We found that ‘imperfect’ polydisperse nanoparticles self-assemble into materials with complexity rivaling or exceeding that of biological prototypes. In three decades, the sophistication of these assemblies progressed from stratified multilayers, nanoscale chains, microscale helices, and chiral hedgehog colloids.
Partial disorder is an essential component of biological materials because it enables obtaining multiple desired properties at once. It also makes possible spontaneous assembly of nanoscale particles to macroscale materials with hierarchical organization. We demonstrated it experimentally for nacre-, cartilage-, DNA-, and algae-like assemblies above and confirmed it theoretically using graph theory (GT) and network science.
Previously unreachable complexity leads to thought-to-be-impossible properties. The applications of such biomimetic nanocomposites are abundant and constantly expand (energy storage, structural batteries, thermal insulation, biomedical devices, etc). Importantly, they can be made from widely accessible natural nanoparticles (e.g. clay, graphite oxide, cellulose) and even recycled plastic (e.g. aramid nanofibers) that are available to every country, rich or poor.
Self-assembly of Nanoparticles
In the process of Brownian motion, inorganic nanoparticles self-organize into a variety of complex architectures. In fact, this ability is common for all nanostructures regardless whether they are made from organic or inorganic matter.
Chiral Nanomaterials
One of the rapidly expanding fields of nanoscience and technology is chiral inorganic nanostructures. The interest to this type of biomimetic nanomaterials was spurred by the unusually strong circular dichroism (CD) observed for individual nanoparticles and their assemblies.
Biomimetic Nanocomposites
Multiple technologies symbolizing current scientific advances, such as water desalination, high capacity batteries, biointegrated electronics, additive manufacturing, biomorphic robotics, and biodegradable plastics, require materials combining 2-3 essential properties yet structurally versatile. Their synthesis also must be resource conscious.