This review first reported three possible mechanisms for superelasticity in different materials, including intrinsic atomic cooperative motions, extrinsic size, and geometric effects. These intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms are well summarized through extensive examples showing outstanding recoverable strains in small-sized or geometric shape memory alloys, amorphous alloys, semiconductors, and carbon-based materials. Next, this review pointed out a possible route to further extend the limit of elastic or recoverable strains with the combination of intrinsic superelasticity, size-induced superelasticity, and geometry-induced superelasticity in micro/nanostructured materials, such as superlattices and composites. Lastly, with the superior performance, the promising application values of superelastic micro/nanostructured materials are summarized in plenty of areas.
- Fucheng Li
- Shuai Ren
- Yong Yang
