Perspective and Prospects for Ordered Functional Materials

Many functional materials are approaching their performance limits due to inherent trade-offs between essential physical properties. Such trade-offs can be overcome by engineering a material that has an ordered arrangement of structural units, including constituent components/phases, grains, and domains. By rationally manipulating the ordering with abundant structural units at multiple length scales, the structural ordering opens up unprecedented opportunities to create transformative functional materials, as amplified properties or disruptive functionalities can be realized. In this perspective article, a brief overview of recent advances in the emerging ordered functional materials across catalytic, thermoelectric, and magnetic materials regarding the fabrication, structure, and property is presented. Then the possibility of applying this structural ordering strategy to highly efficient neuromorphic computing devices and durable battery materials is discussed. Finally, remaining scientific challenges are highlighted, and the prospects for ordered functional materials are made. This perspective aims to draw the attention of the scientific community to the emerging ordered functional materials and trigger intense studies on this topic.

Automated summary

In recent years, researchers have successfully overcome inherent trade-offs between essential physical properties by engineering materials with an ordered arrangement of structural units. The structural ordering opens up unprecedented opportunities to create transformative functional materials, amplifying properties and enabling disruptive functionalities. This perspective article provides a brief overview of recent advances in ordered functional materials and discusses their application in catalytic, thermoelectric, and magnetic materials, as well as in neuromorphic computing devices and durable battery materials. The article highlights remaining scientific challenges and prospects for ordered functional materials, aiming to attract attention and drive intense studies in this field.