https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-024-01766-3
http://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/chem/202408/t20240819_683298.shtml
A research team led by Prof. YAN Xuehai from CAS Institute of Process Engineering has pioneered the development of biodegradable, biorecyclable glasses based on cyclic peptides (CPs). To overcome their strong tendency to crystallize, they incorporated a diverse range of CPs to create a high-entropy environment that effectively inhibited crystallization. The CPs underwent a melting-quenching process, where they were heated above their melting points and then rapidly cooled to preserve the disordered conformations in a supercooled liquid state, ultimately leading to the formation of glass.
The resulting HECP glass exhibits enhanced crystallization-resistance, improved mechanical properties, and greater enzyme tolerance. Additionally, HECP glass has already demonstrated the potential to incorporate other functional moieties, such as dyes and nanoparticles, contributing to the design and development of multifunctional, sustainable, non-covalent glasses.