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An accurate and authoritative discussion of the structure, fabrication, and applications of biomimetic materials
In Biomimetic Nanomaterials: Inorganic and Macromolecular Structures, Catalytic Processes, a team of distinguished researchers delivers an up-to-date discussion of select emerging topics in nature-inspired approaches to biomimetic nanomaterials. The authors focus on two core subjects: mimicking biological structures and replicating biological functions.
The book begins with an exploration of bio-inorganic structures and biomineralization processes, including biominerals and bio-inspired architectures like aerogels and chiral nanoparticles. It continues on to discuss biomacromolecule-based materials and synthetic mimics, as well as their structural and functional attributes. Finally, it covers bio-inspired functional materials, including nanozymes and catalytic systems for applications, like artificial photosynthesis, CO2 conversion, and N2 fixation.
Readers will also find:
- A thorough introduction to the foundational concepts and the latest developments in biomimetic nanomaterials
- Comprehensive explorations of the latest applications of biomimetic nanomaterials, including artificial muscles, protective coatings, and catalytic processes
- Practical discussions of the structures of biomimetic inorganic nanomaterials, like biominerals, biomorphs, artificial plastic materials, and chiral nanoparticles
- Complete treatments of particularly remarkable uses of biomimetic materials, including water splitting catalysis nanozymes
Perfect for materials scientists, bioinorganic chemists, and biotechnologists, Biomimetic Nanomaterials will also benefit bioengineers, polymer chemists, and biochemists.
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Seitenzahl: 695
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Biography of Book Editors
Preface
Chapter 1: Introduction
Part 1: Biomimetic Inorganic Nanostructures
Part 2: Biomacromolecules and Structural Mimics
Part 3: Nanomaterials Mimicking Biocatalytic Processes
References
Chapter 2: Biominerals and Biomineralization
2.1 Typical Biominerals
2.2 Unique Structures of Biominerals
2.3 A Crystal Growth View on Biomineralization Process
2.4 Inspirations from Biomineralization
2.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Designing Functional Biomorphs
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Overview of the Biomorph Formation Mechanism
3.3 Influence and Potential Application of the Biomorphs
3.4 Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: Biomimetic Materials Inspired by Bone and Tooth
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Biomimetic Artificial Bone
4.3 Biomimetic Artificial Tooth
References
Chapter 5: Biomimetic Chiral Nanomaterials
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Biomolecular Encoding Chiral Inorganic Nanomaterials
5.3 Bioinspired Applications
5.4 Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: Biomacromolecular Mimics
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Structure and Function of Biomacromolecules
6.3 Development of Biomacromolecular Mimics
6.4 Applications of Bio-macromolecular Mimics
6.5 Challenges and Future Directions
6.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: Advanced Wood-based Bionic Materials
7.1 Wood Bionic Intelligence Science
7.2 Theoretical Basis of Wood Bionics Science
7.3 Advanced Wood-based Materials
7.4 Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Bio-inspired Multifunctional Nanocellulose Materials
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Classification of Nanocellulose
8.3 Multidimensional Structural Design of Nanocellulose
8.4 Conclusion and Outlook
References
Chapter 9: Biomass-based Materials for a Circular Economy
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Lignin Extraction and Functionalization
9.3 Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels
9.4 Biomass Conversion to Functional Carbon Materials
9.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 10: Biomimetic Aerogel
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Anisotropic Building Blocks
10.3 Assembly Techniques
10.4 Applications
10.5 Discussion
10.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: Mechanical Materials with Biomimetic Hierarchical Structures
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Lamellar Organization
11.3 Columnar Organization
11.4 Challenges and Perspectives
References
Chapter 12: Nanozyme
12.1 Introduction of Nanozyme
12.2 Classification of Nanozymes
12.3 Applications of Nanozymes in Bioanalysis
12.4 Applications of Nanozymes in Therapy
12.5 Challenges and Perspective
Acknowledgment
References
Chapter 13: Photosynthesis and Photocatalytic Water Splitting
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Photosynthesis: A Natural Masterpiece
13.3 Artificial Photocatalytic Water Splitting
13.4 Comparison of Natural and Artificial Systems
13.5 Potential Improvements in Artificial Systems
13.6 Conclusion and Outlook
Acknowledgment
References
Chapter 14: CO
2
Conversion
14.1 Introduction: Basic Principles of Photocatalytic Reduction of CO
2
14.2 Nanostructures for Photocatalytic CO
2
Reduction
14.3 Challenges and Perspectives
References
Chapter 15: Artificial N
2
Fixation
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation
15.3 Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation
15.4 Conclusion and Outlook
Acknowledgment
References
Index
End User License Agreement
List of Illustrations
Chapter 2
Figure 2.1 (a–d) SEM images of various skeletal parts composed of stable ACC [7]: (a...
Figure 2.2 Typical highly inorganic structures. (a) Photograph of a sea urchin ...
Figure 2.3 Free energy diagram for nucleation explaining the existence of a “cr...
Figure 2.4 Schematic diagram of TLK model.
Figure 2.5 (a) Left, scheme of the capping strategy and reaction conditions for...
Chapter 3
Figure 3.1 A galaxy of biomorphs produced in the silica–carbonate system.
Figure 3.2 (a) Scanning electron microscopy images of hierarchical biomorph strs.
Figure 3.3 Schematic illustration of the layer advancement and curling processes.
Figure 3.4 (a) Molecular structure of acridine orange in its neutral and proton...
Figure 3.5 Complicated shapes of metal halide perovskites prepared by convertin...
Chapter 4
Figure 4.1 Bone has a complex hierarchical structure traversing length scale fr...
Figure 4.2 Biosynthesis and processing of collagen. [10] / John Wiley & Sons.
Figure 4.3 Overview of collagen mineralization mechanisms. [16] / John Wiley &...
Figure 4.4 Schematic map of ameloblasts and enamel in different development sta...
Figure 4.5 Schematic of the epitaxial growth and mechanical properties of CPICs...
Figure 4.6 Fabrication and properties of ZrO
2
layer-coated tooth enamel. (a) Sc...
Figure 4.7 The process of self-assembly of nanowires aided by MDP. (a) The pres...
Chapter 5
Figure 5.1 Strategies for biomolecular encoding of chiral inorganic nanomateria...
Figure 5.2 Biomimetic inorganic nanomaterials with surface chirality. (a) Schem...
Figure 5.3 Biomolecularly programmed inorganic assemblies. Scheme for the co-as...
Figure 5.4 Chiral-shaped inorganic nanomaterials. (a) Scheme representation of ...
Figure 5.5 Chiral sensors. Scheme of enantioselective SERS sensing based on chi...
Figure 5.6 Chiral catalysts. (a) Schematic illustration of the enantioselective...
Figure 5.7 Chiral Therapy. (a) Schematic illustration of the formation of chira...
Chapter 6
Figure 6.1 The schematic diagram describes the protein-based material prepared ...
Figure 6.2 (a) Site-specific
in situ
polymerization-induced self-assembly for t...
Figure 6.3 The method of covalent modification includes the following technique...
Figure 6.4 (a) Simulated structure of covalently PEGylated enzyme (glutamate de...
Figure 6.5 DNA origami nanostructures as drug carriers. (a) DNA octahedron (blu...
Chapter 7
Figure 7.1 Schematic illustration of the fabrication process of transparent woo...
Figure 7.2 Controllable motion of magnetized wood in a rotating magnetic field. ...
Figure 7.3 Schematic illustration of the tree-inspired tri-pathway design for f...
Chapter 8
Figure 8.1 Types and structures of nanocellulose. (a, b) Scanning electron micr...
Figure 8.2 Main preparation methods for nanocellulose multi-scale structures. (...
Figure 8.3 Individual fibril structure. (a) The SEM images of in situ growth of...
Figure 8.4 One-dimensional (1D) hierarchical self-assembled structure. (a) Sche...
Figure 8.5 Aligned nanofibril structure. (a) Schematic illustration of the thre...
Figure 8.6 Two-dimensional (2D) hierarchical self-assembled structure. (a) Digi...
Figure 8.7 3D/4D printing structure. (a) Schematic illustration of fabrication ...
Figure 8.8 Morphology and material characterization of CNF/SiO
2
cryogels. SEM i...
Figure 8.9 Self-assembly of chiral nematic liquid crystal structures. (a) Schem...
Figure 8.10 Overview of constructing biomimetic biophotonic structural materials...
Chapter 9
Figure 9.1 The structure of lignocellulose.
Figure 9.2 Lignin adhesive preparation and performance. (a) Schematic illustrat...
Figure 9.3 Conversion of biomass to different products.
Figure 9.4 Biomass pyrolysis and upgrading to form different products.
Figure 9.5 (a) Schematic illustration of the DES cell-shearing process. (b) Str...
Figure 9.6 (a) Schematic illustration of the converting process to form NGM. (b...
Chapter 10
Figure 10.1 Biomimetic engineering for functional aerogels. Microstructures and ...
Figure 10.2 Anisotropic nanomaterials as building blocks for BAs. 2D nanomateria...
Figure 10.3 Assembly techniques for BAs. Typical fabrication procedure for aerog...
Figure 10.4 BAs for applications. Thermal insulations; (a): [8]/John Wiley & Son...
Figure 10.5 BAs for energy storage and conversion system. (a) Artificial SEI lay...
Figure 10.6 Proposed solutions to challenges of BAs. (a) Diversity of shapes: [8...
Chapter 11
Figure 11.1 (a) Hierarchical structure of abalone nacre, showing the “brick-and-...
Figure 11.2 (a) Processing schematic of nacre-like lamellar structures by freeze...
Figure 11.3 (a) Schematics of different mixing- or coating-assembling approaches...
Figure 11.4 (a) Photograph of a beetle and microscopy images of its exoskeleton ...
Figure 11.5 (a) Schematic of the hierarchical structure of human enamel. (b) Pho...
Figure 11.6 Process of biomimetic material engineering leveraged by AI/ML techni...
Chapter 12
Figure 12.1 The number of papers has increased year by year since the first case...
Figure 12.2 Schematic illustration of colorimetric detection of glucose by using...
Figure 12.3 Electron transfer mechanism for the CAT-mimetic activity of CeO
2
NPs.
Figure 12.4 (a) Comparison of POD-like kinetics and GSH-like kinetics for Fe–S/N...
Figure 12.5 Mechanism of H
2
O
2
Detection Released from Hela Cells by SAzyme.
Figure 12.6 Schematic diagram of preparation process of PCN-224-Pt/HRP/dual-apta...
Figure 12.7 Schematic illustration of “toxic-drug-free” nanocatalytic tumor ther...
Figure 12.8 Design and synthesis of orally administered CeO2@MMT to target infla...
Chapter 13
Figure 13.1 (a) The decoupled light and dark reaction process of natural photosy...
Figure 13.2 (a) Schematic diagram of hydrogen production on the polar and nonpol...
Figure 13.3 (a) UV-vis-NIR DRS of LTO, CdS, and BP-CdS-LTO. (b) The derived opti...
Figure 13.4 (a) Schematic illustration of the photo-induced carrier dynamics of ...
Chapter 14
Figure 14.1 Schematic diagram of photocatalytic CO
2
conversion.
Figure 14.2 (a) Relationship of the energy band position of g-C
3
N
4
to photocatal...
Figure 14.3 Z-scheme electron transfer of ZnIn
2
S
4
/PDA@poly/[M]/NAD
+
for photoenz...
Chapter 15
Figure 15.1 The Haber–Bosch process for ammonia production.
Figure 15.2 Schematic diagram of the nitrogen reduction reaction on electrocatalysts.
Figure 15.3 Combined volcano diagrams (lines) for the flat (blue) and stepped (r...
Figure 15.4 (a) Atomic level surface structures of Au THH NR.
Figure 15.5 The schematic of eNRR and HER on (a) pristine MoO
2
and (b) MoO
2+
x
en...
Figure 15.6 Schematic representation of (a) N
2
molecular orbitals, (b) the react...
Figure 15.7 (a) Schematic illustration of the transformation of Ru
1
/d-UiO-66. (b...
Figure 15.8 (a) Schematic illustrates the integration of Fe-doped W
18
O
49
nanowir...
List of Tables
Chapter 2
Table 2.1 The names and chemical compositions of minerals produced by biologic...
Chapter 4
Table 4.1 The advantages and disadvantages of different types of BTE scaffolds.
Table 4.2 Description, advantages, and disadvantages of typical fabrication me...
Table 4.3 Main characteristics for strategies for biomimetic enamel.
Chapter 9
Table 9.1 The content of H, G, S units in different lignin [10]/with permissio...
Table 9.2 Extraction methods for lignin [5]/with permission of Elsevier.
Table 9.3 Lignin monomer distributions.
Table 9.4 Pyrolysis of biomass to form carbon materials [69]/Royal Society of ...
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Biography of Book Editors
Preface
Begin Reading
Index
End User License Agreement
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Biomimetic Nanomaterials
Inorganic and Macromolecular Structures, Catalytic Processes
Edited by Bing Ni and Zhicheng Zhang
Editors
Prof. Bing Ni
Beijing Normal University
No.19 Xinjiekouwai Street
Haidian District
Beijing
China, 100875
Prof. Zhicheng Zhang
School of Science, Tianjin University
No. 92, Weijin Road,
Nankai District
Tianjin
China, 300072
Cover Design: Wiley
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Biography of Book Editors
Bing Ni
Date of Birth: 1992.06.25
Bing Ni is a Professor of Beijing Normal University, China. He received his Ph.D. degree in chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Xun Wang at the Tsinghua University in 2019. He then joined the group of Prof. Helmut Cölfen at the University of Konstanz as a Humboldt Research Fellow. In 2023, he joined the group of Prof. Nicholas A. Kotov as a research fellow. Since 2024, he joined Beijing Normal University as a full Professor. His research interests are in the area of crystal growth mechanisms, chiral Au nanorods, and chiral sub-nanometric materials.
Zhicheng Zhang
Date of Birth: 1982.08.19
Zhicheng Zhang is a Professor of Tianjin University, China. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from China University of Petroleum (Beijing) in 2012. Then he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Tsinghua University. In 2014, he joined Nanyang Technological University as a research fellow, Singapore. Since 2019, he joined Tianjin University as a full Professor. His current research interests focus on the design and synthesis of functional metal-based nanomaterials and their applications in energy conversion and catalysis.
Preface
Over the past few decades, the field of biomimetic nanomaterials has grown at an extraordinary pace. It remains a dynamic and ever-evolving discipline, continually uncovering new topics and frontiers. On one hand, curiosity-oriented research in this field offers profound insights into the working principles of Nature, inspiring innovative ideas and concepts. On the other hand, application-oriented research is pushing the boundaries of design and functionality, leading to unprecedented advancements in creating and utilizing high-performance materials. This dual nature underscores the importance of timely revisiting the fundamentals and surveying recent progress to understand the current landscape of this vibrant field.
Given the immense scope of biomimetic nanomaterials, it is impossible to address every aspect comprehensively in a single volume. Instead, this book focuses on select emerging topics that exemplify Nature-inspired approaches. Our discussion revolves around two core strategies: mimicking biological structures and replicating biological functions. The content begins with bio-inorganic structures and biomineralization processes, exploring biominerals and bio-inspired architectures such as aerogels and chiral nanoparticles. We then delve into biomacromolecule-based materials and their synthetic mimics, examining their structural and functional attributes. Finally, the book addresses bio-inspired functional materials, including nanozymes and catalytic systems for applications like artificial photosynthesis, CO2 conversion, and N2 fixation. As the fields of biomimetic nanomaterials continue to advance rapidly, this book emphasizes both foundational concepts and groundbreaking developments from recent research. We hope this book can serve as a gateway for readers to enter this exciting and multifaceted domain.
This book was supported by Innovation Funding Project of Science and Technology, China National Petroleum Corporation (2022DQ02-0408).
Chapter 1Introduction
Bing Ni
College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Corresponding author: [email protected]
When human ancestors first looked up at the starry sky, they began exploring the laws of nature. It is precisely this exploration and utilization of natural laws that has driven the development of human civilization. The establishment of modern science first originated from curiosity about natural laws, with the discovery, reproduction, and imitation of natural phenomena being the initial paradigm. The use of mathematical and physical methods subsequently constructed the foundation of modern science, from which various methods of utilizing natural laws evolved, leading to multiple scientific and technological revolutions that continuously propelled civilization’s development. Entering the twenty-first century, although modern society is highly developed, the relationship between humans and nature is not distant, but rather more closely intertwined. The challenges faced by human society – such as energy crises, environmental challenges, and healthcare – all require finding answers from nature and its fundamental laws.
Surveying the development of chemical science and materials science, one can observe that cutting-edge research follows a certain historical trajectory, developing numerous scientific questions. The value of these scientific questions is increasingly tied to practical social needs, such as solar energy utilization and clean energy, atmospheric water harvesting and water resource management, and CO2 capture and conversion addressing climate issues. In contrast, research driven purely by curiosity has received less attention – for instance, precise morphological control of nanocrystals, preparation of zeolite-based porous structures, and hydrophobic–hydrophilic interfaces – despite these areas not being fully understood and their potential not yet exhausted. This is certainly not a negative aspect; it indicates that scientific research is progressing steadily, with scientific exploration seeking answers to societal problems and striving to advance social development. However, this may not necessarily be the most optimal scenario. Some suggest that transformative scientific achievements are gradually decreasing, and the pace of technological development is slowing down [1]. While we cannot predict whether this deceleration will continue, if ongoing research topics become increasingly concentrated on a couple of specific areas, the diversity of research themes will significantly diminish, thereby reducing the likelihood of nurturing new research directions and generating revolutionary breakthroughs.
Addressing this issue, thinking out of the box is crucial. Creatively combining different things can bring forth new scientific questions and directions. A viable approach is to directly utilize or mimic bio-based materials found in nature. Many bio-based materials are characterized by widespread availability and low cost, with wood being a representative example. It can be directly used in human activities, and further functionalizing or transforming such materials can not only create social and economic value but also potentially provide solutions to other scientific problems related to social needs. Moreover, under the challenge of survival pressures, nature has evolved over millions of years numerous efficient means of energy and material utilization, for example, photosynthesis, respiration, branching fractal structures, hierarchical structures, etc. These methods have been proven effective by time itself, capable of maximizing material properties under limited resources. These are also the ultimate goal of artificial material design. Therefore, mimicking these structures and functions can also bring breakthroughs in materials science and scientific thinking approaches.
Currently, we have not fully understood the material design principles of nature. Taking mechanical properties as an example, natural materials are generally organic–inorganic composite materials with multilevel structures [2]. In nacre structure, aragonite calcium carbonate and chitin form a layered, ordered “brick-and-mortar” structure reminiscent of modern architecture [3], where the inorganic components support the overall structure, and organic components regulate the interactions between inorganic components. This organic–inorganic composite structure exhibits strength and toughness far exceeding pure calcium carbonate or chitin, while remaining lightweight and possessing high practical value. However, we are still unable to fully understand the growth mechanism of such materials in nature and can only reproduce these structures through alternative methods [4, 5]. Moreover, we remain uncertain about why nature selected these specific two materials to construct such structures. An intriguing question remains: If chitin were replaced with chemically similar cellulose or hemicellulose, and aragonite phase with calcite phase, would similar structures and properties still be achievable? Natural materials demonstrate numerous types of multilevel structures, such as coral structure, sea urchin-like structure, nacre, and others [6–8]. The building blocks in these multilevel structures are arranged in an extremely orderly manner, with the overall structure presenting diffraction patterns similar to single crystals. Some structures have building blocks with slight rotational dislocations, while others have no such restrictions. We are yet to fully comprehend the material science benefits arising from these characteristics. In the field of bio-based materials, numerous unknowns await exploration. These investigations hold promise for generating new insights into material preparation and design, potentially providing feasibility for developing next-generation lightweight, high-strength, and tough composites with versatile functionalities.
Research on biomimetic materials has a long history and has achieved numerous advancements. We can scarcely determine the earliest origins of biomimetic practices. The design of wooden boats might have mimicked fish body forms and used wooden paddles imitating fins; bone needles might have been inspired by fish spines; even the invention of saws could potentially have been a reproduction of leaves with sharp teeth on both sides. In modern technology, there are also many examples of biomimetic research. Taking the regulation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties as a representative case, researchers have carefully observed structures in the biological world exhibiting different wettability characteristics and created various functional materials. Lotus leaves demonstrate an extremely pronounced hydrophobic nature, with raindrops rapidly sliding off their surface – a phenomenon attributed to their rough micro- and nano-surface structures [9]. Building upon this observation, multiple superhydrophobic interface designs have emerged, applicable in areas such as material self-cleaning, surface defogging, frost prevention, etc. [10–12]. Spiders in desert environments can extract water from the air, thanks to their ability to produce superhydrophilic spider silk [13]. Water from the air condenses on these silk strands, and their super-wetting properties enable rapid water droplet collection. Extending from these principles, researchers subsequently designed hedgehog-like structures exhibiting unique amphiphilic properties [14, 15]. These studies have driven attention and contemplation regarding interface structures and properties. Numerous other examples exist. The sharkskin swimsuit was once a widely discussed example among the public. The rough, V-shaped wrinkles on sharkskin surfaces can significantly reduce water flow friction, enabling more efficient water flow around the body and allowing sharks to swim rapidly. By applying the same principle to swimsuit design, swimmers’ performance improved obviously.
Beyond directly mimicking the structures of natural substances to optimize functionality, there is another biomimetic approach that focuses on the principles of functional implementation – imitating operational methods without being constrained by specific chemical compositions or structures, also known as function mimicking [16–19]. The most representative example of this approach is mimicking neural structures to achieve computation. Although we are still unclear about how thought and consciousness are realized in the brain, this does not prevent us from attempting high-performance computation by simulating neural operational modes. At the end of an axon, a neuron presents as a synaptic body that can connect with the cell body or dendrites of other neurons, forming a synapse – a small gap through which the axon transmits neurotransmitters or electrical signals. Each neuron receives signals from other neurons through synapses, and when input reaches a certain threshold, it generates an output signal, with both input and output represented by voltage. This operational pattern has been applied in computations, where each node mimics a neuron, with interconnections that mutually influence each other and can exist in resting or activated states. Artificial neural networks have two structures: recurrent and backpropagation [20–22]. In recurrent networks, each node’s state is determined by the states of other nodes, allowing feedback, so that each node’s state serves simultaneously as output and input, with connections potentially forming circuits. Backpropagation networks, by contrast, have input and output layers, and may also include hidden layers. These are the basis of today’s popular machine learning methods. It is worth noting that machine learning has now been proven highly effective in discovering unknown relationships between material structures and properties, thereby guiding and promoting materials science development. Moreover, current computer architectures still differ significantly from brain structures – in computers, storage and computation are separated, whereas in the brain, they are likely integrated. To achieve storage and computation integration at the physical level, memristors have consequently garnered widespread attention and are considered more suitable for implementing machine learning than current computer architectures [23–25]. There are again much more examples in functional biomimetics.
The field of biomimetic materials is extremely vast, with research currently flourishing across multiple frontiers and breakthrough achievements continuously emerging in different advanced areas. Numerous professional monographs and review papers have already summarized and reviewed various domains [26–36]. This book cannot encompass all content, and to avoid excessive overlap with existing works and considering the rapid development of the discipline, we can only attempt to select some emerging fields for simple presentation, aiming to provide readers with foundational insights that might spark new ideas. We also follow the two categories of mimicking bio-based materials. As for mimicking the structures of bio-based materials, the discussion is further divided into inorganic material systems and organic material systems. Therefore, the content of the book can be broadly divided into three parts:
Part 1: Biomimetic Inorganic Nanostructures
This part primarily covers inorganic nanomaterials that mimic biogenic structures, such as biominerals or biomorphs. It spans from Chapters 2 to 5. Chapters 2–4 delve into biominerals and related topics, while Chapter 5 discusses a unique subject named “Biomimetic Chiral Nanoparticles.” Here, the focus is on emerging chiral inorganic nanoparticles, such as calcite, quantum dots, and gold nanoparticles. The synthesis of these chiral structures often involves the use of amino acids or peptides. Additionally, the resulting chiral nanoparticles can act as mimics of proteins or other biomacromolecules, offering a novel perspective on biomimetic strategies.
Part 2: Biomacromolecules and Structural Mimics
This part explores some of the latest hot topics in material science related to biomacromolecule-based or mimicking nanomaterials. Chapter 6 discusses biomacromolecular mimics, primarily focusing on molecules that mimic proteins. Chapter 7 is on wood-based materials, emphasizing the modification of natural wood to achieve specified mechanical or chemical properties. Chapter 8 addresses cellulose, concentrating on its application in functional materials for mechanics, optics, sensors, etc. Chapter 9 explores a wider range of biomass types that can be utilized for a circular economy. Chapter 10 discusses aerogels, which mimic the structure of plant leaves or animal fur to produce functional materials for thermal insulation, fire retardancy, water transport, and more. Chapter 11 looks at mechanical materials with biomimetic hierarchical structures.
Part 3: Nanomaterials Mimicking Biocatalytic Processes
This part looks at some exemplary biocatalytic processes and introduces the strategies and principles used to mimic these biosystems for high efficiency. Detailed topics include enzymes (Chapter 12, nanozymes), photosynthesis (Chapter 13, photosynthesis and photocatalytic water splitting; Chapter 14, CO2 conversion), and N2 fixation (Chapter 15, artificial N2 fixation).
Again, the field of biomimetic materials is too vast for this book to comprehensively showcase all its content. We can only select some representative emerging fields for presentation. However, it is equally important to note that current research paradigms are primarily based on traditional methods, simplifying and modeling complex systems, and studying static processes. Biological materials generally utilize both order and disorder structures, generating rich functionality on this basis, and often a single material possesses multiple functionalities – a realm that current materials science research has yet to approach. It can be anticipated that future research will comprehensively consider complex systems, examining the synergistic interactions between different components, order and disorder, and exploring the collaborative realization of material functionalization and multifunctionality. Future studies will also focus on the dynamic processes involved in material function implementation. Future research can leverage achievements from systems science to shape shared scientific language and research thinking, examining existing material systems from entirely new perspectives. This approach may generate new research growth points and innovative breakthroughs, forming an entirely novel scientific value system. While we cannot precisely predict where biomimetic science will lead us, we can foresee that the continuous exploration of nature will persistently propel the advancement of civilization.
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