Nanoporous Energy Absorption Systems

In a system consisting of hydrophobic nanoporous materials immersed in water, as the pressure increases the water can be forced into the nanopores, accompanied by a large increase in system free energy. As the pressure is reduced, however, in some nanoporous materials the defiltration is difficult and thus the excess solid-liquid interface energy can be regarded as being absorbed. Due to the ultrahigh surface area of the nanoporous material, the energy absorption efficiency of this system can be higher than that of conventional protection materials by orders of magnitude. This phenomenon has great potential in developing advanced energy absorption and damping systems such as soldier armors, protection layers, blast resistant containers, etc.