Overview

• A team from the University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignTechnical University of Denmark has created a synthetic material inspired by seashell nacre that adapts to mechanical stress.
• The material features programmable microscale interconnections, allowing layers to collaborate and respond dynamically to impacts.
• Controlled staged buckling of layers enables the material to absorb more energy than traditional shock-absorbing materials, making it ideal for applications like car bumpers and wearable protection.
• Researchers leveraged discrepancies between theoretical models and physical prototypes to program buckling sequences and encode information within the material.
• While the material demonstrates promise, scaling up fabrication for large-scale manufacturing remains a significant hurdle for future implementation.