Nanoporous amorphous carbon nanopillars with lightweight, ultrahigh strength, large fracture strain, and high damping capability

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