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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Nonequilibrium physics in biology

Life is characterized by a myriad of complex dynamic processes allowing organisms to grow, reproduce, and evolve. Physical approaches for describing systems out of thermodynamic equilibrium have been increasingly applied to living systems, which often exhibit phenomena not found in those traditionally studied in physics. Spectacular advances in experimentation during the last decade or two, for example, in microscopy, single-cell dynamics, in the reconstruction of subcellular and multicellular systems outside of living organisms, and in high throughput data acquisition, have yielded an unprecedented wealth of data on cell dynamics, genetic regulation, and organismal development. These data have motivated the development and refinement of concepts and tools to dissect the physical mechanisms underlying biological processes. Notably, landscape and flux theory as well as active hydrodynamic gel theory have proven useful in this endeavor. Together with concepts and tools developed in other areas of nonequilibrium physics, significant progress has been made in unraveling the principles underlying efficient energy transport in photosynthesis, cellular regulatory networks, cellular movements and organization, embryonic development and cancer, neural network dynamics, population dynamics and ecology, as well as aging, immune responses, and evolution. In this paper, recent advances in nonequilibrium physics are reviewd and their application to biological systems is surveyed. Many of these results are expected to be important cornerstones as the field continues to build our understanding of life.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Volumetric additive manufacturing of silica glass with microscale computed axial lithography

Glass is increasingly desired as a material for manufacturing complex microscopic geometries, from the micro-optics in compact consumer products to microfluidic systems for chemical synthesis and biological analyses. As the size, geometric, surface roughness, and mechanical strength requirements of glass evolve, conventional processing methods are challenged. We introduce microscale computed axial lithography (micro-CAL) of fused silica components, by tomographically illuminating a photopolymer-silica nanocomposite that is then sintered. We fabricated three-dimensional microfluidics with internal diameters of 150 micrometers, free-form micro-optical elements with a surface roughness of 6 nanometers, and complex high-strength trusses and lattice structures with minimum feature sizes of 50 micrometers. As a high-speed, layer-free digital light manufacturing process, micro-CAL can process nanocomposites with high solids content and high geometric freedom, enabling new device structures and applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Backpropagation-based learning with local derivative approximation and memory replay in biologically plausible neural systems

When learning, the brain modifies individual synaptic connections to reach a desired behavior. Animal and human brains have been shown to be incredibly capable of learning complex and varied functions across a wide variety of tasks. In recent years, artificial neural networks, inspired by human and animal brains, have shown great capabilities in learning a wide variety of difficult tasks. However, artificial neural networks primarily teach themselves through the use of backpropagation, a learning method which has no clear analogue within the brain. Additionally, Artificial Neural Networks primarily use continuous activation functions, which differ significantly from the spiking neuronal behavior present in the brain. In this paper, we discuss and demonstrate a biologically plausible learning method that approximates backpropagation through two techniques on Spiking Neural Networks. First, we show that the local temporal derivatives that are necessary for backpropagation can be approximately recovered through reconstruction using spike timings. Second, we show that through learning during a sleep phase, inspired by neuroscience research into memory replay, the localized parallel feedback path can learn to approximate the derivative through the forward path weight matrix, thus solving the weight transport problem. Lastly, we demonstrate that the combination of these two methods can approach or exceed the accuracy of backpropagation-based methods for a variety of neuromorphic vision tasks while maintaining biological plausibility.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic, Adaptive, Systems and Materials: Complex, Simple and Emergent Behaviors

This program has been funded by DoE/BES for twenty years. It has moved into and out of various subjects as it has developed, but it has retained its focus on complexity and complex systems. The project has evolved in the following way: Self-Assembly and Biomimetic Self-Assembly: All self-assembling systems depend upon a minimum of two types of interaction: a repulsion and an attraction. For the familiar molecular systems, attractive interactions are typically hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. Repulsive interactions include steric effects, hydrophobic effects (in biological systems), and charge-charge repulsion. We have expanded this repertoire to include surface interactions, magnetic interactions, and others. I list these systems in the order in which we have explored them: i) A key emphasis in current work is in understanding how the movement of ions in a magnetic field (the Lorentz effect) interacts with catalytic systems. We have demonstrated that an acceleration in rate of reduction of CO 2 to CO can be accomplished by applying an external magnetic field. This acceleration is largely due to the application of the Lorentz effect on mass transport at the catalyst’s surface. ii) We have also extensively explored the influence of electrostatics, as exhibited in self-assembling systems, by tribocharging. iii) Another key system involves surface tension effects; examples include interactions between heavy particles floating at a liquid-air interface, and interacting by changes in surface area; interactions of bubbles and bubble rafts, behaviors of bubble trains in microfluidic networks, and behaviors of microorganisms in constraining environments. iv) This work has intentionally de-emphasized biological systems; but it does include some work on protein-ligand interactions and interactions among microorganisms. v) We have also explored applications of some of these effects, these explorations include bubble rafts as diffraction gratings, exploration of the structures that can be obtained by tribocharging and uses of these structures in exploring nucleation and melting of crystals. vi) Although not a major focus of this work, several other topics have emerged and offer opportunities for future work. These include the behavior of bubble trains and bubble rafts in microfluidic systems. A particularly interesting example is the formation of bubble trains that repeat in the alteration of large and small bubbles according to rules we do not presently understand, but are uniquely large-period oscillating systems. These systems offer a new route into understanding the instabilities of the type represented by oscillations. vii) We have also begun exploratory projects on magnetic levitation (especially to determine molecular density), and information storage (in molecules). Magnetic Levitation: Self-assembling and biomimetic systems require both attraction and repulsion. We have used electrostatics (tribocharging), interfacial free-energies (surface tension and related forces) and others. Potential uses include reconfigurable diffraction gratings and liquid lenses; exploration of mechanisms in tribocharging; tunneling in EGaIn junctions; and bubble trains (especially in micro-fluidic systems). Examples of systems representing these topics is included in the following papers: Complexity: Disks rotating at a water-air interface; Benard-Marangoni effects; Vortex-Crystals from spinning magnetic disks (Marangoni effects); EGaIn Electrode to study quantum tunneling; Self-Assembly of electrostatically-charged metallic spheres (electrets); Dynamically reconfigurable lens; Using computational designs of ligands for enzymes; Electrostatic self-assembly by tribocharging; Monodisperse bubble trains in microchannel systems; Inverted dripping faucet; Flames; Printing of micro-organisms to regenerate the “ink” of printing device; Using micro-organisms to move loads (“microoxen”); Motion of bacterial swarms near surfaces; Making monodisperse particles in microfluidic systems; Coding/decoding of information stored in droplet trains in microfluidic networks; Magnetic levitation; and Information storage. i) Tribocharging. The change in focus of this work on electrets from the fundamentals of charging to applications of these materials in studying self-assembly using electrostatic interactions. ii) Bubbles in Microchannels. The realization that systems of bubbles in microchannels represented a major opportunity to study complexity in a very tractable system, and the development of a semi-quantitative theory of this subject. iii) Flames. The growth of “flames” remains an exploratory subject for the research, although their currently relatively little active work involving it ongoing. iv) Systems with Microorganisms. The removal of work in biological systems from this project. Based on work supported in this program, we now have a significant project on the development of microfluidic tools for studying C. elegans (a nematode), but this work was not appropriate for a program focused on complexity, and we developed separate support for it. (It is, however, an example of successful seeding of a new area by BES.) The work on electrets has gone through a period in which a part of the program was the subject of a MURI; the focus of this work was to develop materials that did not charge electrostatically on friction or contact. The MURI is now over, and the work on dynamic self-assembly (supported by BES) is the major focus. “Flames” has also enjoyed synergistic support, in terms of a project supported by DARPA on flame suppression (in the absence of extinguishing agents, using acoustic and electrostatic interactions). This work was helpful in understanding some of the basics of flames, but is entirely distinct from the BES focus in complexity. A growing interest is in the Lorentz effect. The Lorentz effect is the force exerted on charged particles (electrons, ions, charged molecules) when they move through a perpendicular magnetic field. The Lorentz effect is almost ubiquitous in modern technology: examples of applications include electric motors, dynamos, cathode ray tubes, many batteries, and most systems that control electrical currents with magnetic forces. We have begun to explore the Lorentz effect in electrochemical systems and heterogeneous catalytic systems involving charged organic species and inorganic ions. This work is still at an early stage, but initial studies that Lorentz effects can be large when ions move through magnetic fields, or magnetic fields move in the presence of ions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Elucidation of complex respiratory chains: a straightforward strategy to monitor electron transfer between cytochromes

Abstract Cytochromes are electron transfer (ET) proteins essential in various biological systems, playing crucial roles in the respiratory chains of bacteria. These proteins are particularly abundant in electrogenic microorganisms and are responsible for the efficient delivery of electrons to the cells’ exterior. The capability of sending electrons outside the cells open new avenues to be explored for emerging biotechnological applications in bioremediation, microbial electrosynthesis, and bioenergy fields. To develop these applications, it is critical to identify the different redox partners and to elucidate the stepwise ET along the respiratory paths. However, investigating direct ET events between proteins with identical features in nearly all spectroscopic techniques is extremely challenging. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy offers the possibility to overcome this difficulty by analysing the alterations of the spectral signatures of each protein caused by electron exchange events. The uncrowded NMR spectral regions containing the heme resonances of the cytochromes display unique and distinct signatures in the reduced and oxidized states, which can be explored to monitor ET within the redox complex. In this study, we present a strategy for a fast and straightforward monitorization of ET between c-type cytochromes, using as model a triheme periplasmic cytochrome and a membrane-associated monoheme cytochrome from the electrogenic bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens. The comparison between the 1D 1H NMR spectra obtained for samples containing the two cytochromes and for samples containing the individual proteins clearly demonstrated a unidirectional ET within the redox complex. This strategy provides a simple and straightforward means to elucidate complex biologic respiratory ET chains.

Morgado, Leonor (ORCID:0000000237605180)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Systems biology markup language (SBML) level 3 package: multistate, multicomponent and multicompartment species, version 1, release 2

Rule-based modeling is an approach that permits constructing reaction networks based on the specification of rules for molecular interactions and transformations. These rules can encompass details such as the interacting sub-molecular domains and the states and binding status of the involved components. Conceptually, fine-grained spatial information such as locations can also be provided. Through “wildcards” representing component states, entire families of molecule complexes sharing certain properties can be specified as patterns. This can significantly simplify the definition of models involving species with multiple components, multiple states, and multiple compartments. The systems biology markup language (SBML) Level 3 Multi Package Version 1 extends the SBML Level 3 Version 1 core with the “type” concept in the Species and Compartment classes. Therefore, reaction rules may contain species that can be patterns and exist in multiple locations. Multiple software tools such as Simmune and BioNetGen support this standard that thus also becomes a medium for exchanging rule-based models. This document provides the specification for Release 2 of Version 1 of the SBML Level 3 Multi package. No design changes have been made to the description of models between Release 1 and Release 2; changes are restricted to the correction of errata and the addition of clarifications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Crystallization pathways and interfacial drivers for the formation of hierarchical architectures

The development of structural hierarchy on various length scales during crystallization process is ubiquitous in biological systems and is also observed in synthetic nanomaterials. The driving forces for the formations of complex architectures range from local interfacial interactions, that modify interfacial speciation, local supersaturation, and nucleation barriers, to macroscopic interparticle forces. Although it is enticing to interpret the formation of hierarchical architectures as the assembly of independently nucleated building blocks, often crystallization pathways follow monomer-by-monomer addition with structural complexity arising from interfacial chemical coupling and strongly correlated fluctuation dynamics in the electric double layers. Here, the mechanism of the development of structural hierarchy through heterogeneous nucleation, coupled interfacial nucleation and assembly, and oriented attachment of independently nucleated particles is discussed. In this article, the emphasis is made on the discussion of the underlying interfacial forces and chemical coupling that drives crystallization pathways towards the formation of structural hierarchy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advancing electrochemical impedance analysis through innovations in the distribution of relaxation times method

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a key tool across various scientific disciplines, including energy sciences, chemistry, and biology, enabling the analysis of electrochemical systems. However, conventional methods for interpreting EIS data are often complex and model dependent. The distribution of relaxation times (DRT) offers a non-parametric approach that simplifies the interpretation process by providing a timescale interpretation of EIS data. This article provides a comprehensive review of current methods for DRT inversion. Additionally, a survey of practitioners highlights key challenges in the field. Here, the findings underscore the need for standardized DRT analysis and benchmarks, as well as the development of automated analysis tools. These advancements would improve the usability and interpretability of EIS data. Ultimately, implementing these improvements could not only propel the field forward but also expand the application of DRT in scientific research by making it accessible to a broader range of researchers, including those without specialized expertise in programming or statistics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Photochemical micromotor of eccentric core in isotropic hollow shell exhibiting multimodal motion behavior

Adaptive motion behavior in response to different environmental stimuli is ubiquitous in biology and enables creatures to achieve a diversity of complex tasks, but not typically observed in synthetic systems. In this report we propose a design of chemically-powered micromotors actively performing multimodal motion behaviors with the external stimulus changing. They have isotropic outer surfaces but inherent inner mass asymmetry, such as eccentric core-in-hollow shell TiO 2 (E-TiO 2 ) microspheres. Their motion behavior can be spontaneously transformed among random Brownian propulsion (stochastic walk), negative phototaxis (moving against incident light), and negative photogravitaxis (moving against gravity) when the light intensity, illumination direction, or fuel concentration change. At a low light intensity and/or low H 2 O 2 fuel concentration, the E-TiO 2 micromotors perform directional movement away from light based on the dominated diffusiophoresis by the photocatalytic reaction over the isotropic shell. With the increase of light intensity or fuel concentration, there are more and more photons or fuels to reach the eccentric core and the contribution of the photocatalytic reaction over it to the diffusiophoresis gradually becomes dominant. In this case, the E-TiO 2 micromotors perform stochastic walks near the substrate due to their Brownian random rotational reorientations. The micromotors are single component, have low density, and can be synthesized in a large scale and at a low cost. This work will facilitate the development of multifunctional micro/nanomotors with varying behaviors and functions depending on environmental cues, e.g., enabling efficient search and delivery operations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Optogenetics and biosensors set the stage for metabolic cybergenetics

We report cybergenetic systems use computer interfaces to enable feed-back controls over biological processes in real time. The complex and dynamic nature of cellular metabolism makes cybergenetics attractive for controlling engineered metabolic pathways in microbial fermentations. Cybergenetics would not only create new avenues of research into cellular metabolism, it would also enable unprecedented strategies for pathway optimization and bioreactor operation and automation. Implementation of metabolic cybergenetics, however, will require new capabilities from actuators, biosensors, and control algorithms. The recent application of optogenetics in metabolic engineering, the expanding role of genetically encoded biosensors in strain development, and continued progress in control algorithms for biological processes suggest that this technology will become available in the not so distant future.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Solvation directed morphological control in metal oxide nanostructures

The development of structural hierarchy on various length scales during the crystallization process is ubiquitous in biological systems and minerals and is common in synthetic nanomaterials. The driving forces for the formation of complex architectures range from local interfacial interactions, that modify interfacial speciation, local supersaturation, and nucleation barriers, to macroscopic interparticle forces. Although it is enticing to interpret the formation of hierarchical architectures as the assembly of independently nucleated building blocks, crystallization pathways often follow monomer-by-monomer addition with structural complexity arising from interfacial chemical coupling and strongly correlated fluctuation dynamics in the electric double layers. Here, we show that the development of structural hierarchy through heterogeneous nucleation is driven by dipolar and solvation forces. Specifically, coupled simulations and experimental studies revealed that dipole build-up along the slow growth direction can trigger twinning and the development of branched architectures. Enthalpic solvation interactions were shown to either enhance or reduce the dipole moment of the nanoparticles and, thereby, control crystal morphology and architecture. The systematic studies of chemical coupling between different solvents and undercoordinated surface atoms of the growing nanocrystals revealed the mechanism of dimensionality control and the development of structural hierarchy without ligands or structure-directing agents.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Double and Charge-Transfer Excitations in Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory

Time-dependent density functional theory has emerged as a method of choice for calculations of spectra and response properties in physics, chemistry, and biology, with its system-size scaling enabling computations on systems much larger than otherwise possible. While increasingly complex and interesting systems have been successfully tackled with relatively simple functional approximations, there has also been increasing awareness that these functionals tend to fail for certain classes of approximations. Here I review the fundamental challenges the approximate functionals have in describing double excitations and charge-transfer excitations, which are two of the most common impediments for the theory to be applied in a black-box way. At the same time, I describe the progress made in recent decades in developing functional approximations that give useful predictions for these excitations.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2025

Human Coronavirus-229E Hijacks Key Host-Cell RNA-Processing Complexes for Replication

The recent rise in zoonotic coronavirus outbreaks underscores the urgency to understand virus-host interactions and develop potent antiviral therapeutics. Systems biology approaches, particularly proteomics have been invaluable in providing a global overview of such interactions. However, these conventional approaches rely on measuring protein abundance changes which don’t reflect functional shifts. In this study, we employed a high-throughput structural proteomics approach called limited proteolysis-based mass spectrometry (LiP-MS) to capture conformational changes, which we demonstrate are better proxies for functional alterations. We applied this tool to both immortalized and primary human lung cells following human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) infection. We identified significant infection-induced structural changes within RNA processing complexes such as the spliceosome-C and NOP56-associated complex. These observations emphasize that HCoV-229E infection propagates a multi-pronged effort to obstruct the house keeping RNA processing functions in the host. Finally, we show that HCoV-229E replication can be attenuated by the targeted disruption of these complexes, indicating that the identified cellular factories are viable targets to prevent coronavirus infection.

coronavirus↗
DOE OSTI2025

BCARS Simulated Phantom Dataset for Evaluation of Processing Pipelines

Broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) microscopy is a powerful label-free biological imaging technique, but the raw signal requires careful processing. The vibrationally resonant (Raman) fingerprint signal is usually small compared with instrumental noise sources and the nonresonant background (NRB) inherent in the BCARS signal. Fortunately, the NRB exhibits a systematic phase relationship with the coherent Raman response, acting as a heterodyne amplifier for the weak fingerprint signal. Due to this heterodyne effect, the Raman response can be recovered quantitatively and invariantly across different instruments, provided the NRB shape is known. Even with heterodyne amplification, the amplitudes of fingerprint signal components are often comparable to system noise. Singular value decomposition (SVD), which utilizes spatial information, is often employed for additional noise filtering. Consequently, finding optimal processing parameters to properly distinguish the NRB and Raman responses and suppress noise in the complex BCARS signal requires a reference system that realistically represents the spectral and spatial properties of BCARS signals obtained from biological samples. We present a digital tissue phantom that meets these criteria as a tool for testing candidate signal processing pipelines. The digital phantom is generated with simulated hyperspectral Raman images having system-specific noise and background characteristics. Here, we analyze phantom datasets with differing background and signal-to-noise conditions to evaluate their impact on the performance of multiple signal processing pipelines. Specifically, we investigate the application of a Butterworth filter-based routine to directly estimate the NRB from the BCARS signal. Additionally, we evaluate a Lorentzian wavelet transform as an alternative to the Hilbert transform for extracting the Raman spectrum from the BCARS signal. While we demonstrate this phantom for BCARS, it can be used for any spectroscopic Raman imaging approach.

Dixon, Jessica Z. [Georgia Institute of Technology↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Bioinspired Multicomponent Catalytic System for Converting Carbon Dioxide into Methanol Autocatalytically

Nature utilizes multicomponent catalyst systems to convert simple, abundant starting materials to complex molecules that are essential for life. In contrast, synthetic chemical transformations rarely adopt this strategy because the sophisticated supramolecular assemblies used by biology for active site separation and substrate trafficking are difficult to replicate. Herein, a method is described for multicomponent catalyst separation that involves encapsulating transition metal complexes in nanoporous materials called metal-organic frameworks. The multicomponent catalyst system was highly active for converting hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methanol, and it could be formulated so that it is readily recyclable. Moreover, an autocatalytic feature was uncovered that was only made possible by utilizing the multicomponent catalyst strategy employed. Furthermore, these results open avenues for obtaining fuel from abundant and renewable resources.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

Influence of aluminum incorporation and aqueous conditions on metal ion release of high-Ni transition metal oxide nanomaterials

Developing a materials perspective of how to control the degradation and negative impact of complex metal oxides requires an integrated understanding of how these nanomaterials transform in the environment and interact with biological systems. Doping with aluminum is known to stabilize oxide materials, but has not been assessed cohesively from synthesis to environmental fate and biological impact. In the present study, the influence of aluminum doping on metal ion release from transition metal oxides was investigated by comparing aqueous transformations of lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNi 0.82 Co 0.15 Al 0.03 O 2 ; NCA) and lithium nickel cobalt oxide (LiNi 0.80 Co 0.20 O 2 ; NC) nanoparticles and by calculating the energetics of metal release using a density functional theory (DFT) and thermodynamics method. Two model environmental organisms were used to assess biological impact, and metal ion release was compared for NCA and NC nanoparticles incubated in their respective growth media: moderately hard reconstituted water (MHRW) for the freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna (D. magna) and minimal growth medium for the Gram-negative bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (S. oneidensis). Further, the amount of metal ions released was reduced for NCA compared to NC in MHRW, which correlated to changes in the modeled energetics of release upon Al substitution in the lattice. In minimal medium, metal ion release was approximately an order of magnitude higher compared to MHRW and was similar to the stoichiometry of the bulk nanoparticles for both NCA and NC. Interpretation of the release profiles and modeling indicated that the increase in total metal ion release and the reduced influence of Al doping arises from lactate complexation of metal ions in solution. The relative biological impacts of NC and NCA exposure for both S. oneidensis and D. magna were consistent with the metal release trends observed for minimal medium and MHRW, respectively. Together, these results demonstrate how a combined experimental and computational approach provides valuable insight into the aqueous transformations and biological impacts of complex metal oxide nanoparticles.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Structural insights into the assembly and the function of the plant oxidative phosphorylation system

One of the key functions of mitochondria is the production of ATP to support cellular metabolism and growth. The last step of mitochondrial ATP synthesis is performed by the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system, an ensemble of protein complexes embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In the last 25 yr, many structures of OXPHOS complexes and supercomplexes have been resolved in yeast, mammals, and bacteria. However, structures of plant OXPHOS enzymes only became available very recently. In this review, we highlight the plant-specific features revealed by the recent structures and discuss how they advance our understanding of the function and assembly of plant OXPHOS complexes. Here we also propose new hypotheses to be tested and discuss older findings to be re-evaluated. Further biochemical and structural work on the plant OXPHOS system will lead to a deeper understanding of plant respiration and its regulation, with significant agricultural, environmental, and societal implications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Designing Sequence-Defined Peptoids for Biomimetic Control over Inorganic Crystallization

Crystallization defines what the world is all about, ranging from biomineralization in living organisms to various materials in our lives. During these processes, biomineralization set a superexcellent example of the additive-controlled crystallization. However, the high complexity and low stability of peptides and proteins preclude their wide applications in controlling inorganic crystallization beyond the biological systems. Peptoids are one type of sequence-defined biomimetic polymers with a simple structure, high stability, protein-like molecular recognition, and distinctive self-assembly properties. They provide a promising alternative to mimic peptides and proteins for controlling inorganic crystallization and extend its application to predictive materials synthesis. In this review article, we extract the main concepts of peptoid engineering and highlight the recent advances in peptoid-controlled inorganic crystallization. Our focus is to understand the principles of sequence engineering that lead to the predictable physiochemical properties of these substances, which will give insights into other inorganic systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗