A breakthrough in self-healing materials has been made by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Kolkata. They have developed a self-healing crystalline material that could be used to repair hard surfaces such as smartphone displays. The material is 10 times harder than other self-healing materials and has piezoelectric properties, meaning it can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. The material is made up of organic crystals with a unique molecular structure. When a crystal breaks, electrical charges are generated at the fracture surfaces, triggering a precise recombination of the pieces and healing the material.
Piezoelectric materials are commonly used in objects that are subjected to high stress and could break. The new material could also be used in everyday objects, such as smartphone screens that can repair themselves when dropped and broken. However, it is unclear when the material will be ready for industrial use. The developers believe that it could be used in mobile devices in the coming years.
This breakthrough could revolutionize the way we think about repairing hard surfaces. The self-healing material could be used in a wide range of applications, from smartphones to industrial machinery. The piezoelectric properties of the material make it particularly useful in objects that are subjected to high stress and could break. The development of this material is a significant step forward in the field of self-healing materials and could have a profound impact on the way we design and manufacture products in the future.
