Towards highly homogeneous self-regulating heating of smart nanocomposites

Smart self-regulating heating devices utilising the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect have shown great potential in advancing applications across healthcare, soft robotics, and energy-efficient manufacturing. However, achieving homogeneous resistive heating within such temperature self-controllable nanocomposites remains a significant challenge, falling short of meeting the requirements of advanced heating systems. This study explores and evaluates multiple innovative strategies aimed at enhancing the temperature uniformity of PTC nanocomposites. By identifying and analysing the primary physical mechanisms behind the inhomogeneous heating observed in conductive polymer composites, we propose a series of targeted strategies, ranging from customised material formulations to novel electrode configurations. Recycled carbon fibres have also been explored and upcycled as an effective solution for homogenous self-regulating heating. Through a comprehensive analysis of experimental results, the effectiveness of each strategy has been evaluated with a significantly improved temperature uniformity (from 32.6 to 2.7 % variation at 125 °C), providing valuable insights for the design and development of advanced self-regulating heating devices based on conductive polymer nanocomposites, while offering promising prospects for achieving more energy-efficient and uniform heating in various industrial applications.