Programmable Bio-Derived Noncovalent Glass via Reconfigurable H-Bonding Networks

Glass has served as a cornerstone of modern civilization due to its exceptional optical transparency and structural integrity. Yet, its static covalent/ionic network fundamentally restricts environmental adaptability, presenting a critical challenge for next-generation sustainable technologies. Here, we report a programmable, bio-derived noncovalent glass (BNG) engineered through multivalent, reconfigurable H-bonding networks composed of natural building blocks (e.g., amino acids, peptides, biomacromolecules) and organic acids with multiple H-bond donors and acceptors. Molecular programming of these networks enables unprecedented four-dimensional control: hydration-tunable mechanical stiffness, amino acid-guided refractive index modulation, humidity/temperature-activated self-healing, and closed-loop aqueous recyclability. This molecularly encoded programmability distinguishes BNG from conventional smart materials, which typically rely on single stimulus-response modes. Critically, the configurability of H-bonding network further endows BNG with versatile processability (e.g., 3D printing, thermal pressing, and mold-casting) for functional architectures. Moreover, the programmable disassembly allows seamless integration into transient electronics as an energy-efficient alternative to energy-intensive glass recycling. By leveraging naturally abundant, metabolically benign building blocks, BNG establishes a sustainable paradigm for adaptive soft electronics and circular packaging-transforming glass from a passive structural medium to a dynamically programmable material.