320: Designing material mechanics with bioinspired organic-inorganic interfacial dynamics

Abstract: The dynamics between macromolecules and inorganic surfaces play a vital role in controlling the mechanics of some of the most remarkable materials discovered in nature. From the underwater adhesives of mussels to the fracture resistant shells of abalone, organic-inorganic interfacial dynamics have been found to control the desirable mechanics displayed by a range of biological materials. While some of the lessons learned from the studies of biological material interfaces have been applied in the design of synthetic materials, limited understanding of the complex mechanochemical coupling between the organic-inorganic interfacial dynamics and the resulting material mechanics has hindered a more widespread and successful implementation. This foundational knowledge has been slow to develop in large part due to the lack of experimental model systems that allow direct study of how microscopic dynamics at organic-inorganic interfaces manifest themselves in macroscopic material mechanics. In this talk I will present some of the key findings from our ongoing studies of bioinspired metal-coordination complexation, which suggest that this organic-inorganic crosslinking platform is a model system that offers a deeper understanding of material interfacial design.