Freezing-derived functional materials

• Published in: Materials today (Kidlington, England) England), 2024-05, Vol.74, p.235-268
• Main Authors: Miao, Shuangshuang, Wang, Yu, Lu, Minhui, Liu, Xiangdong, Chen, Yongping, Zhao, Yuanjin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batteries; Freeze-casting; Hydrogel; Ice-template; Nacre; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 1369-7021; 1873-4103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2024.03.002

This review focus on the current advances of freezing-derived functional materials, involving the design rationale (freezing stratagems and curing methods) of material fabrication and various applications, including mechanical, thermal, energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. The emphasis is put on the correlations among multiscale structures, extraordinary properties and multifarious applications. Promising research directions and challenges about the freezing processing tools are also presented. [Display omitted] Ice-templating, also known as freeze-casting, has emerged as a novel and versatile processing technology in various applications such as strong and tough structured materials, thermal management, energy storage and conversion, biomedical engineering, and so on. By replicating the fractal ice crystal structure, both multiscale hierarchical architectures (from macroscale to micrometer-, and nanometer-scales) and corresponding unique structure-derived functions can be achieved. This review focus on the current advances of freezing-derived functional materials, involving the design rationale (freezing strategies and curing methods) of material fabrication and various applications, including mechanical, thermal, energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. Opportunities (promising research directions and new application scenarios) and challenges about the ice-templating tools are also presented.