Dragonfly Wing‐Inspired Reticular Hierarchical Structure Enables Strong and Tough Supramolecular Elastomers

Abstract Dragonfly wings possess exceptionally high strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance due to their unique hierarchical structure from the micro to macro scale. Inspired by this, mismatched supramolecular interactions (MMSIs) are introduced into the dynamic acylsemicarbazide groups, constructing an interconnected hybrid network of soft and hard segments in the SPUU‐DS elastomer. This design, featuring a dense array of hydrogen bonds, achieves exceptional mechanical properties: a true stress at breaks of 1.1 GPa comparable to that of typical spider silk (0.8–1.5 GPa); toughness of 325.54 MJ m −3 , twice that of typical spider silk (≈160 MJ m −3 ); and a fracture energy of 232.83 kJ m −2 , surpassing many metals and alloys. Furthermore, a monitoring device with a “hamburger” structure is developed by integrating SPUU‐DS with a conductive graphene film. When placed inside a tire, this device enhances the tire's puncture resistance by approximately twofold. By correlating the resistance signals with puncture angles, the system enables the detection of damage at various locations on the tire, allowing for timely repair of damage and preventing traffic accidents. This novel biomimetic approach, inspired by dragonfly wings, provides valuable insights for designing healable elastomers with superior mechanical properties.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202506282
Citations
13
Primary Topic
Polymer composites and self-healing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
7.89

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Dragonfly Wing‐Inspired Reticular Hierarchical Structure Enables Strong and Tough Supramolecular Elastomers

Chenrui Zhang, Zhenyang Luo, Qing‐Yi Lu, Yanlong Luo et al.
13 citations
Advanced Functional Materials
Polymer composites and self-healing
7.89
article

Dragonfly Wing‐Inspired Reticular Hierarchical Structure Enables Strong and Tough Supramolecular Elastomers

Chenrui Zhang, Zhenyang Luo, Qing‐Yi Lu, Yanlong Luo, Cheng‐Hui Li, Zebo Zhang, Yao Liu, Lei Duan
article en
13 citations

Abstract

Abstract Dragonfly wings possess exceptionally high strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance due to their unique hierarchical structure from the micro to macro scale. Inspired by this, mismatched supramolecular interactions (MMSIs) are introduced into the dynamic acylsemicarbazide groups, constructing an interconnected hybrid network of soft and hard segments in the SPUU‐DS elastomer. This design, featuring a dense array of hydrogen bonds, achieves exceptional mechanical properties: a true stress at breaks of 1.1 GPa comparable to that of typical spider silk (0.8–1.5 GPa); toughness of 325.54 MJ m −3 , twice that of typical spider silk (≈160 MJ m −3 ); and a fracture energy of 232.83 kJ m −2 , surpassing many metals and alloys. Furthermore, a monitoring device with a “hamburger” structure is developed by integrating SPUU‐DS with a conductive graphene film. When placed inside a tire, this device enhances the tire's puncture resistance by approximately twofold. By correlating the resistance signals with puncture angles, the system enables the detection of damage at various locations on the tire, allowing for timely repair of damage and preventing traffic accidents. This novel biomimetic approach, inspired by dragonfly wings, provides valuable insights for designing healable elastomers with superior mechanical properties.

Advanced Functional MaterialsVol. 35(36)
Nanjing Forestry University (CN), Changzhou Institute of Technology (CN), Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (CN), Nanjing University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Government of Jiangsu Province, Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Polymer composites and self-healing
7.89
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.