Scientists from Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, along with a colleague from California Institute of Technology, have accidentally discovered a glass that could change glass forever. They found that mixing a specific peptide with water creates an optically clear, self-healing glass.
They were working with a dipeptide molecule (consisting of two phenylalanine residues). When they mixed the molecule with water, they discovered that as the water evaporated at room temperature, it created a self-assembling type of supramolecular amorphous glass.
Usually, peptides create materials with a crystalline structure, which would not be usable as glass. But as surprising as the clarity was, they found that it was just as strong as regular glass too. As they adjusted the water content, they discovered that they can adjust how strong/brittle the glass is. While the brittle glass broke easily, they found that when left in a damp environment, the glass began to heal itself, leaving no evidence whatsoever of the previous damage!
The researchers claim this new glass can be used to make panes as well as for optical lenses. Similar to how acrylic can be used in the acrylic bonding process, this formula can be used to glue glass together. And to top it off, the production uses far less energy than traditional glass, making it an eco-friendly option.
This has the potential to revolutionize glass aquariums. It’s currently close to impossible to fix a scratch in glass. If you’ve ever tried to remediate scratches using cerium oxide, you know what I’m talking about. Imagine scratching your tank and having it heal itself overnight.
Read the full paper here.
