Mechanically driven assembly of biomimetic 2D-material microtextures with bioinspired multifunctionality

Abstract

Nature provides a wealth of bio-inspiration for advanced material research. Assembling various nanomaterials into biomimetic microtextures with bioinspired functionalities has spurred increasing research interests and facilitated technological advances in various applications. In recent years, two-dimensional materials (2DMs) have emerged as important building block units in the biomimicry field due to their distinct chemical, physical, electrical, electrochemical, and catalytic properties. In this review article, various mechanically driven assembly approaches are summarized to fabricate various genealogies of biomimetic 2DM microtextures with bio-inspired multifunctionality. First, sequential deformation strategies are discussed to programmably construct higher dimensional 2DM microtextures, ranging from wrinkles/crumples (one-time deformation) to multiscale hierarchies (multiple deformations). Next, the current progress using higher dimensional 2DM microtextures to imitate different biological structures and/or induce bio-inspired multifunctionality is systematically summarized. Four showcases of bio-inspiration and biomimicry using different 2DM nanosheets are highlighted: (1) wrinkle patterns of an earthworm that spur the design of strain sensors with programmable working ranges and sensitivities, (2) wrinkle appearance of a Shar-Pei dog that motivates the fabrication of stretchable energy storage devices, (3) hierarchical scale textures of a desert lizard that inspire cation-induced gelation platforms for 2DM aerogels, and (4) wrinkle skin of an elephant that influences the development of 2DM protective skin for soft robots. Finally, challenges and future opportunities of adopting 2DM nanosheets to assemble biomimetic microstructures with synergistic functionalities are discussed.