Materials World Network to Study Liquid Precursor Formation and Crystallization at Interfaces: Fundamentals towards Applications

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Helmut Cölfen (†); Professor Dr. Dirk Volkmer
• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 43475125

Fundamental aspects of the formation of so called Polymer Induced Liquid Precursors (PILP) phases shall be explored. PILP phases have the potential for biomimetic synthesis strategies towards advanced materials and seem to be broadly applicable for a range of inorganic as well as organic materials. Nevertheless, the fundamental physicochemical parameters of formation, properties and transformation mechanisms of PILP’s to crystals with complex morphology are not understood.Corresponding to the expertise of the project partners, three thrusts are formulated:1) Basic principles of PILP formation: The fundamental thermodynamics and kinetics of PILP formation shall be studied with microcalorimetry, Ultracentrifugation and in situ chemical titrations as well as the formulation of ternary phase diagrams for organic PILP’s.2) Immobilisation of PILP’s at interfaces: A technique shall be developed for immobilization and stabilization of the labile PILP’s for rheological and spectroscopical analysis of the liquid phases as well as their crystallization.3) Modulation of PILP phases at interfaces: The influence of Langmuir and self assembled monolayers with well defined surface chemistry and structure on the transformation of the precursor phase shall be investigated.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Participating Person: Professorin Laurie B. Gower, Ph.D.