Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Particles through Electrostatic Self-Assembly

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Franziska Gröhn
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2013 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 234970658

Focus of this project is developing a new concept for the formation of self-assembled hierarchically structured organic-inorganic nanoparticles in aqueous solution. First, macroions, multivalent ionic dye molecules and metal ions are associated in aqueous solution and subsequently the metal ions are transformed into metal or semiconductor nanoparticles through a chemical reaction. In this, the supramolecular structure influences size and morphology of the particles built. New ternary hybrid assemblies consisting of macroions, dyes and inorganic material result. Nanoscale assemblies will in detail be structurally characterized by light and small angle scattering, atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. In addition, thermodynamics and kinetics of the structure formation will be investigated to elucidate the relationship between building block structure, intermolecular interaction and particle shape and size. Novel supramolecular organic-inorganic hybrid structures can be of importance in nanotechnology, switchable optical materials and in catalysis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants