All-natural bioinspired nanolignocellulose-derived bulk engineering materials with excellent mechanical properties and environmental stability

The construction of sustainable biomimetic lightweight material with excellent mechanical properties is a kernel part of global high-performance organic − inorganic composite engineering material. However, the intrinsic contradiction between specific engineering material performances, such as strength and toughness. Therefore, making the materials achieve these performance targets simultaneously becomes a challenge. Herein, inspired by microstructures of ordered multilayered nacre, we prepared bioinspired laminated bulk artificial wooden engineering materials (AWEM) by a scalable mechanical/chemical mineralization and directional deforming assembly method. The resulting AWEM has a large-size lightweight, high specific strength, high toughness, durable dimensional stability, and excellent resistance to liquids, including acid/alkali solutions and boiling water. This design strategy allows the mass production of lightweight engineering materials with high strength-to-weight ratios. Simultaneously, it opens the way for the design of additional biomimetic materials based on nanolignocellulose. Graphical abstract: Excellent mechanical properties and environmental stability of AWEM[Figure not available: see fulltext.]