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Biomimetism : innovating is only natural !
Biomimetism is a three-stage process :
- detecting phenomena specific to certain natural materials ;
- understanding the link between the physicochemical nature and structure of such a material on the one hand and the property it expresses on the other ;
- lastly, reproducing it using the methods, chemical among others, for the development of materials. One knows the example of non-wettable surfaces, inspired by the rugged relief of water lily leaves and used to produce materials that are easier to clean.
Driven by environmental concerns, the notion of "just enough", which was the prerogative of natural materials, has recently come into play : using only the raw materials and energy absolutely necessary to develop the material. Thus diatoms are microscopic algae that only use the molecules of silicic acid diluted in sea water to build their glass skeleton, without any energy input from heat. The sol-gel [1] glass-making process is directly inspired from this. For example, it allows windows and photovoltaic panels to be provided with anti-reflection coatings that let in more light.
Further, biology reaches into the chemistry laboratories. Using its specific chemistry and the self-assembly methods for which it is an expert, it will become possible to produce fake wood with all the characteristics and nuances of real wood, and even unbreakable or self-repairing materials.
Laboratoire Photons Et Matière, CNRS- ESPCI Paris-Université Paris 6
- Le lotus, de la spiritualité à l’hypertechnologie (extrait)
Réalisation : François-Xavier Vives - Production : Le Miroir, CNRS Images, ARTE France et MNHN (2010)
[1] A sol-gel process allows vitreous materials to be made without resorting to high temperature fusion but using the polymerization of precursors in solution.
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