Transparent artificial nacre: A brick wall at the nanoscale
Wednesday, January 21, 2015 - 13:20
in Physics & Chemistry
Natural materials have extraordinary mechanical properties, which are based on sophisticated arrangements and combinations of multiple building blocks. One key aspect of today’s materials research therefore is to develop bio-inspired materials reaching to the properties of natural materials – or even exceeding those in certain functionalities. Scientists have now developed a nacre-inspired nanocomposite that combines exceptional mechanical properties with glass-like transparency and a high gas- and fire-barrier.