Ultrahigh Energy Absorption Multifunctional Spinodal Nanoarchitectures

Nanolattices are promoted as next‐generation multifunctional high‐performance materials, but their mechanical response is limited to extreme strength yet brittleness, or extreme deformability but low strength and stiffness. Ideal impact protection systems require high‐stress plateaus over long deformation ranges to maximize energy absorption. Here, glassy carbon nanospinodals, i.e., nanoarchitectures with spinodal shell topology, combining ultrahigh energy absorption and exceptional strength and stiffness at low weight are presented. Noncatastrophic deformation up to 80% strain, and energy absorption up to one order of magnitude higher than for other nano‐, micro‐, macro‐architectures and solids, and state‐of‐the‐art impact protection structures are shown. At the same time, the strength and stiffness are on par with the most advanced yet brittle nanolattices, demonstrating true multifunctionality. Finite element simulations show that optimized shell thickness‐to‐curvature‐radius ratios suppress catastrophic failure by impeding propagation of dangerously oriented cracks. In contrast to most micro‐ and nano‐architected materials, spinodal architectures may be easily manufacturable on an industrial scale, and may become the next generation of superior cellular materials for structural applications.     

Deformation and Fracture of Micron‐Sized Metal‐Coated Polymer Spheres: An In Situ Study

In situ imaging and analysis of the mechanical behavior of micron‐sized metal‐coated polymer particles under compression is reported. A nanoindentation set‐up mounted in a scanning electron microscope is used to observe the deformation and fracture of 10 μm polymer spheres with Ni, Ni/Au, Au, and Ag coatings. The spheres fracture in one of two metallization‐dependent modes, brittle, and ductile, depending only on the presence of a nickel layer. The metal coating always fractures parallel to the direction of compression. The mechanical properties up to the point of coating fracture are rate‐dependent due to the viscoelastic polymer core. Metal‐coated polymer spheres are an important composite material in electronics packaging, and this study demonstrates a novel method of evaluating the mechanical properties of particles to tailor them for electronic materials.

     

Nature‐Inspired Lightweight Cellular Co‐Continuous Composites with Architected Periodic Gyroidal Structures

Shell‐core cellular composites are a unique class of cellular materials, where the base constituent is made of a composite material such that the best distinctive physical and/or mechanical properties of each phase of the composite are employed. In this work, the authors demonstrate the additive manufacturing of a nature inspired cellular three‐dimensional (3D), periodic, co‐continuous, and complex composite materials made of a hard‐shell and soft‐core system. The architecture of these composites is based on the Schoen's single Gyroidal triply periodic minimal surface. Results of mechanical testing show the possibility of having a wide range of mechanical properties by tuning the composition, volume fraction of core, shell thickness, and internal architecture of the cellular composites. Moreover, a change in deformation and failure mechanism is observed when employing a shell‐core composite system, as compared to the pure stiff polymeric standalone cellular material. This shell‐core configuration and Gyroidal topology allowed for accessing toughness values that are not realized by the constituent materials independently, showing the suitability of this cellular composite for mechanical energy absorption applications.

     

Manufacture and Mechanical Properties of Batwing-Type Al Cellular Metamaterials by Selective Laser Melting

Designing metallic cellular structures with triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) is a novel approach for preparing multifunctional and lightweight metamaterials. TPMS-structured Batwing Al cellular metamaterials are fabricated using selective laser melting. The mechanical performance, failure/deformation modes, and energy absorption capacity of the metamaterials are investigated. It is demonstrated in experimental results that the unit cell structure has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of the metamaterials, and that the sample with large wall thickness exhibits excellent mechanical properties and energy absorption capacity. Furthermore, the Gibson–Ashby equation is developed to estimate the mechanical properties of the Batwing-type Al cellular metamaterials. Herein, a theoretical foundation is provided in these findings for the engineering application of phase-pure Al, which is typically unsuitable as a structural material due to its low yield strength.     

Flexible and Ultrathin Waterproof Cellular Membranes Based on High-Conjunction Metal-Wrapped Polymer Nanofibers for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are urgently demanded to address EM radiation pollution. Efficient design to utilize the shields' microstructures is crucial yet remains highly challenging for maximum EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) while minimizing material consumption. Herein, novel cellular membranes are designed based on a facile polydopamine-assisted metal (copper or silver) deposition on electrospun polymer nanofibers. The membranes can efficiently exploit the high-conjunction cellular structures of metal and polymer nanofibers, and their interactions for excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and ultrahigh EMI shielding performance. EMI SE reaches more than 53 dB in an ultra-broadband frequency range at a membrane thickness of merely 2.5 µm and a density of 1.6 g cm⁻³, and an SE of 44.7 dB is accomplished at the lowest thickness of 1.2 µm. The normalized specific SE is up to 232 860 dB cm² g⁻¹, significantly surpassing that of other shielding materials ever reported. More, integrated functionalities are discovered in the membrane, such as antibacterial, waterproof properties, excellent air permeability, high resistance to mechanical deformations and low-voltage uniform heating performance, offering strong potential for applications in aerospace and portable and wearable smart electronics.     

Bulk synthesis of amorphous and nano‐crystalline materials by spray forming

Bulk amorphous and nano‐crystalline metallic materials have been observed to possess excellent mechanical and physical properties. The conventional process routes, to synthesize such materials, are restricted by their ability to achieve rapid solidification, which limits the dimensions of the materials produced. In the last 10–12 years, spray forming has been employed to avoid these limitations by using its capability of layer by layer deposition of undercooled droplets. The current literature indicates that the opportunities provided by this process can be effectively utilized to produce bulk materials in a single step. In this paper, an attempt has been made to bring out the developments in the synthesis of bulk amorphous and/or nano‐crystalline materials by spray forming. The effect of process parameters, droplet size distribution in the atomized spray, the thermal conditions of droplets prior to deposition and the deposition surface conditions have been discussed. It has been demonstrate that a layer by layer deposition of undercooled droplets of glass forming alloys on a relatively cold deposition surface is the suitable condition to achieve bulk amorphous/nano‐crystalline materials.     

多层高分子复合结构斜入射声波吸声性能

研究了多层高分子复合结构在斜入射声波作用下, 各层材料动态力学性能参数和几何参数变化对其吸声性能的影响规律。应用三维传递矩阵数学模型计算了多层复合结构对垂直入射声波的吸声系数, 并与实验结果进行了对比。结果表明计算结果与实验结果基本一致。利用此数学模型分析了各层材料厚度、模量、损耗因子及泊松比变化对吸声性能的影响。分析结果表明, 各因素变化对吸声性能影响较大, 且外层材料性能参数变化对吸声性能的影响明显大于内层材料性能参数变化对吸声性能的影响。      

Computational modelling of irregular open‐cell foam behaviour under impact loading

Cellular structures represent an important class of engineering materials. Typical representative of such structures are metallic foams, which are being increasingly used in many advanced engineering applications due to their low specific weight, appropriate mechanical properties and excellent energy absorption capacity. For optimal design of cellular structures it is necessary to develop proper computational models for use in computational simulations of their behaviour under impact loading. The paper studies the effects of open‐cell metallic foam irregularity on deformation behaviour and impact energy absorption during impact loading by means of parametric computational simulations, using the lattice‐type modelling of open‐cell material structure. The 3D Voronoi technique is used for the reproduction of real, irregular open‐cell structure of metallic foams. The method uses as a reference a regular mesh structure and utilises an irregularity parameter to reproduce the irregularity of real open‐cell structure. A smoothing technique is introduced to assure proper stability and accuracy of explicit dynamic simulations using the produced lattice models. The effects of the smoothing technique were determined by comparative simulations of smoothed and unsmoothed lattices subjected to dynamic loading.     

Nanomechanical and Charge Transport Properties of Two‐Dimensional Atomic Sheets

The materials properties of graphene and other two‐dimensional atomic sheets are influenced by atomic‐scale defects, mechanical deformation, and microstructures. Thus, for graphene‐based applications, it is essential to uncover the roles of atomic‐scale defects and domain structures of two‐dimensional layers in charge transport properties. This review highlights recent studies of nanomechanical and charge transport properties of two‐dimensional atomic sheets, including graphene, MoS₂, and boron nitrides. Because of intrinsic structural differences, two‐dimensional atomic sheets give rise to unique nanomechanical properties, including a dependence on layer thickness and chemical modification that is in contrast to three‐dimensional continuum media. Mapping of local conductance and nanomechanical properties on a graphene layer can be used to image the domain and microstructures of two‐dimensional atomic layers. This paper also reviews recent experimental and theoretical findings on the role of bending, defects, and microstructures on nanomechanical and transport properties of graphene‐derived materials.     

Energy absorption diagrams of paper honeycomb sandwich structures

It is very important to evaluate the cushioning properties of paper honeycomb sandwich structures for optimizing pack design. The energy absorption diagram is one method to characterize the cushioning properties of materials. In this paper, we investigate energy absorption and develop energy absorption diagrams for paper honeycomb sandwich structures. Based on static compression experiments, the compressive stress–strain curve is simplified into three sections: linear elasticity, plateau and densification. By considering the factors associated with the structure of paper honeycombs, the energy absorption model is obtained and characterized by the thickness‐to‐length ratio of the honeycomb cell wall. Both theory and experiment show that the compression energy absorption capability increases with the increasing thickness‐to‐length ratio of the honeycomb cell wall, and a good agreement is achieved between the theoretical and experimental energy absorption curves. The proposed method to develop an energy absorption diagram for paper honeycomb sandwich structures can be used to characterize the cushioning properties and optimize the structures of paper honeycomb sandwiches. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structurally Controlled Cellular Architectures for High‐Performance Ultra‐Lightweight Materials

The design and synthesis of cellular structured materials are of both scientific and technological importance since they can impart remarkably improved material properties such as low density, high mechanical strength, and adjustable surface functionality compared to their bulk counterparts. Although reducing the density of porous structures would generally result in reductions in mechanical properties, this challenge can be addressed by introducing a structural hierarchy and using mechanically reinforced constituent materials. Thus, precise control over several design factors in structuring, including the type of constituent, symmetry of architectures, and dimension of the unit cells, is extremely important for maximizing the targeted performance. The feasibility of lightweight materials for advanced applications is broadly explored due to recent advances in synthetic approaches for different types of cellular architectures. Here, an overview of the development of lightweight cellular materials according to the structural interconnectivity and randomness of the internal pores is provided. Starting from a fundamental study on how material density is associated with mechanical performance, the resulting structural and mechanical properties of cellular materials are investigated for potential applications such as energy/mass absorption and electrical and thermal management. Finally, current challenges and perspectives on high‐performance ultra‐lightweight materials potentially implementable by well‐controlled cellular architectures are discussed.     

Fluorescence Enhancement on Large Area Self‐Assembled Plasmonic‐3D Photonic Crystals

Discontinuous plasmonic‐3D photonic crystal hybrid structures are fabricated in order to evaluate the coupling effect of surface plasmon resonance and the photonic stop band. The nanostructures are prepared by silver sputtering deposition on top of hydrophobic 3D photonic crystals. The localized surface plasmon resonance of the nanostructure has a symbiotic relationship with the 3D photonic stop band, leading to highly tunable characteristics. Fluorescence enhancements of conjugated polymer and quantum dot based on these hybrid structures are studied. The maximum fluorescence enhancement for the conjugated polymer of poly(5‐methoxy‐2‐(3‐sulfopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) potassium salt by a factor of 87 is achieved as compared with that on a glass substrate due to the enhanced near‐field from the discontinuous plasmonic structures, strong scattering effects from rough metal surface with photonic stop band, and accelerated decay rates from metal‐coupled excited state of the fluorophore. It is demonstrated that the enhancement induced by the hybrid structures has a larger effective distance (optimum thickness ≈130 nm) than conventional plasmonic systems. It is expected that this approach has tremendous potential in the field of sensors, fluorescence‐imaging, and optoelectronic applications.     

纸夹芯和泡沫复合层状结构的静态缓冲吸能特性研究

针对由发泡聚乙烯（EPE）、瓦楞纸板、蜂窝纸板组成的复合层状结构的包装防护作用,通过实验对比分析了这类结构的横向静态压缩变形特征和缓冲吸能特性。结果表明,这类结构在压缩初始阶段和最后阶段主要表现为EPE的力学性能,而在中间阶段为瓦楞纸板、蜂窝纸板的力学性能。复合层状结构的弹性模量、总吸能、行程利用率均高于EPE,而单位体积变形能则由于试样厚度增加幅值不同,并未表现出与总吸能一致的变化规律。比吸能随着压缩应变增大而增加,几乎不受压缩速度的影响,其中EPE与蜂窝纸板复合层状结构的比吸能均大于EPE与瓦楞纸板复合结构。在应力水平较小时,EPE与瓦楞纸板复合层状结构的能量吸收效率大,然而在应力水平较大时,EPE与蜂窝纸板复合的能量吸收效率大。     

Microstructure,mechanical and tribological properties of high velocity oxy fuel thermal spray coating: A review

Iron alloy based amorphous coating materials have enormous potential in wide range of applications such as petrochemical, aerospace, ocean, and electronic communications due to their better mechanical properties, chemical properties, magnetic properties and tribological properties. The industrial applications of coating are increasing rapidly due to many advancements in the material development and coating deposition techniques. The present paper reviewed the recent progresses in deposition technologies, development of new high order alloys and composite based coating materials. In this regard, change in microstructure, elemental composition, mechanical and tribological properties on performance of iron alloy based coating properties were presented. It can be concluded that the tribological properties of coating is dependent on pre-coating and post-coating factors. Pre-coating factors include coating deposition techniques, coating layer thickness and coating parameters such as spray distance, oxygen flow rate etc. Post-coating factors include microstructure, hardness, fracture toughness and adhesion strength. Therefore, multi-criteria decision making techniques can be the best approach to find the optimum formulation of coating materials to achieve desired set of objectives under the conflicting criteria.     

Lattice Structure and Bandgap Control of 2D GaN Grown on Graphene/Si Heterostructures

2D group‐III nitride materials have shown a great promise for applications in optoelectronic devices thanks to their thickness‐dependent properties. However, the epitaxial growth of 2D group‐III nitrides remains a challenge. In this work, epitaxial growth of 2D GaN with well‐controlled lattice structures and bandgaps is achieved by plasma‐enhanced metal organic chemical vapor deposition via effective regulation of plasma energy and growth temperature. The structure of graphene/2D GaN/Si heterostructures is carefully investigated by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. The formation mechanism of the 2D GaN layer is clearly clarified by theoretical calculations. Furthermore, a bandgap for 2D GaN ranging from ≈4.18 to ≈4.65 eV varying with the numbers of layers is theoretically calculated and experimentally confirmed. 2D GaN with well‐controlled lattice structure and bandgap holds great potential for the development of deep ultraviolet light‐emitting diodes, energy conversion devices, etc.     

Multiple Functionalities of Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films: New Biomedical Applications

The design of advanced functional materials with nanometer‐ and micrometer‐scale control over their properties is of considerable interest for both fundamental and applied studies because of the many potential applications for these materials in the fields of biomedical materials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. The layer‐by‐layer deposition technique introduced in the early 1990s by Decher, Moehwald, and Lvov is a versatile technique, which has attracted an increasing number of researchers in recent years due to its wide range of advantages for biomedical applications: ease of preparation under “mild” conditions compatible with physiological media, capability of incorporating bioactive molecules, extra‐cellular matrix components and biopolymers in the films, tunable mechanical properties, and spatio‐temporal control over film organization. The last few years have seen a significant increase in reports exploring the possibilities offered by diffusing molecules into films to control their internal structures or design “reservoirs,” as well as control their mechanical properties. Such properties, associated with the chemical properties of films, are particularly important for designing biomedical devices that contain bioactive molecules. In this review, we highlight recent work on designing and controlling film properties at the nanometer and micrometer scales with a view to developing new biomaterial coatings, tissue engineered constructs that could mimic in vivo cellular microenvironments, and stem cell “niches.”     

Atomic‐Layer‐Deposition‐Assisted Formation of Carbon Nanoflakes on Metal Oxides and Energy Storage Application

Nanostructured carbon is widely used in energy storage devices (e.g., Li‐ion and Li‐air batteries and supercapacitors). A new method is developed for the generation of carbon nanoflakes on various metal oxide nanostructures by combining atomic layer deposition (ALD) and glucose carbonization. Various metal oxide@nanoflake carbon (MO@f‐C) core‐branch nanostructures are obtained. For the mechanism, it is proposed that the ALD Al₂O₃ and glucose form a composite layer. Upon thermal annealing, the composite layer becomes fragmented and moves outward, accompanied by carbon deposition on the alumina skeleton. When tested as electrochemical supercapacitor electrode, the hierarchical MO@f‐C nanostructures exhibit better properties compared with the pristine metal oxides or the carbon coating without ALD. The enhancement can be ascribed to increased specific surface areas and electric conductivity due to the carbon flake coating. This peculiar carbon coating method with the unique hierarchical nanostructure may provide a new insight into the preparation of ‘oxides + carbon’ hybrid electrode materials for energy storage applications.     

Hybrid carbon fiber composite lattice truss structures

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite sandwich panels with hybrid foam filled CFRP pyramidal lattice cores have been assembled from linear carbon fiber braids and Divinycell H250 polymer foam trapezoids. These have been stitched to 3D woven carbon fiber face sheets and infused with an epoxy resin using a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process. Sandwich panels with carbon fiber composite truss volumes of 1.5–17.5% of the core volume have been fabricated, and the through-thickness compressive strength and modulus measured, and compared with micromechanical models that establish the relationships between the mechanical properties of the core, its topology and the mechanical properties of the truss and foam. The through thickness modulus and strength of the hybrid cores is found to increase with increasing truss core volume fraction. However, the lattice strength saturates at high CFRP truss volume fraction as the proportion of the truss material contained in the nodes increases. The use of linear carbon fiber braids is shown to facilitate the simpler fabrication of hybrid CFRP structures compared to previously described approaches. Their specific strength, moduli and energy absorption is found to be comparable to those made by alternative approaches.     

楞型对瓦楞结构材料瓦楞方向准静态力学性能的影响

目的研究不同楞型瓦楞结构材料在准静态条件下对瓦楞方向相关力学性能的影响。方法通过有限元模拟的方法,在准静态压缩条件下,得到不同楞型的瓦楞结构材料在瓦楞方向上的变形模式、应力-应变曲线等,通过能量效率法对其峰应力、密实化应变、平均抗压强度和单位体积吸收能量等进行对比分析。结果在同一壁厚条件下,A,C,B,E这4种楞型的峰应力、平均抗压强度、单位体积吸收能量依次增大;对于任一楞型来说,峰应力、平均抗压强度、单位体积吸收能量随壁厚的增大而增大,且与其呈线性关系;随着壁厚的增大,A,C,B,E这4种楞型的峰应力、平均抗压强度、单位体积吸收能量的增长幅度依次增大。结论楞型对瓦楞结构材料瓦楞方向的力学性能有显著影响,在其他条件相同的情况下,A,C,B,E这4种楞型的力学性能依次增强。     

3D Printed Tubulanes as Lightweight Hypervelocity Impact Resistant Structures

Lightweight materials with high ballistic impact resistance and load‐bearing capabilities are regarded as a holy grail in materials design. Nature builds these complementary properties into materials using soft organic materials with optimized, complex geometries. Here, the compressive deformation and ballistic impact properties of three different 3D printed polymer structures, named tubulanes, are reported, which are the architectural analogues of cross‐linked carbon nanotubes. The results show that macroscopic tubulanes are remarkable high load‐bearing, hypervelocity impact‐resistant lightweight structures. They exhibit a lamellar deformation mechanism, arising from the tubulane ordered pore structure, manifested across multiple length scales from nano to macro dimensions. This approach of using complex geometries inspired by atomic and nanoscale models to generate macroscale printed structures allows innovative morphological engineering of materials with tunable mechanical responses.