Materials inspired by nature: Advances and challenges in Biomimetics

Published: October 13, 2023

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Author: Mayuly Rodriguez, October 12, 2023

Introduction

At the confluence between sustainability and innovation is Biomimetics , an emerging and promising field that is dedicated to exploring how the patterns and strategies inherent in nature can be emulated to develop innovative materials . This exciting intersection of disciplines not only has the potential to revolutionize the way we conceptualize and manufacture materials, but also offers sustainable solutions to the challenges we face in the current era.

Biomimetics: a concept that inspires

This discipline from an etymological approach, originates from “bios”, life and “mimesis”, imitate and means “to imitate life.” In this sense, Biomimicry stands out as one of the most sensible solutions, because it explores how humans with imaginative and efficient strategies manage to reproduce the processes, systems and elements of nature to solve complex problems, improve sustainability and promote innovation. in multiple sectors, ensuring survival and durability.

This science opens the way to give rise not only to new bioinspired technologies, but also aims to change the relationship of the human species with the natural environment, through innovative and effective solutions, making efficient use of resources and demonstrating the ability to continually adapt. .

American Janine M. Benyus, a writer and innovation consultant in the natural sciences, is recognized for coining the term Biomimicry. After writing about wildlife and animal behavior, Benyus defined Biomimicry as design and problem solving intentionally inspired by nature. His work, “Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature” (1997), is notable for developing the basic thesis that human beings should consciously emulate the genius of nature in their designs ¹ .

Bioinspired design

It is widely recognized as a biology-based methodology to drive innovation in design and engineering. Although this perspective leverages an understanding of natural systems to find solutions, it is essential to distinguish between bioinspired approaches that are purely evaluative and those that are regenerative.

Aunque esta ciencia se categoriza como un diseño bioinspirado, no todos estos diseños son necesariamente biomiméticos. Existen tres términos utilizados para describir las formas de relacionar los sistemas biológicos y con los diseños humanos. A continuación, se describen de forma resumida:

Biomorphism: Visually it is similar to nature
Bioutilization: Refers to the use of nature
Biomimicry: It works like nature

How does nature inspire progress?

This complex, self-contained system, with its intrinsic elegance and high efficiency, is a source of constant inspiration. Biological structures, refined and perfected over millennia of evolution, offer valuable perspectives for the creation of more robust, flexible and adaptive materials to current needs. Each organism, from the microscopic complexity of a microbe to the majesty of giant sequoias , contains secrets that are being revealed and applied in various industries.

The essence does not lie in copying the ecosystem, but in replicating or being inspired by it. The approach consists of exploring answers to the question: What would nature do in a specific situation? The inspiration from the natural world is based on; the identification of a characteristic of some living being in the natural environment and from there trying to generate technological development; on the other hand, starting from a problem that it has, looking for ideas in the natural environment that can solve it.

Today, nature continues to be a genesis of creative inspiration for new technological developments in various fields, because there is no industrial sector where the natural environment does not contribute to the potential of its processes and systems.

Development of innovative materials under this science

Biomimicry has inspired the creation of a variety of materials, taking advantage of principles and structures found in the natural world. It is practically unfeasible to cover all or even a considerable amount, but some of these include:

Hydrophobic: Taking inspiration from various plants and animals that have surfaces that repel water.
Self-cleaning: Inspired by lotus leaves, they have a microstructured surface that repels water and dirt particles.
Adhesives: Developed taking the legs of geckos as a reference, which allow these animals to adhere to vertical surfaces and even walk on the ceiling.
Aerodynamic: Based on the characteristics of the wings of birds and other flying animals to improve flight efficiency.
Light and resistant structural: Inspired by complex natural structures such as bones, which are strong and resistant despite being light.
That change color: Inspired by animals such as the chameleon or squid, which can change color to camouflage themselves in their environment.
With self-repair properties: Created with the ability of living organisms to heal wounds and restore their functionality.
With thermal control: Inspired by animals that have biological mechanisms to regulate temperature, such as certain species of birds and mammals.
Elastic but strong fibers: similar to that of spider webs, with an elasticity that allows a wide variety of applications
With anti-reflective properties: based on moth eyes that absorb light

Biomimetic Applications

With the arrival of the new millennium, a new wave of innovation is unleashed in which distinguished advances emerge in the integration of biomimetics with materials science, benefiting the global industry. The following stand out:

In the aeronautical industry, the analysis and emulation of bird wings has inspired more efficient and adaptive designs.
The energy industry is developing sustainable methods for extracting natural gas, inspired by how trees extract water from the ground through a network of capillaries, in order to reduce the environmental and health impacts associated with traditional methods such as fracking . .
The unique structure of whale fins has inspired innovations in turbine and vessel design, thanks to the observation and adaptation of their irregular and rounded edges that promote efficiency and noise reduction.
The anatomy of dragonflies, known for their acrobatic flight and ability to move in multiple directions with agility, inspires the design of helicopter propellers in engineering and robotics, making these means of transportation more versatile and agile. It also inspired the development of drones.
Electric vehicles that imitate photosynthesis, plants only require water and sun to survive, taking this biological reality as inspiration. With its entire exterior covered with solar cells, the car would not need any other source of energy other than sunlight, which together with water would imitate the photosynthesis of plants to produce energy through electrolysis of water which would generate hydrogen which would be the fuel to move this wonder
Boat covers, inspired by the plumage of penguins.
Infrared yaros detectors, based on the sensors of a beetle.
Robotic arms inspired by an elephant’s trunk.

Every discovery and design in this field not only highlights innovation, but also emphasizes a return to a harmonious coexistence with nature.

Ethical challenges and considerations

The path towards the full integration of biomimetics is covered with challenges; such as the complexity in accurately imitating nature due to its intricate designs and processes, the lack of advanced technology, and the need to ensure sustainability and scale-up production of biomimetic materials and designs.

Regarding ethics and biodiversity, they cover arguments of intellectual property, bioethics, human responsibility, and the importance of respecting and preserving biodiversity and ecosystems, mitigating ecological impact and ensuring a comprehensive approach in the implementation of biomimetics.

The role of professionals and businessmen

This discipline represents a great opportunity for professionals and entrepreneurs to set the standard in innovation and sustainability. Supported by advances in artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, leaders in this field are not only driving the creation of innovative materials and designs, but are also committed to an ecologically conscious future.

In this sense, economics and ecology converge, and biomimetics emerges as a key strategy for growth that is both technologically advanced and respectful of the planet. It is an intersection of science, ethics and business where innovation is aligned with environmental responsibility for a more equitable future.

Conclusions

Biomimetics emerges as a strength of innovation, uniting advanced engineering with the unexplored secrets of nature. This combination of the creation of materials and technologies is not only avant-garde, but also sustainable. Each product and solution derived from this science denotes a technological advance and a deep commitment to environmental preservation, signaling an era where technology and the natural ecosystem not only coexist, but enhance each other.

Industries such as energy, materials, architecture, transportation and robotics are emerging as key sectors for the integration of biomimetics in the near future. It is evident that the influence of nature in the optimization of processes and systems is relevant, touching almost every sphere of production and industrial development.