Overview
- The crystal restored its structure and light transmission after mechanical damage at −196°C and remained functional up to 150°C.
- The self-repair mechanism stems from dipole–dipole attraction between molecules with permanent dipoles, allowing broken sections to reconnect in extreme cold.
- The work represents the first demonstration of self-healing in an organic crystal across a wide temperature range, addressing limits of polymers that turn brittle near −130°C.
- Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi’s Smart Materials Lab collaborated with Jilin University, with the study published on January 21, 2026, in Nature Materials.
- The team highlights potential uses in space exploration, deep-sea operations, polar research, and low-temperature optical and electronic devices.