In-situ ceramic nanoparticle assembly within wood microstructure for strong, tough, and resilient ceramic wood (opens in new tab)

Increasingly extreme environmental conditions demand structural materials that combine mechanical robustness with sustainability. Natural wood is renewable and mechanically adaptable but suffers from high porosity and hydrophilicity, leading to moisture absorption, fire vulnerability, and environmental degradation. Ceramics provide high stiffness, thermal stability, and chemical resistance but are inherently brittle. Here we report ceramic wood, a composite formed by integrating a natural woo...