A Self-Healing Multispectral Transparent Adhesive Peptide Glass

Despite its disordered liquid-like structure, glass exhibits solid-like mechanical<br/>properties. The formation of glassy material occurs by vitrification, preventing<br/>crystallization and promoting an amorphous structure. Glass is fundamental in<br/>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. <br/>Here we report the discovery of a supramolecular amorphous glass formed by the<br/>spontaneous self-organization of the short aromatic tripeptide YYY initiated by<br/>non-covalent cross-linking with structural water. This system uniquely combines<br/>often contradictory sets of properties; it is highly rigid yet can undergo complete<br/>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 midinfrared.<br/>This exceptional set of characteristics is observed in a simple bioorganic<br/>peptide glass composed of natural amino acids, presenting a multi-functional material that could be highly advantageous for various applications in science and engineering.