Semi-renewable Polyamides Containing Disulfide Bonds: Syn-thesis, Degradation, Self-Healing, and Triboelectric Properties

We report here the synthesis, degradation, and properties of polyamides containing disulfide bonds. The polyamides have been prepared using a two-step melt polycondensation process from 4,4'-dithiodibutyric acid and bio-derived Pri-amineTM. The degradation of these polymers has been investigated using a combination of tools, such as visible light pho-tocatalysis, UV-mediated degradation, and disulfide-thiol metathesis reactions. The chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of these polymers have also been studied. The disulfide-containing polymers exhibit elastomeric and self-healing properties while showing high thermal stability. Furthermore, the novel application of these unique tribopositive polymers as self-repairable triboelectric nanogenerators for energy harvesting has also been demonstrated.