Flexible Ultrathin ZIF-67/Wood Composite Film: Uniting Superior UV Screening and Sterilizing Efficacy

The development of biomass composites that simultaneously achieve strength, toughness, and low density remains a persistent challenge in materials science. Recent advances, inspired by hierarchical architectures in natural biomaterials, have driven significant efforts toward engineering biomimetic composites with enhanced mechanical performance and multifunctionality. The sawtooth oyster (Crassostrea spp.), a common marine organism, exhibits a unique serrated shell microstructure that offers substantial inspiration for biomimetic design. Leveraging this biological principle, we developed an ultrathin ZIF-67/wood composite (0.2 mm thickness) through the integration of bionic structural engineering, in situ growth of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and optimized hot-pressing techniques. This composite achieves an exceptional tensile strength of 304 MPa while maintaining low density, thereby reconciling the traditional strength-toughness trade-off. Furthermore, it demonstrates integrated functionalities including hydrophobicity, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, acid resistance, and UV shielding, establishing a novel paradigm for designing high-performance biomimetic composites.