Ultra-Strong, Ultra-Tough, Transparent, and Sustainable Nanocomposite Films for Plastic Substitute

Plastics play a critical role in daily life but possess a considerably increasing negative impact on the environment and human health. Fabrication of biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives with competitive properties for plastic substitute is urgently needed. Here, inspired by the hierarchical structure of nacre, we firstly developed a high-performance nacre-inspired composite with high transmittance (83.4% at 550 nm) and high haze (88.8% at 550 nm) via an aerosol-assisted biosynthesis process combined with the hot-press technique. The nacre-inspired composite film combines higher strength (482 MPa) and toughness (17.71 MJ m−3) than most other nacre-inspired films, and can be folded into various shapes without visible failure after unfolding. Moreover, compared with most commercial plastic films, it exhibits a lower thermal expansion coefficient (∼3 ppm K−1) and higher maximum service temperature besides better mechanical properties, which makes it a promising alternative to plastics in many technical fields.