Multi-length scale characterization of frustule showing highly hierarchal structure in the context of understanding their mechanical properties

Materials with complex hierarchical structure, called architectured materials or archimats, allow to obtain properties unattainable for their standard form. This paper demonstrates that a multi-length scale imaging is essential for explaining unique properties of such materials/structures, in particular mechanical resilience. Original procedures for multi-scale imaging of biological structures/materials using modern microscopic techniques (electron, ion and X-ray microscopy) are described as applied to an integrated multi-scale description of the diatoms' frustules. The results obtained allowed to advance understanding of their mechanical properties and set the stage for production of advanced structural and functional composite materials.