A team of researchers from the Nanojunning Group at the Grafen Center in Cambridge has recently developed a new theory of materials inspired by the intricate structures of natural leaves. This new concept, known as the “Universal Law of Murray”, focuses on designing porous materials to enhance mass transmission efficiency.
The original “Murray Law” was introduced in 1926 by Cesil D. Murray and explained how natural vascular systems like animal blood vessels and plant veins efficiently transport fluids with minimal energy expenditure. However, applying this law to synthetic materials posed challenges due to the diverse shapes of pores.
To address this issue, the researchers expanded the principles of the “Murray Law” to encompass various types of transport mechanisms such as laminar flow, diffusion, and ion migration. This evolution resulted in the creation of the “universal law of Murray”, making it applicable to pores of any shape.
The team tested the practical implications and research principles of the “Universal Law of Murray” on Aerogel from Grafen, a material known for its high porosity. By manipulating the growth of ice crystals, the researchers could control the size and shape of pores, confirming that microchannels aligned with this law offer minimal resistance to fluid flow.
Furthermore, the researchers demonstrated the tangible benefits of this new law by optimizing a porous gas sensor. The sensor, developed using the principles of the “Universal Law of Murray”, exhibited a significantly quicker response time compared to sensors constructed using traditional methods, showcasing the efficacy and applicability of this innovative theory.
The findings of this study, which were published in the journal Nature Communications, hold promise for the future development of functional materials that could be utilized in areas such as enhanced energy storage, catalysis, and sensory applications.