Bioinspired Proteins Used in Developing New 2D-Layered Materials for Wearable Devices, Among Others

Researchers have recently created composite layered 2D materials using biomimetic proteins patterned on squid ring teeth that are resistant to breaking and extremely stretchable.

Nature is creating layered materials such as bone and mother-of-pearl that turns less sensitive defects "as they grow," a Phys.org report said.

According to Melik Demirel, Lloyd, and Dorothy Foehr Huck, Chair in Biomimetic Materials and director of the Center for Advanced Fiber Technologies, Penn State, researchers hardly reported such an interface property for the bone and nacre since it was hard to quantify experimentally.

Essentially, 2D materials are made up of atom-thick layers of hard materials like graphene or an MXene, typically a transition metal carbide, nitride, or carbonitride, separated by layers of something to attach the layers.

The Strength of the 2D Materials

While huge chunks of graphene or MXenes contain bulk properties, the strength of 2D composites comes from interfacial properties.

Penn State's Demirel explained that since an interfacial material that can be modified by repeating sequences is used, the properties can be fine-tuned. He added, that they can make it very flexible, not to mention "very strong at the same time."

He also noted that the materials could have distinctive thermal condition regimes and properties that spread heat in one direction more robustly than at 90 degrees.

This study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Such a material would be ideal for insoles for running shoes, explained Demirel, adding it could cool the foot and the repeated flexing that would not break the insole.

2D Composites for Wearable Devices, Among Others

The 2D composites could be employed for flexible circuit boards, wearable devices, and other equipment that necessitates flexibility and strength, a similar Bioengineer.org report specified.

Demirel explained that traditional continuum theory does not explain why such materials are strong and flexible, although simulations showed that the interface matters.

What seemingly occurs is that with a higher percentage of the material comprising the interface, such interface is breaking in places when the material is under stress, although the material, in general, does not break.

The expert also explained that the interface is breaking, although the material isn't. He added that they expect them to turn compliant, although all of a sudden, it is not only compliant but ultra stretchy.

Other researchers involved in this project from Penn State included postdoctoral fellows Mert Vural and Terek Mazeed, graduate student Oguzhan Colak, and associate professor Reginald Hamilton, all from engineering Science and Mechanics.

Also part of this project included professors Dong Li, and Huajian Gao, of mechanical and aerospace engineering, from Singapore-based Nanyang Technological University.

A report about these 2D layered materials is shown on Science X's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Graphene in Science Times.