Smart materials, discover the materials with which we will shape the future
Drugs that are released into the bloodstream at the first sign of infection, buildings that react to weather conditions or mobile phone screens that repair themselves... These are just some of the possible applications of so-called smart materials, the latest revolution in the field of materials science.
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Materials science is a continual source of discoveries that could revolutionise our future.
- Metamaterials. They are manufactured in the laboratory with unusual physical properties not found in nature and are the subject of research in fields such as the military, optics or telephony. They can, for example, bend electromagnetic waves of light creating negative refractive indices.
- XPL. It is a silicone-based polymer that adheres to the dermis like a second skin. Created by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), it replicates the appearance of young, healthy skin by rejuvenating the look of the wearer.
In addition, there are other materials that have made headlines in recent years. These include stanene, which could be the super condenser of the future; silicone, which many compare to graphene; vanadium dioxide, with an ability to transit electricity without emitting heat, which promises to revolutionise electronics; and thermochromic cement and self-repairing concrete, intended to increase the energy efficiency of housing and the life span of buildings respectively.
One of the areas of research where materials science has advanced most in recent years is in the development of new materials for use in 3D printing, which is already used in sectors as diverse as design, medicine, architecture and food. The most widely used are thermoplastics, especially polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which are used in mobile phone casings, toys and car bodies. Smart materials are also starting to be printed thanks to 4D printers.
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