Simultaneous achievement of lightweight, ultrahigh strength, large fracture strain, and high damping capability is challenging. This study utilizes self-assembled polymeric carbon precursor materials and nano-imprinting lithography to produce nanoporous carbon nanopillars. Nanoporosity significantly reduces mass density (0.66–0.82 g cm³) while maintaining yield and fracture strengths exceeding most engineering materials of similar density. These nanopillars exhibit elastic and plastic behavior with large fracture strain, attributed to a reversible sp²-to-sp³ transition, resulting in high loss factor (up to 0.033). Irreversible sp²-to-sp³ transition enables plastic deformation and large fracture strain (up to 35%). Simulation studies support these findings, showcasing the potential of amorphous carbon as a superior structural nanomaterial.

Zhongyuan Li, Ayush Bhardwaj, Jinlong He, Wenxin Zhang, Thomas T. Tran, Ying Li, Andrew McClung, Sravya Nuguri, James J. Watkins, Seok-Woo Lee