Limpet-Inspired Multifunctional Composite Fibers with Exceptional Mechanical Performance From Self-Assembled Aramid Nanofibers.

ABSTRACT: Aramid nanofibers (ANFs) have emerged as promising building blocks for bioinspired materials due to their exceptional mechanical strength and chemical stability. However, their widespread application has been hindered by the limitations of conventional top-down synthesis from Kevlar, which is costly, inefficient, and offers limited control over molecular structure. Addressing this challenge, a cost-effective, bottom-up strategy is reported to fabricate limpet-inspired composite fibers by combining the self-assembly of ANFs from poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide) polyanions with in situ iron oxide mineralization. This approach enables spontaneous co-alignment of ANFs and β-FeOOH nanowhiskers, emulating the hierarchical architecture of limpet teeth. Guided by hydrogen bonding and π-π stacki

SUBMITTER: Ren T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12533336 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature