Heterostructures: new opportunities for functional materials

Abstract

Heterostructures with large microstructural heterogeneities have been introduced in structural materials for superior strength-ductility combinations, but their effects on functional properties remain little explored. Here I highlight the enormous potential of heterostructures to resolve conflicting properties in functional materials. The challenges, strategies and prospects of heterostructured functional materials are discussed. Rational design of heterostructures will open up new opportunities for creating functional materials with unprecedented performance or new functionalities. This Perspective aims to draw the attention of scientific community to the emerging heterostructured functional materials and to trigger intense fundamental and applied researches on this topic. IMPACT STATEMENTThe performance of functional materials could be significantly enhanced through engineering heterostructures, and the combination of heterostructures and hybrid materials will open up new opportunities for functional materials. ARTICLE HISTORY

Heterostructured materials: superior properties from hetero-zone interaction

“…The materials synthesized so far are mainly limited to the structures with bimodal grains, other types of heterostructures that are prevailing in structural materials remain unexplored. Moreover, great challenges still remain for the fabrication and microstructural control of functional heterostructured materials [243]. Understanding and establishing structure-property relationships also provide new challenges for experimental and theoretical studies.…”

Effect of bimodal grain size and gradient structure on heterogeneous deformation induced (HDI) stress and mechanical properties of Cu

“…In general, NS materials were prepared by severe plastic deformation (SPD), such as high-pressure torsion (HPT), accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) and equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) [3][4][5][6][7][8]. However, NS materials exhibit the trade-off between strength and ductility, i.e., high strength and limited ductility [9]. The low ductility of NS materials was attributed to lack of strain hardening [10][11][12][13].…”

Synthesis of Heterostructured Metallic Films with Precisely Defined Multimodal Microstructures

“…Traditionally, these undesirable compromises in properties have been mitigated by tailoring the chemical composition of materials. More recently, researchers have introduced the concept of heterostructured materials, wherein large heterogeneities are deliberately engineered into the microstructure to counter the trade-off in properties. , This design strategy has led to the development of permanent magnets with high energy products, , structural materials with a superior combination of mechanical properties, − and other functional materials with enhanced performance. , …”

“…More recently, researchers have introduced the concept of heterostructured materials, wherein large heterogeneities are deliberately engineered into the microstructure to counter the trade-off in properties. 3,4 This design strategy has led to the development of permanent magnets with high energy products, 5,6 structural materials with a superior combination of mechanical properties, 7−10 and other functional materials with enhanced performance. 11,12 Heterostructured materials, which are composed of domains that vary in size from a few nanometers to several micrometers, encompass a wide range of microstructural designs including multimodal microstructures, 13 gradient microstructures, 14−17 harmonic structures, 18 and hierarchical microstructures.…”