A modular materials design using integrated nanotube and nanowire assemblies

Based on our experiences on the formation of oxide nanotubes by coating cellulose or metal salt nanofibre templates, the scientific aims of this new project are the development of a versatile modular approach for the design of hierarchical organised materials based on an ordered template of polysaccharide whiskers. Inorganic nanotube formation on the polysaccharide whiskers will include metallisation, sol-gel or electrochemical deposition. A novel design concept of solar cells with an entirely accessible 3D- porous nanotube based architecture embedded in a semiconductor material creating charge carriers by the photoeffect is proposed to demonstrate the versatility of our modular structures. In the newly designed dye-sensitized solar cells the incorporated metal nanowires formed by metallisation of the templating cellulose whiskers will lead to a fast and efficient electron transport to the back electrode. The proposed research programme involves three major scientific parts: Formation of high density networks of ordered arrays of surface bound cellulose whiskers as a central issue; formation of inorganic nanotubes or bulk inorganic materials in the voids between the whiskers using sol-gel processing, electrochemical deposition and photoelectrochemical characterization of the obtained components.

DFG-Verfahren Schwerpunktprogramme

Teilprojekt zu SPP 1165:  Nanodrähte und Nanoröhren: von kontrollierter Synthese zur Funktion