Researchers create a new shock-resistant material inspired by the mantis shrimp's exoskeleton

Certain creatures have unique microstructures in their exoskeletons that enable them to withstand heavy impacts continuously over time. These Bouligand structures can be found in the mantis shrimp, blue crab, glorious beetle and many more (shown here).

Many groundbreaking inventions have been inspired by nature. For example, Japan's Shinkansen bullet train features an aerodynamic shape modeled after the beak of a kingfisher, and Velcro was created after a Swiss engineer noticed how burrs clung to a dog’s fur using tiny hooks.

Now, researchers have drawn inspiration from a small but powerful marine creature—the mantis shrimp. This vividly colored predator can smash clamshells with a force comparable to a .22 caliber bullet, owing to the uniquely resilient design of its exoskeleton.

At the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), scientists have replicated these structural features in synthetic materials and evaluated their impact resistance by launching microprojectiles at them. They found that by modifying certain aspects of the structures, they could influence how well the material absorbed and dispersed energy from impacts.

“This research represents a significant step forward in the development of bioinspired materials,” said Edwin Chan, a materials research engineer at NIST. “It holds promise for aerospace applications, such as shielding spacecraft from micrometeoroid impacts and protecting satellites from space debris.”

Beyond aerospace, the findings could also lead to innovations in bulletproof glass, explosion-resistant construction materials, and advanced protective gear like helmets.

This research initiative originated with Sujin Lee, who joined NIST as a postdoctoral fellow through the National Research Council (NRC). Lee was curious about why the mantis shrimp's striking limb doesn't fracture when it delivers powerful blows to break open shells. Edwin Chan shared this curiosity, and together they launched a study to investigate the phenomenon.

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“When a person punches something, they typically injure their hand—but that’s not the case with the mantis shrimp,” Chan explained. At least, it doesn’t appear to be. The duo already understood that this resilience was linked to microscopic "Bouligand structures" within the shrimp’s exoskeleton.

“Bouligand structures are a common natural design used for impact resistance, and we wanted to explore them further by creating and testing synthetic versions in the lab,” Chan said.

To do this, Lee and Chan used cellulose nanocrystals—natural components found in plant fibers—to recreate the structure. These nanocrystals self-organized into plate-like formations that stacked atop one another, mimicking the twisted, layered design of plywood.

These layered formations became their artificial Bouligand structures. The team further modified the nanocrystals using high-frequency sound waves before assembling them into thin film samples for testing.

To evaluate their impact resistance, the researchers launched silica microprojectiles at the thin films at speeds reaching 600 meters per second. A high-powered laser accelerated the projectiles, and an ultrafast camera captured detailed images of the collisions as they happened.

Using the captured images, researchers observed that when a microprojectile strikes the material, it can create a lasting dent while also rebounding—much like a tennis ball hitting the ground. The extent of the indentation and the projectile’s rebound depended on how the impact energy dispersed through shockwaves.

They found they could control this energy dissipation by adjusting certain parameters that influence the material’s mechanical behavior, such as increasing the thickness of the nanocrystals or altering their density. Thinner films tended to retain permanent dents, while thicker ones were better at redirecting the shockwaves from the impact, enhancing resistance.

This research supports NIST’s broader mission of developing cutting-edge measurement techniques that benefit U.S. industry. The methods used in this project could aid in designing other impact-resistant materials, not just those based on Bouligand structures, but also other innovative materials with specialized functions.

“These results show that materials can be engineered in multiple ways to absorb impacts more effectively,” said Chan. “It’s about building durability—like a boxer aiming to last nine rounds in the ring, not just one.”