start and stop in some high-end special products. The reason, the materials are so expensive that the technology improvement and the operation mechanism to reduce costs and create more products are still being sought by scientists and businesses.

In Vietnam, the research topic has been around for three years, so the author thinks that it is too early to calculate the cost of materials. Dr. Thu is still looking for, choosing a process to make materials that are not too expensive and choose effective applications to focus on research.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Le Thu (center) in the laboratory.(Photo: Ha Phuong).

Realizing this is the potential research direction, the program of Scientific Research Award for Women L'Oreal - UNESCO for the development of women in science has awarded scholarships worth 150 million VND to Dr. Nguyen Thi Le Thu continues to pursue passion.

The purpose of the study is to create a silicon-based polymer material (polydimethylsioxane) and a polycaprolactone with a combination of 'remember' and 'heal'. Silicon polymers and polycaprolactone are all non-toxic, biocompatible polymers, so they are widely used in biomedical.

Besides, siloxane polymers are very stable in heat, oxidation resistance and high air permeability. Therefore, this new silicon material with the addition of 'self-healing' properties will be suitable for high-end applications such as medical device materials and medical implants.

This silicon material can be used as a smart coating to heal scratches for cars or phones, while providing value for durability and aesthetics, and being able to make anti-corrosion paint.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Le Thu is the main author and co-author of 32 papers published in specialized international journals and 18 posts in a prestigious domestic journal, co-author of two international patents. She chaired two topics of the National Science and Technology Development Fund and two projects at the local level, National University of Ho Chi Minh City.