Metamaterials are synthetically-engineered substances with remarkable attributes that are not commonly available in nature. With designed three-dimensional (3D) shapes at the micro and nanoscale, these structured materials possess distinct mechanical and physical characteristics that surpass those of traditional materials — and have emerged over the last decade as a promising solution to engineering problems where all other available materials have struggled.
Engineered materials demonstrate distinctive mechanical and functional traits, yet their complete potential remains unfulfilled due to obstacles in design, production, and analysis. Advancements and scalability in this domain could aid in revolutionizing various sectors, including biomedical implants, athletic gear, automotive and aerospace, as well as energy and electronics.
“Progress in scalable production, high-throughput assessment, and AI-infused design enhancement could transform the fields of mechanics and materials science, facilitating smarter, more adaptable materials that redefine engineering and daily technologies,” states Carlos Portela, the Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor and assistant professor of mechanical engineering at MIT.
In a Perspective published this month in the journal Nature Materials, Portela and James Surjadi, a postdoctoral researcher in mechanical engineering, address significant challenges, possibilities, and future uses in the realm of mechanical metamaterials. The article is titled “Enabling three-dimensional architected materials across length scales and timescales.”
“The advancement of the field necessitates innovation in fabricating these materials across various dimensions, from nano to macro, and progress in comprehending them over a range of timeframes, from gradual deformation to rapid impact,” expresses Portela, emphasizing the necessity for interdisciplinary teamwork.
A Perspective is a peer-reviewed format that the journal utilizes to stimulate contemplation or discussion on topics that might be speculative, debatable, or highly technical, particularly when the content does not meet the standards for a Review.
“We believed that our field, despite significant advancements in the past decade, is still encountering two major challenges: issues with scalability and a lack of knowledge regarding properties under dynamic conditions,” remarks Portela, explaining the motivation behind writing the article.
The work of Portela and Surjadi encapsulates cutting-edge methodologies and emphasizes existing knowledge deficiencies in material design, production, and evaluation. It also suggests a blueprint to hasten the exploration of architected materials with programmable characteristics through the synergistic integration of high-throughput experimentation and computational initiatives, aimed at utilizing emerging artificial intelligence and machine learning methods for their design and enhancement.
“High-throughput miniature tests, non-contact evaluation, and benchtop extreme-condition techniques will create extensive datasets for the adoption of data-driven models, speeding up the optimization and discovery of metamaterials with exceptional properties,” states Surjadi.
The Portela Lab’s motto is “engineered mechanics and materials across scales.” The Perspective seeks to narrow the divide between foundational research and practical applications of next-generation architected materials, presenting a vision that the lab has pursued for the past four years.