Sci-fi in Reality: Self-Healing Materials

Alica Adamat
Mar 29, 2024
1 min read

Self-healing materials are not a sci-fi anymore. These materials are capable of autonomous repair of damage. Recent advancements, particularly in supramolecular chemistry, paved the way for significant progress in achieving this remarkable trait.

One of the key strategies employed in self-healing materials involves the incorporation of reversible and movable crosslinks, which play a pivotal role in facilitating healing processes.

Reversible crosslinks, characterized by noncovalent bonds, undergo repeated cleavage and reformation, enabling effective self-healing.

These bonds encompass various dynamic covalent and noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, metal coordination bonds, and π–π stacking). By harnessing the inherent properties of these bonds, engineers have unlocked the potential to create materials capable of regenerating and repairing themselves.

The applications of self-healing materials span a diverse array of fields, each harnessing the unique properties of these innovative materials to address specific challenges and enhance performance.

Those are some of the prosperous self-healing materials:

Hydrogels
Sulfur-selenium alloy
Self-Healing Concrete
Self-Healing Carbon Fiber Composite
Aminopropyl Methacrylamide + Carbon Dioxide
Self-Healing Ceramics

The potential of self-healing materials to revolutionize diverse industries is undeniable, offering enhanced durability, sustainability, and functionality. As research in this field advances, we can expect to witness even more remarkable innovations, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in material science and engineering. From resilient infrastructure to next-generation electronics, self-healing materials will shape the future of technology and design, paving the way towards a more sustainable and resilient society.