Materials Science
Superelasticity in micro/nanostructured materials
Authors: Fucheng Li, Shuai Ren, Weijie Xie, Yanhui Liu & Yong Yang
Journal: NPG Asia Materials | Published: December 2, 2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41427-026-00631-0
Superelasticity, defined as reversible strain greater than 1%, is highly desirable for diverse applications including medical care, transportation, and daily life. While conventional rigid materials have limited elasticity, advanced materials like amorphous alloys and shape memory alloys demonstrate enhanced elastic strain. This review explores how micro/nanostructuring rigid materials, including metals and covalent materials, significantly boosts superelastic properties. It examines size effects on elasticity, how small-sized superelastic materials form complex micro/nanostructures and nanocomposites, and summarizes their transformative potential in fields such as nanotechnology and structural engineering.
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Unprecedented Elastic Strain in Nanomaterials
Remarkable advancements show that reducing material dimensions to the micro- or nano-scale, coupled with defect-free structures, significantly increases elasticity. For instance, defect-scarce single-crystalline silicon nanowires have demonstrated elastic strain limits as high as 16%, pushing towards theoretical limits and surpassing bulk material capabilities.
16% Max Strain (Si Nanowires)Engineering Superelastic Micro/Nanostructures
Three primary strategies drive the creation of superelastic micro/nanostructured materials, allowing precise control over mechanical properties and functionality.
Origami/Kirigami Patterning (Top-Down)
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Braiding Nanowires/Nanolayers (Network Architectures)
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Constructing Architectural Frameworks (Hollow Tubes)
| Materials | Fabrication Methods | Matrix | Nanoprecipitates | Reversible Strain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ni-Ti-Nb | Phase-separation | B2-NiTi polycrystalline | BCC Nb nanowires (~60nm) | >6% |
| Ni-Ti-V | Phase-separation | B2 austenite nanocrystalline | B19' Martensite nanodomains (6.4 nm) | 3-6% |
| Ni-Ti-Fe | Crystallization | Amorphous | B2-TiNi(Fe) nanocrystalline (9-10 nm) | 7% |
| Ni-Co-Fe-Gd | Disordering | NiCoFeGa single crystals with L2₁ cubic austenitic structure | ω-like structure | 15.2% |
| ZrCuNiAl metallic | Oxidation | Amorphous | Amorphous ZrO₂ | 14% |
| Ceramic reinforced metal composites | Hot pressing | Al | Ce-doped ZrO2 particles (~480 nm) | Not specified |
| Mg-NiTi | 3D printing +melt infiltration | NiTi scaffold | Mg precipitates | 4-6% |
Broad Impact Across Industries
Superelastic micro/nanostructured materials are poised to revolutionize various sectors due to their exceptional deformability and recovery. From next-generation electronics to advanced medical devices, their unique properties enable breakthrough innovations.
- Nanotechnology & Flexible Electronics: Critical for MEMS/NEMS, artificial e-skin, flexible touch sensors, and wearable health monitors, allowing for durable and adaptable device designs.
- Biomedical Applications: Used in orthodontic braces, vascular stents, medical tweezers, and implants, offering superior performance and biocompatibility.
- Aerospace & Automotive: Enable advanced structural components, vibration dampers, and artificial muscles for next-generation aircraft and vehicles.
- Sports & Robotics: Found in high-performance sports equipment (e.g., baseball bats, fishing lines) and sophisticated micro/nano-robots with excellent flexibility and stimuli-response.
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