Australian scientists have gained new insights into the fundamental behavior of flexible materials, shedding light on how elastic crystals return to their original shape. The research, published in Nature Materials, has significant implications for designing new building materials and technology.
Researchers from The University of Queensland and QUT used flexible crystals, including one developed at UQ, to calculate intermolecular interactions under compressive and expansive strain. They found that the energy stored in these interactions allows crystals to spontaneously straighten out when compressed or stretched.
The team’s experiments showed that enough energy was stored to lift an object 30 times heavier than the crystal by a meter into the air. This new understanding of elasticity could lead to the development of hybrid materials for applications in spacecraft, building materials, and electronic devices.
The method developed by the research team can be used to explore elasticity in other flexible crystalline materials, offering exciting possibilities for future discovery. Elasticity is a fundamental property that underpins many technologies, from optical fibers to load-bearing bridges, and has been elusive until now.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-flexible-crystals-reveal-secrets-elasticity.html