Theory-Driven Biomimetic Design of Novel Optical Metamaterials
Abstract
The goal of this proposal is to discover how to create synthetic materials that have thecomplexity and functionality of living ones". Biological systems can assemblestructures that we cannot fabricate on the nanoscale, but would have significantengineering impac""t if they could be made robustly with standard materials. Examplesrange from twisted filaments, to reconfigurable containers and st""ructural supports, tosystems for sensing and precisely filtering small molecules. Even more revolutionarywould be the development"" of synthetic materials with the essential properties of livingsystems, including self-replication and the ability to naturally dev"elop coupled catalyticreactions. The recent revolution in the ability to functionalize submicron scale objects ~such as colloidal" particles, nanotubes and nanoparticles ~ with molecules that can createspecific and reversible interactions between the objects ha"ve opened the possibilities ofprogramming complex assemblies and behaviors into ordinary materials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 03, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141713029
Entities
People
- Michael P. Brenner
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- United States Navy