Enabling three-dimensional architected materials across length scales and timescales

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Architected materials offer unique properties by engineering microstructures and geometries, surpassing monolithic material limitations.
• Current research often focuses on simple, periodic structures under quasi-static conditions, limiting exploration of their full potential.
• Complex designs and multiscale investigations are crucial for unlocking advanced material capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize state-of-the-art approaches for realizing multiscale architected materials.
• To identify knowledge gaps and opportunities in the design, fabrication, and characterization of these materials.
• To propose a roadmap for accelerating the discovery of architected materials with programmable properties.

Main Methods:

• Review of current fabrication and characterization techniques for multiscale architected materials.
• Analysis of existing literature to identify limitations and future research directions.
• Proposal of a synergistic approach combining experimental and computational efforts.

Main Results:

• Identified limitations in current architected materials research, particularly regarding complexity and scale.
• Highlighted opportunities for innovation in design, fabrication, and characterization.
• Outlined a roadmap for developing programmable architected materials.

Conclusions:

• Further exploration of complex, multiscale architected materials is essential.
• A combined experimental and computational approach will accelerate the development of programmable materials.
• Significant opportunities exist for next-generation materials, devices, and systems.