Hierarchical Silica Nanostructures Inspired by Diatom Algae Yield Superior Deformability, Toughness, and Strength

Garcia, Andre P.; Sen, Dipanjan; Buehler, Markus J.

doi:10.1007/s11661-010-0477-y

Cited by 48 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…In an example relevant for sea creatures such as diatom algae [26], while silicon and silica is extremely brittle in bulk, the formation of nanostructures results in great ductility and extensibility, where the specific geometry used allows for a continuum of mechanical signatures [27,28]. The realization of distinct structural designs provides a means to tune the material to achieve a great diversity of functional properties despite the use of the same building blocks.…”

Section: Tu(r)ning Weakness To Strengthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiscale mechanics of biological and biologically inspired materials and structures

Buehler

2010

Acta Mechanica Solida Sinica

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Abstract:The world of natural materials and structures provides an abundance of applications in which mechanics is a critical issue for our understanding of functional material properties. In particular, the mechanical properties of biological materials and structures play an important role in virtually all physiological processes and at all scales, from the molecular and nanoscale to the macroscale, linking research fields as diverse as genetics to structural mechanics in an approach referred to as materiomics. Example cases that illustrate the importance of mechanics in biology include mechanical support provided by materials like bone, the facilitation of locomotion capabilities by muscle and tendon, or the protection against environmental impact by materials as the skin or armors. In this article we review recent progress and case studies, relevant for a variety of applications that range from medicine to civil engineering. We demonstrate the importance of fundamental mechanistic insight at multiple time-and lengthscales to arrive at a systematic understanding of materials and structures in biology, in the context of both physiological and disease states and for the development of de novo biomaterials. Three particularly intriguing issues that will be discussed here include: First, the capacity of biological systems to turn weakness to strength through the utilization of multiple structural levels within the universality-diversity paradigm. Second, material breakdown in extreme and disease conditions. And third, we review an example where the hierarchical design paradigm found in natural protein materials has been applied in the development of a novel biomaterial based on amyloid protein.

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Section: Tu(r)ning Weakness To Strengthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiscale mechanics of biological and biologically inspired materials and structures

Buehler

2010

Acta Mechanica Solida Sinica

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“…In the specific case of diatoms, the limited number of mechanical simulation studies emphasizes the need to evaluate the mechanical response of frustules at the microscale. In earlier work by Garcia et al [23], MD simulations of diatom-inspired nanoporous materials were performed to investigate the effect of hierarchical nanoporous layers under tensile deformation. Although such simulations reported interesting material design insights at the atomicscale, the MD method is known to be computationally expensive for large and complex models.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, mechanics of centric diatom frustules, Coscinodiscus sp., was analyzed using FEM simulation together with independent SEM images of several characteristic deformation patterns observed in nature and mechanical test measurements. The difference of this approach versus previous simulations [23][24][25] is that the structural behaviour of diatom frustules and their response to external stimuli were investigated here at the micron scale, allowing the study of the relation between diatom morphology and mechanics in a novel and systematic fashion. The main objective was to elucidate the type of mechanical interactions that might result in these particular diatom frustules.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deformation Modes and Structural Response of Diatom Frustules

Gutierrez¹,

Gordon²,

Dávila³

2017

Jour. Mater. Sci. Eng. Adv. Tech.

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The ubiquitous diatoms, single-celled algae with porous silica frustule (shell) morphology and features spanning multiple length scales, offer a promising foundation to convert knowledge of biological structures into novel design techniques. Diatom frustules are often found in nature with distinct deformation patterns suggesting the involvement of mechanical interactions in their morphogenesis. Understanding this phenomenon can lead to potential manufacturing techniques based on the micromanipulation of bio-inspired structures. In this study, the mechanics of centric diatom frustules was investigated ALEJANDRO GUTIÉRREZ et al. 106 using the finite element method (FEM) in combination with morphology and material properties obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical tests respectively. SEM micrographs of a marine diatom, Coscinodiscus sp., have allowed the classification of specific deformation patterns frequently observed on these frustules. To elucidate the nature of these deformations, a computer aided design (CAD) model approximating a centric diatom frustule was created. Using shear-deformable frustule finite elements and diatom-specific Young's modulus, critical buckling load and modal analysis of the diatom model were performed to investigate possible correlations of the deformation modes with observed morphologies. Results reveal that the first ten deformation modes correlate noticeably well with deformation patterns observed through SEM. Additionally, FEM models were used to study the relation between diatom morphology and mechanical behaviour. A quadratic relation was established between frustule pore size and critical buckling load as well as a cubic relation between frustule thickness and critical buckling load, reported for the first time in this study. The findings in this research provide insights into the mechanical response of diatom frustules that can aid the realization of tailored properties in new bio-inspired materials, in particular for nanotechnology applications, but also for advanced metamaterials and optomechanical devices.

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“…The field of biomimetics has already led to brighter LCD screens, more efficient solar panels, more protective body armour, and more agile robots [1][2][3]. By studying structural designs found in Nature, it may be possible to develop novel materials and devices that would otherwise have gone undiscovered [4,5]. A field that has shown extensive promise is that of nanomaterials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diatoms are unicellular algae with various chemical and mechanical properties that have attracted the interest of those in the field of biomimetics and nanomaterials [4,[8][9][10]. The unique properties of diatoms have been the inspiration for devices such as molecular sieves, resins, and optical coatings [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanomechanics of biologically inspired helical silica nanostructures

Mohedas

Garcia²,

Buehler³

2010

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part N:

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Diatoms are unicellular algae that exhibit highly intricate, silicified cell walls called frustules. Frustules consist of hierarchical nanostructures composed of amorphous silica and organic protein. Earlier work has suggested diatoms as inspiration for novel molecular sieves, resins, and optical coatings because of their unique mechanical, structural, and optical properties. Here the present authors report studies of the mechanics of helical silica structures inspired by the geometry found in diatom frustules consisting of both crystalline and amorphous silica. Molecular dynamics simulations are reported with the reactive force field ReaxFF, which is a powerful model to describe interatomic interactions derived directly from first principles quantum mechanics. It is found that introducing a helical nanostructural geometry gives the typically brittle silica a highly ductile, yet softer, mechanical behaviour: extensions of 100 per cent to roughly 300 per cent are observed for varying helical geometries. The present authors show that hydroxide termination markedly affects the mechanical properties of the silica, lowering both the Young's modulus and the ultimate strength of the structures.The results reported here demonstrate the potential to drastically alter, and possibly improve, the properties of an inherently brittle material by confining structural features to the nanoscale and by altering its hierarchical geometry without introducing any additional material components, solely relying on geometrical changes.

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Hierarchical Silica Nanostructures Inspired by Diatom Algae Yield Superior Deformability, Toughness, and Strength

Cited by 48 publications

References 50 publications

Multiscale mechanics of biological and biologically inspired materials and structures

Multiscale mechanics of biological and biologically inspired materials and structures

Deformation Modes and Structural Response of Diatom Frustules

Nanomechanics of biologically inspired helical silica nanostructures

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