Work

Geometrically Templated, Ultra‐Lightweight and High Strength Soap Films from Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Graphene Oxide/Polymer Composites

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cellular solids composed of a network of interconnected pores offer low‐density and high strength‐to‐weight ratio as exemplified by wood, bones, corks, and shells. However, the slender edges and low connectivity of the structs in cellular lattices make them vulnerable to buckle, fracture, or collapse. Here, by taking advantage of the continuity of a thin film that can follow curvatures and dissipate energy, shellular materials are created by dip coating a wireframe of the primitive triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) with an aqueous solution of lyotropic liquid crystalline graphene oxide (GO)/polymer composites. Regulated by surface tension, GO nanosheets align on the polymer soap film as the stress builds up during drying. When the wireframe mesh density is low, the shellular material is film‐dominated, demonstrating superior mechanical strength (384.30 Nm kg −1 ) and high specific energy absorption (1.59 kJ kg −1 ) yet lightweight (equivalent density, 0.063 g cm −3 ), with an energy absorption rate comparable to that of carbon nanotube‐based lattices but a lower equivalent density. The study offers insights into designing lightweight yet high‐strength structural materials that also function as impact energy absorbers.

Source: Advanced Functional Materials

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202512357