P.C. Lee
Univerity of Toronto,
Canada
Keywords: hybrid composite, hierarchical structures
Summary:
Considering the global energy crisis, high-performance transportation sectors are rapidly embracing lightweight materials to enhance energy efficiency and achieve long-term sustainability. In fact, a mere 10% weight reduction yields a significant 14% increase in mileage, emphasizing the critical role of lightweighting in emerging electric vehicles. Our laboratory focuses on advancing the field of lightweight multifunctional structural materials, through the development of synergy-induced hybrid composites, consisting of self-assembled nano-sized graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) covalently bonded onto micro-sized glass fibers (GFs), within a common semi-crystalline material, emulating the hierarchical architecture of biological systems. Inspired by the intricate design of butterfly legs, these composites utilize hierarchical fibrous assemblies to optimize the density of covalently bonded GnPs at the fiber/matrix interface, creating a gradient interphase that enhances load transfer and multifunctional performance. This is attributed to local nanoscale stiffness variations driven by trans-crystallization, which encapsulates the fibrous assembly and reinforces the interphase. Through multi-scale structure-property design, these biomimetic materials demonstrate exceptional mechanical and functional enhancements, offering lightweight and sustainable solutions for next-generation structural applications. By integrating nature-inspired architecture with innovative material processing, this work highlights the transformative potential of bio-inspired engineering in addressing global energy and sustainability challenges.