Hierarchically structured bioinspired nanocomposites
Author(s)
Nepal, Dhriti; Kang, Saewon; Adstedt, Katarina M; Kanhaiya, Krishan; Bockstaller, Michael R; Brinson, L Catherine; Buehler, Markus J; Coveney, Peter V; Dayal, Kaushik; El-Awady, Jaafar A; Henderson, Luke C; Kaplan, David L; Keten, Sinan; Kotov, Nicholas A; Schatz, George C; Vignolini, Silvia; Vollrath, Fritz; Wang, Yusu; Yakobson, Boris I; Tsukruk, Vladimir V; Heinz, Hendrik; ... Show more Show less
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Next-generation structural materials are expected to be lightweight, high-strength and tough composites with embedded functionalities to sense, adapt, self-repair, morph and restore. This Review highlights recent developments and concepts in bioinspired nanocomposites, emphasizing tailoring of the architecture, interphases and confinement to achieve dynamic and synergetic responses. We highlight cornerstone examples from natural materials with unique mechanical property combinations based on relatively simple building blocks produced in aqueous environments under ambient conditions. A particular focus is on structural hierarchies across multiple length scales to achieve multifunctionality and robustness. We further discuss recent advances, trends and emerging opportunities for combining biological and synthetic components, state-of-the-art characterization and modelling approaches to assess the physical principles underlying nature-inspired design and mechanical responses at multiple length scales. These multidisciplinary approaches promote the synergetic enhancement of individual materials properties and an improved predictive and prescriptive design of the next era of structural materials at multilength scales for a wide range of applications.
Date issued
2023-01Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringJournal
Nature Materials
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Citation
Nepal, Dhriti, Kang, Saewon, Adstedt, Katarina M, Kanhaiya, Krishan, Bockstaller, Michael R et al. 2023. "Hierarchically structured bioinspired nanocomposites." Nature Materials, 22 (1).
Version: Original manuscript