Nacre has inspired research to fabricate tough bulk composites for practical applications using inorganic nanomaterials as building blocks.However,with the considerable pressure to reduce global carbon emissions,prepa...Nacre has inspired research to fabricate tough bulk composites for practical applications using inorganic nanomaterials as building blocks.However,with the considerable pressure to reduce global carbon emissions,preparing nacre-inspired composites remains a significant challenge using more economical and environmentally friendly building blocks.Here we demonstrate tough and conductive nacre by assembling aragonite platelets exfoliated from natural nacre,with liquid metal and sodium alginate used as the “mortar”.The formation of Ga-O-C coordination bonding between the gallium ions and sodium alginate molecules reduces the voids and improves compactness.The resultant conductive nacre exhibits much higher mechanical properties than natural nacre.It also shows excellent impact resistance attributed to the synergistic strengthening and toughening fracture mechanisms induced by liquid metal and sodium alginate.Furthermore,our conductive nacre exhibits exceptional self-monitoring sensitivity for maintaining structural integrity.The proposed strategy provides a novel avenue for turning natural nacre into a valuable green composite.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFA0715700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22075009 and 52350012)+1 种基金National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(52125302)111 Project(B14009)。
文摘Nacre has inspired research to fabricate tough bulk composites for practical applications using inorganic nanomaterials as building blocks.However,with the considerable pressure to reduce global carbon emissions,preparing nacre-inspired composites remains a significant challenge using more economical and environmentally friendly building blocks.Here we demonstrate tough and conductive nacre by assembling aragonite platelets exfoliated from natural nacre,with liquid metal and sodium alginate used as the “mortar”.The formation of Ga-O-C coordination bonding between the gallium ions and sodium alginate molecules reduces the voids and improves compactness.The resultant conductive nacre exhibits much higher mechanical properties than natural nacre.It also shows excellent impact resistance attributed to the synergistic strengthening and toughening fracture mechanisms induced by liquid metal and sodium alginate.Furthermore,our conductive nacre exhibits exceptional self-monitoring sensitivity for maintaining structural integrity.The proposed strategy provides a novel avenue for turning natural nacre into a valuable green composite.
