"New Mechanical Metamaterials Absorb Ultra-High Energy"

Chinese researchers have used ion track technology to fabricate a new type of quasi-body centered cubic (quasi-BCC) beam nanolattice mechanical metamaterial with a record low beam diameter of 34 nm. The gold and copper quasi-BCC beam nanolattices have excellent energy absorption capacity and compressive strength, with the copper quasi-BCC beam nanolattice exceeding the previously reported beam nanolattice. The extraordinary mechanical properties are mainly due to the synergistic effect of size effects, quasi-BCC geometry, and good ductility of metals.