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Architected materials—i.e., materials whose three-dimensional (3D) micro- or nanostructure has been engineered to attain a specific purpose—are ubiquitous in nature and have enabled properties that are unachievable by all other existing materials. Their concept relies on maximizing performance while requiring a minimal amount of material. Several human-made 3D architected materials have been reported to enable novel mechanical properties such as high stiffness-to-weight ratios or extreme resilience, especially when nanoscale features present. However, most architected materials have relied on advanced additive manufacturing techniques that are not yet scalable and yield small sample sizes. Additionally, most of these nano- and micro-architected materials have only been studied in controlled laboratory conditions, while our understanding of their performance in real-world applications requires attention.

In this talk, we will explain the concept of architected materials, providing various examples that we routinely fabricate and test in our laboratory at MIT, and we will discuss how nanoscale features significantly enhance their performance. We will also discuss ongoing research directions that will not only allow us to scale-up their fabrication, but also understand how they perform in realistic conditions outside the laboratory—towards contributing to more efficient material solutions in industry and beyond.