Smart, Sustainable, and Advanced materials for the 21st century
Authors :- R Kashikar, V Hebbar
Publication :- The Spring Chronicle, Vol.1 (4), 2025.
Human civilization has witnessed an exponential increase in innovation quality, enabling humankind to evolve toward greater efficiency and creativity. Unlike previous centuries, the 21st century, although only a quarter has been completed, has already experienced transformative advancements in technology and lifestyle. This accelerated evolution is largely attributed to the rate of innovation and the increasingly material-centric approach to technological development. Throughout history, materials have played a crucial role in shaping civilization, starting from natural substances to reaching engineered composites. Metals like iron have been known for 3000 years; however, the meticulous design of iron-carbon alloys, i.e., steel, has revolutionized global infrastructure and industrialization [1]. The curiosity of researchers about the structure, properties, and manipulation of matter is the driving force for inventing new materials from time to time.