Surface-modified nanocrystals: Building blocks for hierarchically structured high performance materials (A01)

• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry ; Theoretical Chemistry: Electronic Structure, Dynamics, Simulation
• Term: from 2012 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 192346071

In this project we synthesize titanium dioxide and iron oxide nanocrystals (NC) of various sizes and shapes. The NC-facets will be decorated with motives for thermoreversible coupling reactions via ligand-exchange. The functionalized NC will then be used for the preparation of crosslinked NC films as well as hierarchically structured composite materials with outstanding mechanical robustness. In this regard, the thermoreversible crosslinking of the NC enables the densification of the material and healing of microcracks by pressing at elevated temperature. The structural and mechanical properties of prepared nanocomposites will be characterized using complementary microscopic and analytical techniques.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 986: Tailor-Made Multi-Scale Materials Systems - M3
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Hamburg
• Project Heads: Dr. Tobias Vossmeyer, since 7/2016; Professor Dr. Horst Weller, until 6/2020