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Biomimetics
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Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration
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Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetics of Materials and Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 19973

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhengzhi Mu

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Guest Editor
1. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
2. Weihai Institute for Bionics, Jilin University, Weihai 264207, China
Interests: biomimetic composites; bioinspired functional structures; bionic interface engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Wenxin Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China
Interests: nanocomposites; interface engineering; carbon materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhi-bei Qu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tenure-Track Associate Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
Interests: chemical biology; medicinal chemistry; DNA nanotechnology; multiscale simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jiao Yan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry (CIAC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: functional nanomaterials; chiral nanoparticles; self-assembly; biomedical applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bionics has been featured with distinctive multi-disciplinary properties since its birth. The vigorous development of fundamental research in bionics in recent decades has further promoted multi-disciplinary integrated innovation. In particular, combining the advantages of fundamental disciplines such as mechanical engineering, materials science, physical chemistry, biology, and medicine, bionic engineering has embodied and engineered the ideology of “learning from nature but going beyond nature”, showing imaginative engineering application prospects. Moreover, the comprehensive sustainable development in bionic engineering application fields, such as bionic intelligent robots, bionic functional materials, bionic medical engineering, and many other emerging research branches, also greatly expand the research boundaries of traditional fundamental disciplines. Therefore, it should be meaningful and beneficial to assess the development vein of bionic engineering, and thus accurately predict its future development trends, by focusing on the unique role of bionic engineering in promoting multidisciplinary integration. This could also help researchers in the multi-disciplinary field grasp the frontiers of bionic engineering research.

This Special Issue mainly focuses on the latest research progress and original insights in bionic engineering for boosting multidisciplinary integration, including, but not limited to, the topics of bionic innovative design, bionic material preparation, bionic engineering application, and so on. We sincerely invite biomimeticians, biologists, mechanical engineers, materials scientists, and chemists from all over the world to contribute to the Special Issue. We also would like to together create an international, open, and shared academic exchange platform for researchers in the bionic engineering field and jointly promote the high-quality development of bionics in the interdisciplinary field.

Dr. Zhengzhi Mu
Dr. Wenxin Cao
Dr. Zhi-bei Qu
Dr. Jiao Yan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bionic novel design
  • bionic functional surfaces
  • bionic functional materials
  • bionic green fabrication
  • bionic engineering application

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 14384 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Icephobic Coatings: Exploring the Potential of Dopamine-Modified Epoxy Resin Inspired by Mussel Catechol Groups
by Mohammad Sadegh Koochaki, Gelareh Momen, Serge Lavoie and Reza Jafari
Biomimetics 2024, 9(6), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9060349 - 8 Jun 2024
Viewed by 627
Abstract
A nature-inspired approach was employed through the development of dopamine-modified epoxy coating for anti-icing applications. The strong affinity of dopamine’s catechol groups for hydrogen bonding with water molecules at the ice/coating interface was utilized to induce an aqueous quasi-liquid layer (QLL) on the [...] Read more.
A nature-inspired approach was employed through the development of dopamine-modified epoxy coating for anti-icing applications. The strong affinity of dopamine’s catechol groups for hydrogen bonding with water molecules at the ice/coating interface was utilized to induce an aqueous quasi-liquid layer (QLL) on the surface of the icephobic coatings, thereby reducing their ice adhesion strength. Epoxy resin modification was studied by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The surface and mechanical properties of the prepared coatings were studied by different characterization techniques. Low-temperature ATR-FTIR was employed to study the presence of QLL on the coating’s surface. Moreover, the freezing delay time and temperature of water droplets on the coatings were evaluated along with push-off and centrifuge ice adhesion strength to evaluate their icephobic properties. The surface of dopamine-modified epoxy coating presented enhanced hydrophilicity and QLL formation, addressed as the main reason for its remarkable icephobicity. The results demonstrated the potential of dopamine-modified epoxy resin as an effective binder for icephobic coatings, offering notable ice nucleation delay time (1316 s) and temperature (−19.7 °C), reduced ice adhesion strength (less than 40 kPa), and an ice adhesion reduction factor of 7.2 compared to the unmodified coating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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13 pages, 2593 KiB  
Article
Size Control of Biomimetic Curved-Edge Vaterite with Chiral Toroid Morphology via Sonochemical Synthesis
by Ki Ha Min, Dong Hyun Kim and Seung Pil Pack
Biomimetics 2024, 9(3), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9030174 - 13 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1209
Abstract
The metastable vaterite polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) holds significant practical importance, particularly in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and various personal care products. Controlling the size and morphology of vaterite particles is crucial for biomedical applications. This study explored the synergistic [...] Read more.
The metastable vaterite polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) holds significant practical importance, particularly in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and various personal care products. Controlling the size and morphology of vaterite particles is crucial for biomedical applications. This study explored the synergistic effect of ultrasonic (US) irradiation and acidic amino acids on CaCO3 synthesis, specifically the size, dispersity, and crystallographic phase of curved-edge vaterite with chiral toroids (chiral-curved vaterite). We employed 40 kHz US irradiation and introduced L- or D-aspartic acid as an additive for the formation of spheroidal chiral-curved vaterite in an aqueous solution of CaCl2 and Na2CO3 at 20 ± 1 °C. Chiral-curved vaterites precipitated through mechanical stirring (without US irradiation) exhibited a particle size of approximately 15 μm, whereas those formed under US irradiation were approximately 6 μm in size and retained their chiral topoid morphology. When a fluorescent dye was used for the analysis of loading efficiency, the size-reduced vaterites with chiral morphology, produced through US irradiation, exhibited a larger loading efficiency than the vaterites produced without US irradiation. These results hold significant value for the preparation of biomimetic chiral-curved CaCO3, specifically size-reduced vaterites, as versatile biomaterials for material filling, drug delivery, and bone regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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12 pages, 4013 KiB  
Article
Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Synaptic Transistors: Methyl-Silsesquioxanes-Based Electric Double Layer for Enhanced Synaptic Functionality and CMOS Compatibility
by Tae-Gyu Hwang, Hamin Park and Won-Ju Cho
Biomimetics 2024, 9(3), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9030157 - 3 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1264
Abstract
Electrical double-layer (EDL) synaptic transistors based on organic materials exhibit low thermal and chemical stability and are thus incompatible with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes involving high-temperature operations. This paper proposes organic–inorganic hybrid synaptic transistors using methyl silsesquioxane (MSQ) as the electrolyte. [...] Read more.
Electrical double-layer (EDL) synaptic transistors based on organic materials exhibit low thermal and chemical stability and are thus incompatible with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes involving high-temperature operations. This paper proposes organic–inorganic hybrid synaptic transistors using methyl silsesquioxane (MSQ) as the electrolyte. MSQ, derived from the combination of inorganic silsesquioxanes and the organic methyl (−CH3) group, exhibits exceptional thermal and chemical stability, thus ensuring compatibility with CMOS processes. We fabricated Al/MSQ electrolyte/Pt capacitors, exhibiting a substantial capacitance of 1.89 µF/cm2 at 10 Hz. MSQ-based EDL synaptic transistors demonstrated various synaptic behaviors, such as excitatory post-synaptic current, paired-pulse facilitation, signal pass filtering, and spike-number-dependent plasticity. Additionally, we validated synaptic functions such as information storage and synapse weight adjustment, simulating brain synaptic operations through potentiation and depression. Notably, these synaptic operations demonstrated stability over five continuous operation cycles. Lastly, we trained a multi-layer artificial deep neural network (DNN) using a handwritten Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology image dataset. The DNN achieved an impressive recognition rate of 92.28%. The prepared MSQ-based EDL synaptic transistors, with excellent thermal/chemical stability, synaptic functionality, and compatibility with CMOS processes, harbor tremendous potential as materials for next-generation artificial synapse components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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11 pages, 2806 KiB  
Article
Repeatable Acoustic Vaporization of Coated Perfluorocarbon Bubbles for Micro-Actuation Inspired by Polypodium aureum
by Se-Yun Jeong, Han-Bok Seo, Myung-Hyun Seo, Jin-Woo Cho, Seho Kwon, Gihun Son and Seung-Yop Lee
Biomimetics 2024, 9(2), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9020106 - 11 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1108
Abstract
Polypodium aureum, a fern, possesses a specialized spore-releasing mechanism like a catapult induced by the quick expansion of vaporized bubbles. This study introduces lipid-coated perfluorocarbon droplets to enable repeatable vaporization–condensation cycles, inspired by the repeatable vaporization of Polypodium aureum. Lipid-perfluorocarbon droplets [...] Read more.
Polypodium aureum, a fern, possesses a specialized spore-releasing mechanism like a catapult induced by the quick expansion of vaporized bubbles. This study introduces lipid-coated perfluorocarbon droplets to enable repeatable vaporization–condensation cycles, inspired by the repeatable vaporization of Polypodium aureum. Lipid-perfluorocarbon droplets have been considered not to exhibit repeatable oscillations due to bubble collapse of the low surface tension of lipid layers. However, a single lipid-dodecafluoropentane droplet with a diameter of 9.17 µm shows expansion–contraction oscillations over 4000 cycles by changing lipid composition and applying a low-power 1.7 MHz ultrasound to induce the partial vaporization of the droplets. The optimal combinations of shell composition, droplet fabrication, and acoustic conditions can minimize the damage on shell structure and promote a quick recovery of damaged shell layers. The highly expanding oscillatory microbubbles provide a new direction for fuel-free micro- or nanobots, as well as biomedical applications of contrast agents and drug delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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10 pages, 3682 KiB  
Article
Biomimetic Surface Engineering to Modulate the Coffee-Ring Effect for Amyloid-β Detection in Rat Brains
by Changxin Wang, Lei Li, Jiaze Li, Jun Zhang and Zhi-Bei Qu
Biomimetics 2023, 8(8), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8080581 - 1 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1590
Abstract
Surface engineering of nanoparticles has been widely used in biosensing and assays, where sensitivity was mainly limited by plasmonic colour change or electrochemical responses. Here, we report a novel biomimetic sensing strategy involving protein-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), where the modulation strategy was inspired [...] Read more.
Surface engineering of nanoparticles has been widely used in biosensing and assays, where sensitivity was mainly limited by plasmonic colour change or electrochemical responses. Here, we report a novel biomimetic sensing strategy involving protein-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), where the modulation strategy was inspired by gastropods in inhibition of coffee-ring effects in their trail-followings. The so-called coffee-ring effect presents the molecular behaviour of AuNPs to a macroscopic ring through aggregation, and thus greatly improves sensitivity. The assay relies upon the different assembly patterns of AuNPs against analytes, resulting in the formation or suppression of coffee-ring effects by the different surface engineering of AuNPs by proteins and peptides. The mechanism of the coffee-ring formation process is examined through experimental characterizations and computational simulations. A practical coffee-ring effect assay is developed for a proof-of-concept target, amyloid β (1–42), which is a typical biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease. A novel quasi-titrimetric protocol is constructed for quantitative determination of the target molecule. The assay shows excellent selectivity and sensitivity for the amyloid β monomer, with a low detection limit of 20 pM. Combined with a fluorescent staining technique, the assay is designed as a smart sensor for amyloid β detection and fibrillation evaluation in rat cerebrospinal fluids, which is a potential point-of-care test for Alzheimer’s disease. Connections between amyloid fibrillation and different courses of brain ischaemia are also studied, with improved sensitivity, lower sample volumes that are required, convenience for rapid detection, and point-of-care testing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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12 pages, 1955 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Synaptic Behaviors in Chitosan Electrolyte-Based Electric-Double-Layer Transistors with Poly-Si Nanowire Channel Structures
by Dong-Hee Lee, Hwi-Su Kim, Ki-Woong Park, Hamin Park and Won-Ju Cho
Biomimetics 2023, 8(5), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8050432 - 18 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1292
Abstract
In this study, we enhance the synaptic behavior of artificial synaptic transistors by utilizing nanowire (NW)-type polysilicon channel structures. The high surface-to-volume ratio of the NW channels enables efficient modulation of the channel conductance, which is interpreted as the synaptic weight. As a [...] Read more.
In this study, we enhance the synaptic behavior of artificial synaptic transistors by utilizing nanowire (NW)-type polysilicon channel structures. The high surface-to-volume ratio of the NW channels enables efficient modulation of the channel conductance, which is interpreted as the synaptic weight. As a result, NW-type synaptic transistors exhibit a larger hysteresis window compared to film-type synaptic transistors, even within the same gate voltage sweeping range. Moreover, NW-type synaptic transistors demonstrate superior short-term facilitation and long-term memory transition compared with film-type ones, as evidenced by the measured paired-pulse facilitation and excitatory post-synaptic current characteristics at varying frequencies and pulse numbers. Additionally, we observed gradual potentiation/depression characteristics, making these artificial synapses applicable to artificial neural networks. Furthermore, the NW-type synaptic transistors exhibit improved Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology pattern recognition rate of 91.2%. In conclusion, NW structure channels are expected to be a promising technology for next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, and the integration of NW structure channels has significant potential to advance AI semiconductor technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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10 pages, 4068 KiB  
Article
Continuous 3D Printing of Biomimetic Beetle Mandible Structure with Long Bundles of Aramid Fiber Composites
by Shuigen Li, Chang Liu, Yulong Zhang, Wei Zhang, Xuefei Xu, Zhaohua Lin and Yunhong Liang
Biomimetics 2023, 8(3), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8030283 - 1 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1487
Abstract
Fiber-reinforced composites are an ideal high-performance composite material made from a combination of high-strength continuous fibers and a polymer matrix. Compared to short cut fibers, continuous long strand fibers can improve the mechanical properties of fiber composites more effectively. Herein, continuous aramid fiber-reinforced [...] Read more.
Fiber-reinforced composites are an ideal high-performance composite material made from a combination of high-strength continuous fibers and a polymer matrix. Compared to short cut fibers, continuous long strand fibers can improve the mechanical properties of fiber composites more effectively. Herein, continuous aramid fiber-reinforced PLA filaments with fiber centering were prepared by modifying the outlet design of a desktop-grade thermoplastic single-screw melt extruder. Inspired by the cross-laminated structure of a beetle’s mandible fibers, a biomimetic structure composite was printed, which demonstrates a significant influence on the mechanical properties. The G-code printing program was developed, and the microstructure of the fracture surface of the specimen was analyzed. The uniform and orderly arrangement of aramid fibers within the PLA resin-based 3D-printed specimen was found. Consequentially, the bionic composites exhibits a 12% increase in tensile strength and a 5% increase in impact toughness, confirming the feasibility of utilizing continuous 3D printing to manufacture long bundles of aramid fiber composite filaments for enhanced mechanical performances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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16 pages, 6115 KiB  
Article
Ultimate Strength Study of Structural Bionic CFRP-Sinker Bolt Assemblies Subjected to Preload under Three-Point Bending
by Zhengqi Qin, Ying He, Shengwu Wang and Cunying Meng
Biomimetics 2023, 8(2), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8020215 - 23 May 2023
Viewed by 1170
Abstract
Countersunk head bolted joints are one of the main approaches to joining carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, or CFRP. In this paper, the failure mode and damage evolution of CFRP countersunk bolt components under bending load are studied by imitating water bears, which are born [...] Read more.
Countersunk head bolted joints are one of the main approaches to joining carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, or CFRP. In this paper, the failure mode and damage evolution of CFRP countersunk bolt components under bending load are studied by imitating water bears, which are born as adult animals and have strong adaptability to life. Based on the Hashin failure criterion, we establish a 3D finite element failure prediction model of a CFRP-countersunk bolted assembly, benchmarked with the experiment. The analysis shows that the simulation results under specified parameters have a good correlation with the experimental results, and can better reflect the three-point bending failure and fracture of the CFRP-countersunk bolted assembly. Based on the specified parameter of the carbon lamina material change, we used the countersunk bolt preload to investigate the stress distribution near the counterbore zone, and to investigate the effect of bolt load on the three-point bending limit load. The results obtained using FEA calculations indicate that the stress distribution around the countersunk hole is related to the laminate direction. The bolt preloading force increasing reduces the load value at the initial damage, and the appropriate preload force will increase the ultimate load of the joint. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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13 pages, 6751 KiB  
Article
Four-Dimensional Printing of Temperature-Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomers with Programmable Shape-Changing Behavior
by Shuyi Li, Zhengyi Song, Yuyan Fan, Dongsong Wei and Yan Liu
Biomimetics 2023, 8(2), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8020196 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2125
Abstract
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are polymer networks that exhibit anisotropic liquid crystalline properties while maintaining the properties of elastomers, presenting reversible high-speed and large-scale actuation in response to external stimuli. Herein, we formulated a non-toxic, low-temperature liquid crystal (LC) ink for temperature-controlled direct [...] Read more.
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are polymer networks that exhibit anisotropic liquid crystalline properties while maintaining the properties of elastomers, presenting reversible high-speed and large-scale actuation in response to external stimuli. Herein, we formulated a non-toxic, low-temperature liquid crystal (LC) ink for temperature-controlled direct ink writing 3D printing. The rheological properties of the LC ink were verified under different temperatures given the phase transition temperature of 63 °C measured by the DSC test. Afterwards, the effects of printing speed, printing temperature, and actuation temperature on the actuation strain of printed LCEs structures were investigated within adjustable ranges. In addition, it was demonstrated that the printing direction can modulate the LCEs to exhibit different actuation behaviors. Finally, by sequentially conforming structures and programming the printing parameters, it showed the deformation behavior of a variety of complex structures. By integrating with 4D printing and digital device architectures, this unique reversible deformation property will help LCEs presented here apply to mechanical actuators, smart surfaces, micro-robots, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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16 pages, 3349 KiB  
Article
Biomimetic Design and Topology Optimization of Discontinuous Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Composite Lattice Structures
by Zhong Hu
Biomimetics 2023, 8(2), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8020148 - 6 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2320
Abstract
The ever-increasing requirements for structural performance drive the research and development of lighter, stronger, tougher, and multifunctional composite materials, especially, the lattice structures, heterogeneities, or hybrid compositions have attracted great interest from the materials research community. If it is pushed to the extreme, [...] Read more.
The ever-increasing requirements for structural performance drive the research and development of lighter, stronger, tougher, and multifunctional composite materials, especially, the lattice structures, heterogeneities, or hybrid compositions have attracted great interest from the materials research community. If it is pushed to the extreme, these concepts can consist of highly controlled lattice structures subject to biomimetic material design and topology optimization (TO). However, the strong coupling among the composition and the topology of the porous microstructure hinders the conventional trial-and-error approaches. In this work, discontinuous carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials were adopted for structural design. A three-dimensional (3D) periodic lattice block inspired by cuttlefish bone combined with computer modeling-based topology optimization was proposed. Through computer modeling, complex 3D periodic lattice blocks with various porosities were topologically optimized and realized, and the mechanical properties of the topology-optimized lattice structures were characterized by computer modeling. The results of this work were compared with other similar designs and experiments to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed approach provides a design tool for more affordable and higher-performance structural materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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15 pages, 4988 KiB  
Article
Charge Redistribution of Co9S8/MoS2 Heterojunction Microsphere Enhances Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
by Lili Zhang, Jitang Zhang, Aijiao Xu, Zhiping Lin, Zongpeng Wang, Wenwu Zhong, Shijie Shen and Guangfeng Wu
Biomimetics 2023, 8(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8010104 - 5 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1903
Abstract
The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of transition metal sulfide heterojunctions are significantly increased when compared with that of a single component, but the mechanism behind the performance enhancement and the preparation of catalysts with specific morphologies still need to be explored. Here, we [...] Read more.
The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of transition metal sulfide heterojunctions are significantly increased when compared with that of a single component, but the mechanism behind the performance enhancement and the preparation of catalysts with specific morphologies still need to be explored. Here, we prepared a Co9S8/MoS2 heterojunction with microsphere morphology consisting of thin nanosheets using a facile two-step method. There is electron transfer between the Co9S8 and MoS2 of the heterojunction, thus realizing the redistribution of charge. After the formation of the heterojunction, the density of states near the Fermi surface increases, the d-band center of the transition metal moves downward, and the adsorption of both water molecules and hydrogen by the catalyst are optimized. As a result, the overpotential of Co9S8/MoS2 is superior to that of most relevant electrocatalysts reported in the literature. This work provides insight into the synergistic mechanisms of heterojunctions and their morphological regulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 65288 KiB  
Review
Lightweight Structural Biomaterials with Excellent Mechanical Performance: A Review
by Zhiyan Zhang, Zhengzhi Mu, Yufei Wang, Wenda Song, Hexuan Yu, Shuang Zhang, Yujiao Li, Shichao Niu, Zhiwu Han and Luquan Ren
Biomimetics 2023, 8(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8020153 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3166
Abstract
The rational design of desirable lightweight structural materials usually needs to meet the strict requirements of mechanical properties. Seeking optimal integration strategies for lightweight structures and high mechanical performance is always of great research significance in the rapidly developing composites field, which also [...] Read more.
The rational design of desirable lightweight structural materials usually needs to meet the strict requirements of mechanical properties. Seeking optimal integration strategies for lightweight structures and high mechanical performance is always of great research significance in the rapidly developing composites field, which also draws significant attention from materials scientists and engineers. However, the intrinsic incompatibility of low mass and high strength is still an open challenge for achieving satisfied engineering composites. Fortunately, creatures in nature tend to possess excellent lightweight properties and mechanical performance to improve their survival ability. Thus, by ingenious structure configuration, lightweight structural biomaterials with simple components can achieve high mechanical performance. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in three typical structures in natural biomaterials: cellular structures, fibrous structures, and sandwich structures. For each structure, typical organisms are selected for comparison, and their compositions, structures, and properties are discussed in detail, respectively. In addition, bioinspired design approaches of each structure are briefly introduced. At last, the outlook on the design and fabrication of bioinspired composites is also presented to guide the development of advanced composites in future practical engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bionic Engineering for Boosting Multidisciplinary Integration)
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