Additive manufacturing of bionic interfaces: From conceptual understanding to renewable energy applications
Xuliang Chen, Annan Chen, Lei Zhang, Hanyang Yu, Zhengyi Mao, Yuhan Chen, Jialun Gu, Chunze Yan, Jian Lü
Abstract
Bionic interfaces exhibit multiscale features with various functions that reduce energy consumption and produce renewable resources to support life, triggering them an emerging area of technological revolution in many disciplines. To improve the design and fabrication flexibility, additive manufacturing (AM) technology has been attempted to achieve multiscale structures and reconstruct biological functions at interfaces. Emerging AM of bionic interfaces has led to substantial advancements in renewable energy applications in recent years, but some challenges remain to be overcome. This review first presents a basic understanding of bionic mechanisms and typical manufacturing techniques especially AM. Subsequently, it emphasizes the latest progress of the bionic interfaces and AM on various renewable energy applications, such as those for wetting-controlled surfaces, energy harvesting, water treatment, batteries, and catalysts. Finally, it discusses some challenges and provides insights on how bionic interfaces and AM provide innovative solutions for next-generation renewable energy applications.