A biomimetic material derived from the hierarchical silica exoskeleton (frustule) of the Coscinodiscus diatom, combining structural and fluid-dynamic functions in one architecture. The three-layer frustule (foramen, honeycomb-like areolae, porous cribrum) is modeled by CAD, validated by finite-element analysis against natural-frustule data, 3D printed and mechanically tested. Hierarchical stacking multiplies stiffness-to-density efficiency by roughly two orders of magnitude over single layers; sweeping pore geometries yields an optimal blend of flexural stiffness, compressive strength, permeability, and light weight for filters, heat exchangers, drug delivery, and lightweight structures.
A materials-science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) study that reverse-engineers the multifunctionality of the Coscinodiscus diatom's hierarchical silica exoskeleton (frustule) and turns it into an engineered ma…