Affiliation:
1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of California Irvine California 92697 USA
Abstract
AbstractWith the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, there is an urgent need for advanced materials that can address existing and developing environmental issues. Many current synthesis processes are environmentally unfriendly and often lack control over size, shape, and phase of resulting materials. Based on knowledge from biological synthesis and assembly processes, as well as their resulting functions (e.g., photosynthesis, self‐healing, anti‐fouling, etc.), researchers are now beginning to leverage these biological blueprints to advance bio‐inspired pathways for functional materials for water treatment, air purification and sensing. The result has been the development of novel materials that demonstrate enhanced performance and address sustainability. Here, an overview of the progress and potential of bio‐inspired methods toward functional materials for environmental applications is provided. The challenges and opportunities for this rapidly expanding field and aim to provide a valuable resource for researchers and engineers interested in developing sustainable and efficient processes and technologies is discussed.
Funder
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Army Research Office
University of California, Irvine
Subject
General Materials Science,General Chemistry