Composites articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Resin-based-composites are widely used in industry and medicine but the influence of the filler particles on the reactive group conversion in photocurable resins is yet to be elucidated. Here the authors observe reduced local conversion and chemical bond strain in silica filler acrylate composite using synchrotron-based wide-field IR imaging.

    • Slobodan Sirovica
    • , Johanne H. Solheim
    •  & Owen Addison

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Here the authors report composite electrolytes combining polymer chains and hydrated salts with a similar bonding structure to that of natural bones. The design breaks the trade-off between strength and ionic mobility of solid electrolytes and allows for good electrochemical performance in supercapacitors.

    • Ziyang Tai
    • , Junjie Wei
    •  & Qigang Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Though deformable thermoelectric materials are desirable for integrating thermoelectric devices into wearable electronics, typical thermoelectric materials are too brittle for practical application. Here, the authors report a high-performance elastic composite for stretchable thermoelectric modules.

    • Nara Kim
    • , Samuel Lienemann
    •  & Klas Tybrandt

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Helicoids are common structures found in many structural biological materials. Here, the authors report on a study of helicoids in the claws of scorpions and report different microstructures to what have previously been reported which have implications in materials stiffness, strength and toughness.

    • Israel Greenfeld
    • , Israel Kellersztein
    •  & H. Daniel Wagner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Calcium carbonate biomineralisation has long been linked to acidic macromolecules. Here, the authors challenge this view and show that a huge number of gold nanoparticles coated with hydroxyl-rich proteins can be incorporated into a calcium carbonate crystal while maintaining single crystal character.

    • Yi-Yeoun Kim
    • , Robert Darkins
    •  & Fiona C. Meldrum

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mesoscale investigations of material microarchitecture using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) methods have been limited by long measurement times. Here, the authors present an X-ray diffractive optics method which enables single shot acquisition of SAXS signals over large areas.

    • Matias Kagias
    • , Zhentian Wang
    •  & Marco Stampanoni

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Wearable pressure sensors have a range of potential applications. Here, the authors develop ion pairs decorated silica microstructures embedded in an elastomeric matrix to mimic natural skin mechanoreceptors’ functions for applications in pressure-sensitive artificial skin.

    • Vipin Amoli
    • , Joo Sung Kim
    •  & Do Hwan Kim

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Soft actuators are typically confined to a single, predetermined deformation trajectory. Here, the authors report on a bioinspired self-adhesive material which can be attached, detached, and re-attached to expanding soft bodies to render reconfigurable and controllable deformation trajectories.

    • Sang Yup Kim
    • , Robert Baines
    •  & Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Transparent materials with high strength and hardness coupled with low crack tolerance remain challenging to manufacture. Here, the authors develop a process to fabricate transparent but tough glass composites with a nacre-like architecture that slows crack propagation.

    • Tommaso Magrini
    • , Florian Bouville
    •  & André R. Studart

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Lithium metal is the anode of choice for the next-generation high energy density batteries. To address the key technological challenges, the authors report a hybrid Li anode design with hierarchical pores structure derived from natural diatomite and improved electrochemical performance in all-solid-state lithium batteries.

    • Fei Zhou
    • , Zheng Li
    •  & Shu-Hong Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The development of artificial muscle-like actuators is often hampered by the lack of general fabrication routes towards anisotropic responsive materials. Here, the authors fabricate anisotropic hydrogels by an in-situ polymerization strategy of a lamellar network, crosslinked by metal nanostructure assemblies.

    • Haili Qin
    • , Tan Zhang
    •  & Shu-Hong Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Liquid metal-filled elastic composites for strain sensing devices exhibit reduced conductivity under strain, which limits their usefulness. Here, the authors report a positive piezoconductive effect in liquid metal-filled magnetorheological elastomers and illustrate proof-of concept applications.

    • Guolin Yun
    • , Shi-Yang Tang
    •  & Weihua Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Producing nacre-like ceramics with a tough, non-polymeric matrix remains a challenge. Here, the authors use the reactive wetting of a zirconium-based bulk metallic glass to successfully infiltrate a porous alumina and create a composite with improved flexural strength and fracture toughness.

    • Amy Wat
    • , Je In Lee
    •  & Robert O. Ritchie

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Incorporation of self-healing and shape programming capabilities into rigid, structural composite is highly desirable yet challenging. Here, the authors report a nacre-mimetic composite obtained by infiltrating a switchable Diels-Alder network polymer into a scaffold of alumina capable of self-healing internal damage.

    • Gaolai Du
    • , Anran Mao
    •  & Hao Bai

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The toughening of layered composite materials during cyclic loading remains poorly understood. Here, the authors introduce an interfacial nanolayer to a polymer-metal-ceramic stack to triple the fracture energy during cyclic loading via nanolayer-induced interfacial bond strengthening and load transfer to the polymer layer.

    • Matthew Kwan
    • , Muriel Braccini
    •  & Ganpati Ramanath

  • Article
    | Open Access

    High entropy oxides provide a new strategy toward materials design by stabilizing single-phase crystal structures composed of multiple cations. Here, the authors apply this concept to the development of conversion-type electrode materials for lithium-ion storage and show the underlying mechanism.

    • Abhishek Sarkar
    • , Leonardo Velasco
    •  & Ben Breitung

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Biomimetic assembly of nanosheets into nacre-like structures and films is of interest for a range of applications; the abundance of mica makes it a good candidate. Here, the authors report on the large-scale exfoliation of ground mica into nanosheets and the assembly into polymeric mica films.

    • Xiao-Feng Pan
    • , Huai-Ling Gao
    •  & Shu-Hong Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Stretchable conductors are important for further developments in the electronics industry, but improving the deformability when maintaining the high-level conductivity is still challenging. Here the authors demonstrate a ternary self-healing silver nanowire/polymer network as high-performance stretchable conductor.

    • Pin Song
    • , Haili Qin
    •  & Shu-Hong Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Low-dimensional nanomaterials are crucial conducting components of stretchable electronics, but their mechanical reinforcement remains challenging. Here, the authors infiltrate carbon nanotubes into a porous ceramic network to produce a 3D nanofelted self-entangled assembly with high conductivity and mechanical stability.

    • Fabian Schütt
    • , Stefano Signetti
    •  & Rainer Adelung

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The rule of mixtures usually causes composite properties to fall between the maximum and minimum of the parent phases. Here, the authors use large-scale molecular dynamics simulations to break that rule by stabilizing a negative stiffness state in fully dense nickel-aluminum nanowires to achieve ultra-low stiffness.

    • Samuel Temple Reeve
    • , Alexis Belessiotis-Richards
    •  & Alejandro Strachan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hypersonic and aerospace applications motivate development of materials with improved resistance against ablation and oxidation at high temperatures. Here authors demonstrate a quaternary carbide, where sealing by surface oxides, slow oxygen diffusion and a graded structure yield improved ablation resistance over established ceramics.

    • Yi Zeng
    • , Dini Wang
    •  & Ping Xiao

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Micro- and nanostructures found in nature can be adopted to new uses and materials in engineered composites. Here authors demonstrate large enhancements in toughness and electrical conductivity in a ceramic upon addition of graphene at low (1 volume %) levels.

    • Olivier T. Picot
    • , Victoria G. Rocha
    •  & Eduardo Saiz

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Low-density compressible materials often suffer from fatigue-induced failure or limited elasticity. Here, the authors create a hierarchical multi-arch carbon material that achieves high compressibility, superior elasticity and fatigue resistance simultaneously, inspired by properties of arches in daily life.

    • Huai-Ling Gao
    • , Yin-Bo Zhu
    •  & Shu-Hong Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Transparent and electrically conducting flexible films are in high demand but production can be both time-consuming and expensive. Here, the authors report a method for assembling modified graphene flakes in controlled distributions within polymeric matrices by use of magnetic fields.

    • Hortense Le Ferrand
    • , Sreenath Bolisetty
    •  & Raffaele Mezzenga

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Imaging of inorganic dispersions in organic-inorganic composites is typically performed using electron microscopy. Here, the authors show that surfactants with attached aggregation-induced emission fluorophores allow simple fluorescence imaging of the spatial distribution of the inorganic filler dispersion.

    • Weijiang Guan
    • , Si Wang
    •  & Ben Zhong Tang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Flexible electronics promise the opportunity to monitor biological activity via implanted devices. Here, the authors develop a biocompatible conductive carbon nanotube/gel composite and couple it with an ultrathin flexible amplifier, enabling in vivomeasurement of epicardial electrocardiogram signals.

    • Tsuyoshi Sekitani
    • , Tomoyuki Yokota
    •  & Takao Someya

  • Article
    | Open Access

    New sodium-ion battery technology requires better control over solid electrolyte interface formation. Here, the authors report a series of ball-milled sodium alloys and enriched insertion electrodes, which act as sodium reservoirs compensating for sodium loss during solid electrolyte interface formation.

    • Biao Zhang
    • , Romain Dugas
    •  & Jean-Marie Tarascon

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The development of modern flexible electronics calls for new materials with extreme stretchability and high conductivity. Here, Mates et al. show a printable material made of commercially-available elastomers and carbon nanofibres, which exhibits low resistance and water-repellency at strain up to 500%.

    • Joseph E. Mates
    • , Ilker S. Bayer
    •  & Constantine M. Megaridis

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Endowing composite materials with spatially discrete mechanical behaviours is possible by varying the internal concentration and arrangement of particles. Here, the authors demonstrate a 3D magnetic printing technique which enables the fabrication of materials with intricate internal designs.

    • Dimitri Kokkinis
    • , Manuel Schaffner
    •  & André R. Studart

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Electrically conductive composites are increasingly being studied for their favourable mechanical and electrical properties. Here, the authors employ a new synthetic strategy to attain fractal silver micro-dendrites which can be laser-scribed for implementation in flexible printed microelectronics.

    • Cheng Yang
    • , Xiaoya Cui
    •  & Ching-Ping Wong

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Soft biological composites have great potential in areas such as artificial tissue constructs and bio-integrated devices, but receive little attention. Here, the authors design soft biomimetic materials that can precisely reproduce the non-linear mechanics of relevant biological materials.

    • Kyung-In Jang
    • , Ha Uk Chung
    •  & John A. Rogers

  • Article |

    Lithium dendrite growth is a serious hazard in battery operations. Here, the authors report an ion-conducting membrane based on aramid nanofibers, and demonstrate effective suppression of copper and lithium dendrites.

    • Siu-On Tung
    • , Szushen Ho
    •  & Nicholas A. Kotov

  • Article |

    Blood clotting is caused by biopolymer-mediated aggregation of platelets and is enhanced by fast shear flows. Chen et al. find a similar process that arises during the self-assembly of polymer–colloid composites—a process that can be controlled and even reversed by flow rate and interparticle interaction.

    • Hsieh Chen
    • , Mohammad A. Fallah
    •  & Alfredo Alexander-Katz

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