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Updated: Jan 22, 2026
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Preparation of Functional Silica Using a Bioinspired Method
Published on: August 1, 2018
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Transparent Impact-Resistant Composite Films with Bioinspired Hierarchical Structure
Ran Chen1, Junfeng Liu, Chenjing Yang
1John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Harvard University , 11 Oxford Street , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02138 , United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 30, 2019
Summary
Inspired by stomatopods, new composite films with helicoidal nanofibers offer superior impact resistance and optical transparency. This biomimetic design enhances mechanical properties for advanced protective layers.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomimetics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Stomatopod dactyl club exhibits a helicoidally organized microstructure for exceptional impact resistance.
- Natural hierarchical structures offer a blueprint for advanced material design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate impact-resistant composite films mimicking the stomatopod's helicoidal microstructure.
- To enhance mechanical properties and impact resistance through biomimetic hierarchical design.
Main Methods:
- Development of a specialized electrospinning system for controlled nanofiber alignment.
- Fabrication of composite films by embedding helicoidally aligned nanofiber scaffolds in an epoxy matrix.
Main Results:
- The composite films exhibit excellent optical transparency.
- Achieved enhanced tensile strength, ductility, and defect tolerance.
- Demonstrated significantly increased impact resistance due to hierarchical structure and energy dissipation.
Conclusions:
- The biomimetic composite films effectively dissipate impact energy, offering superior protection.
- These transparent, impact-resistant films are promising for diverse protective layer applications.
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