Despite its disordered liquid-like structure, glass exhibits solid-like mechanical properties. The formation of glassy material occurs by vitrification, preventing crystallization and promoting an amorphous structure. Glass is fundamental in diverse fields of materials science, owing to its unique optical, chemical and mechanical properties as well as durability, versatility and environmental sustainability. However, engineering a glassy material without compromising its properties is challenging. Here we report the discovery of a supramolecular amorphous glass formed by the spontaneous self-organization of the short aromatic tripeptide YYY initiated by non-covalent cross-linking with structural water. This sys... More
Despite its disordered liquid-like structure, glass exhibits solid-like mechanical properties. The formation of glassy material occurs by vitrification, preventing crystallization and promoting an amorphous structure. Glass is fundamental in diverse fields of materials science, owing to its unique optical, chemical and mechanical properties as well as durability, versatility and environmental sustainability. However, engineering a glassy material without compromising its properties is challenging. Here we report the discovery of a supramolecular amorphous glass formed by the spontaneous self-organization of the short aromatic tripeptide YYY initiated by non-covalent cross-linking with structural water. This system uniquely combines often contradictory sets of properties; it is highly rigid yet can undergo complete self-healing at room temperature. Moreover, the supramolecular glass is an extremely strong adhesive yet it is transparent in a wide spectral range from visible to mid-infrared. This exceptional set of characteristics is observed in a simple bioorganic peptide glass composed of natural amino acids, presenting a multi-functional material that could be highly advantageous for various applications in science and engineering.
