High-strength, lightweight nano-architected silica

Continuous nanolattices are an emerging class of mechanical meta materials that are highly attractive due to their superior strength to-weight ratios, which originate from their spatial architectures and nanoscale-sized elements possessing near-theoretical strength. Rational design of frameworks remains challenging below 50 nm because of limited methods to arrange small elements into complex architectures. Here, we fabricate silica frameworks with & DBLBOND;4-to 20-nm-thick elements using self-assembly and silica templating of DNA origami nanolattices and perform in situ micro-compression testing to examine the mechanical properties. We observe strong effects of lattice dimensions on yield strength (sy) and failure mode. Silica nanolattices are found to exhibit yield strengths higher than those of any known engineering materials with similar mass density. The robust coordination of the nanothin and strong silica elements leads to the combination of lightweight and high-strength framework materials offering an effective strategy for the fabrication of nanoarchitected materials with superior mechanical properties.

Automated summary

Continuous nanolattices are promising mechanical meta materials with high strength to-weight ratios. The fabrication of silica frameworks using DNA origami nanolattices demonstrates the potential of lightweight and high-strength nanoarchitected materials.