A polymer based and template-directed approach towards functional multidimensional micro-structured organic/inorganic hybrid materials

Abstract

The control over structure and function in hierarchically multidimensional materials based on hollow spheres, nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes, fibres, membranes or inverse opals with adjustable dimensions has gained considerable attention due to their tremendous potential for a wide variety of applications. Herein we describe convenient and efficient synthetic concepts for synthesis and processing of well-defined polymer-templated inorganic materials with 0D, 1D, 2D and 3D nano- and microstructures. In the first step, we describe universal methodologies for the controlled build-up of polymer-templated non-functional inorganic structures by taking advantage of lower dimensional structures such as core–shell particles or fibres. With this approach it is possible to obtain more sophisticated architectures such as 3D ordered macroporous (3DOM) materials after applying different procedures for organization, e.g. the powerful melt shear technique as well as novel double-templating strategies towards multidimensional carbon architectures. To prove the feasibility of our protocols established herein we have exemplarily applied these methods to the formation of functional inorganic high-temperature materials, such as silicon carbide (β-SiC) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The general pathways for the controlled build-up of nano- and micro-scaled structures based on polymer templates may thus provide a facile and versatile route to an even wider variety of organic/inorganic composite materials offering a wider range of future applications in the fields of catalysis, separation, sensors, optics, and biomedicine. Herein we show first examples of selected new material morphologies towards energy related issues, namely Li-ion battery applications and heterogeneous catalysis (selective ethanol oxidation).