SFB 448: Mesoscopically Organized Composites

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This collaborative research centre explores new strategies for thesynthesis and characterization of chemical composites which arestructured on a length scale from 1 to 100 nanometers, i.e. well abovethe size of simple molecules but below the (macroscopic) sizes ofclassical composite materials. Such mesoscopically structured composite systems may exhibit novel properties and functions which result directly from the size of the compartments and/or the interactions between the individual structural units. The collaborative research centre aims at novel functional materialsof this type with controlled properties for potential applications.The building units of the nano-composites are obtained by stepwisechemical synthesis (e.g., functionalized dendrimers orpoly-paraphenylenes), by polymerization (amphiphilic and hybrid blockcopolymers, etc.), and by other methods. The building units areassembled in a hierarchical manner to the desired mesoscopic composites by applying the principles of supramolecular chemistry or making use of molecular self assembly or of electrostatic interactions between the partners. Block copolymers are also used as templates for the mineralization of inorganic salts and their micelles or lyotropic phases are used to direct the condensation of silica precursors to ordered polymer/ceramic nanocomposites and mesoporous ceramic materials. The novel mesoscopically structured composites can be used to study the physico-chemical behavior of substances or probe molecules in strongly confined geometries by means of modern experimental techniques as well as theoretical models and molecular simulation techniques.