Issue 18, 2017

Materials learning from life: concepts for active, adaptive and autonomous molecular systems

Abstract

Bioinspired out-of-equilibrium systems will set the scene for the next generation of molecular materials with active, adaptive, autonomous, emergent and intelligent behavior. Indeed life provides the best demonstrations of complex and functional out-of-equilibrium systems: cells keep track of time, communicate, move, adapt, evolve and replicate continuously. Stirred by the understanding of biological principles, artificial out-of-equilibrium systems are emerging in many fields of soft matter science. Here we put in perspective the molecular mechanisms driving biological functions with the ones driving synthetic molecular systems. Focusing on principles that enable new levels of functionalities (temporal control, autonomous structures, motion and work generation, information processing) rather than on specific material classes, we outline key cross-disciplinary concepts that emerge in this challenging field. Ultimately, the goal is to inspire and support new generations of autonomous and adaptive molecular devices fueled by self-regulating chemistry.

Graphical abstract: Materials learning from life: concepts for active, adaptive and autonomous molecular systems

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
13 10 2016
First published
30 1 2017

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2017,46, 5588-5619

Materials learning from life: concepts for active, adaptive and autonomous molecular systems

R. Merindol and A. Walther, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2017, 46, 5588 DOI: 10.1039/C6CS00738D

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