Freezing is used to create composites that mimic the structure of nacre and to produce porous bone substitutes with high strength. The study demonstrates how the physics of ice formation can be used to develop sophisticated porous and layered-hybrid materials, including artificial bone, ceramic/metal composites, and porous scaffolds for osseous tissue regeneration with strengths up to four times higher than those currently used for implantation. Natural materials like nacre and bone offer insights into how to design strong, lightweight, and tough materials. However, replicating their complex structures in synthetic materials has been challenging. This research uses the natural process of ice formation to create layered, porous materials. By controlling the freezing process, the researchers can produce scaffolds with precise microstructures. These scaffolds are then filled with a second phase (organic or inorganic) to create dense composites. The process involves freezing ceramic suspensions in a controlled manner, allowing the ice to form a template for the ceramic structure. After freezing, the ice is removed, leaving a porous scaffold with a structure similar to nacre. This method allows for the creation of layered materials with controlled dimensions and microstructures. The study shows that by controlling the freezing kinetics, it is possible to create mesostructural features and gradients that optimize the mechanical response of the final materials. The resulting IT porous scaffolds exhibit striking similarities to the meso- and micro-structure of the inorganic component of nacre. The inorganic layers are parallel and homogeneous, and the surface roughness is similar to that of nacre. The scaffolds are then filled with a second phase to create dense composites. The mechanical properties of these composites are enhanced by the interaction between the organic and inorganic phases, leading to improved toughness and strength. The technique has potential applications in various fields, including biomedical engineering, where it could be used to develop new biomaterials for orthopaedic applications. The method allows for the creation of highly porous scaffolds with high strength, which could be used for bone regeneration. The scaffolds have well-defined pore connectivity and directional porosity that allows for bone ingrowth. This approach addresses many of the shortcomings of current bone substitutes, such as low strength and random organization.Freezing is used to create composites that mimic the structure of nacre and to produce porous bone substitutes with high strength. The study demonstrates how the physics of ice formation can be used to develop sophisticated porous and layered-hybrid materials, including artificial bone, ceramic/metal composites, and porous scaffolds for osseous tissue regeneration with strengths up to four times higher than those currently used for implantation. Natural materials like nacre and bone offer insights into how to design strong, lightweight, and tough materials. However, replicating their complex structures in synthetic materials has been challenging. This research uses the natural process of ice formation to create layered, porous materials. By controlling the freezing process, the researchers can produce scaffolds with precise microstructures. These scaffolds are then filled with a second phase (organic or inorganic) to create dense composites. The process involves freezing ceramic suspensions in a controlled manner, allowing the ice to form a template for the ceramic structure. After freezing, the ice is removed, leaving a porous scaffold with a structure similar to nacre. This method allows for the creation of layered materials with controlled dimensions and microstructures. The study shows that by controlling the freezing kinetics, it is possible to create mesostructural features and gradients that optimize the mechanical response of the final materials. The resulting IT porous scaffolds exhibit striking similarities to the meso- and micro-structure of the inorganic component of nacre. The inorganic layers are parallel and homogeneous, and the surface roughness is similar to that of nacre. The scaffolds are then filled with a second phase to create dense composites. The mechanical properties of these composites are enhanced by the interaction between the organic and inorganic phases, leading to improved toughness and strength. The technique has potential applications in various fields, including biomedical engineering, where it could be used to develop new biomaterials for orthopaedic applications. The method allows for the creation of highly porous scaffolds with high strength, which could be used for bone regeneration. The scaffolds have well-defined pore connectivity and directional porosity that allows for bone ingrowth. This approach addresses many of the shortcomings of current bone substitutes, such as low strength and random organization.