2024/07/11 by Ingo H. M. S. Nettersheim, N.S. Guevara Sotelo, J.C. Verdonk +1 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Energy · Engineering · Materials Science · #Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies #Polymer composites and self-healing #TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells
paper · doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2024.110758
openalex publication_date 2024/07/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Since the inception of fibre-reinforced composite materials, they have been widely acknowledged for their unparalleled weight-to-performance ratio. Nonetheless, concerns are escalating regarding the environmental impact of these materials amidst global warming and pollution. This perspective explores a ground-breaking shift towards harnessing living organisms to produce composite materials. Living composites not only offer sustainable, carbon-capturing alternatives but also afford an unprecedented level of control over shape and anisotropy. Recent advancements in biology, particularly genetic engineering and sequencing, have provided extraordinary control over living organisms. Coupled with ever-evolving additive manufacturing techniques, these breakthroughs enable the construction of engineered living materials from the ground up. Here, we explore the key factors propelling the emergence of engineered living materials for structural applications and delves into the capabilities of living organisms that can be harnessed for creating functional materials, including harvesting energy, forming structures, sensing/adapting, growing and remodelling. Incorporating living organisms can revolutionise manufacturing for renewable and sustainable composite materials, unlocking previously unattainable functionalities.