2024-06-21 04:00:10
Science sometimes encounters unexpected discoveries that open up new perspectives. This is precisely what happened to a team of Israeli and American scientists, who, by exploring the properties of certain peptides, have put to the test point a new form of glass self-assembling and self-healing. An innovation that could revolutionize many industrial sectors.
It was while studying short peptides that these researchers discovered that adding water to a dipeptide composed of two phenylalanine residues led to the formation of an amorphous supramolecular glass. This discovery was partly accidental, as they sought to use peptides as substitutes for traditional components of complex macromolecules.
Traditionally, the self-assembly of peptides leads to crystalline, non-transparent structures. However, this time, the process took place at room temperature, allowing water to evaporate and form a transparent glass. This unique glass has remarkable properties: it is not only self-assembling, but also self-healing and adhesive. All being extremely rigid and transparent.
The researchers also found that this new type of glass was as strong as traditional glass. It could therefore be used to make windows and hydrophilic coatings. In addition, its properties make it suitable for applications requiring high precision, such as optical lenses for various magnification uses.
The implications of this discovery are vast. The production of this glass requires very little energy compared to conventional glasses, opening the way to environmentally friendly and economical industrial applications. The researchers hope that further testing will reveal even more potential uses for this innovative material.
Finally, the future prospects for this glass are promising, particularly in areas ranging from optics to the manufacture of adhesive and resistant surfaces. This discovery, detailed in Naturecould well mark the beginning ofa new era for the materials transparent.
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