Dr. Leonard Buckley
Naval Research Laboratory

"Bio-inspired Materials Concepts for Energy, Water Purification, Soft Actuators and Coatings"

Monday February 4, 2008
4:00 - 5:00 pm
WIL Rm. 101

ABSTRACT:
Biomimetic materials have continually evolved in complexity. Taking inspiration from nature this complexity very often exists as the many levels of microstructure within a natural compound. This presentation will discuss some of the unusual behavior due to the hierarchical material structure found in nature with specific emphasis on materials for energy, water purification, soft actuators and self decontaminating coatings. Controlled surface hydrophobicity is unique result of the hierarchical structure in nature. The self-cleaning surface of the lotus leaf and the natural biocides of sponges and snails which are based on organohalogens provide the inspiration for a self decontaminating and self cleaning surface coating. New concepts for water purification inspired by the highly specific water channels of aquaporins will be discussed. These concepts are based on systems of electroactive polymers and carbon nanotubes. The electroactive materials are based on ionic liquid polymers which can act as soft, muscle-like actuators. The use of CdTe nanorods as a sprayable photovoltaic coating will also be presented. The challenge for these material systems is their synthetic reproduction in a robust manner while maintaining all of these interesting properties.

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