Nacre-inspired composites with different macroscopic dimensions: strategies for improved mechanical performance and applications

In this review, we overview the recent achievements in synthesis of high performance nacre-inspired macroscopic composites and divide them into different groups by standards of different dimensions, such as 1D nacre-inspired fibers, 2D nacre-inspired films and 3D nacre-inspired bulk composites. The methods to produce different dimensional nacre-inspired composites are also introduced and performance enhanced strategies for different dimensional nacre-inspired composites are summarized and explained in detail. Applications of high mechanical performance nacre-inspired composites are also summarized. A critical outlook for next-generation light-weight and high performance materials is proposed.