Biomimetics
The next generation of functional materials will need to include aniostropic (directionally dependent) crystals. But how has nature been the source of inspiration for these?
Biomimetics is literally the mimicking of nature; taking advantage of the millions of years of evolution which has produced fabulous and functional natural materials using minimal resources and effort and replicating those processes in the laboratory.
In many cases, the materials we use in computing, catalysis, structural engineering and vehicle design can all be improved by synthesizing them in a way which follows the principles and practices seen in nature.
Often stunningly beautiful, but always with a function to perform, living organisms excel in controlling crystal growth, producing the sorts of shapes which can be hard to coax out of crystals growing in a beaker. But there are some very good reasons for us to try ...
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