Functional Biomorphs: Formation and Properties

• Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Cristina Ruiz Agudo, Ph.D., since 1/2024
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 461090217

This project focuses on enabling the use of self-organized silica carbonate structures with complex morphology and long-range order (so-called silica biomorphs) as functional materials. Hereby, we aim to exploit properties like their bio-reminiscent shape for near-future application. In order to prepare defined materials, in a first step, the design of a deterministic synthesis is aimed to yield structures that are monodisperse in size and shape. Subsequently, in-situ as well as post-synthesis approaches will be applied for the functionalization of the structures. For this purpose, known techniques such as silanization in combination with polymers as well as the use of new anions such as tungstate as sol-gel material will be used. Thereby, the creation of microtools like microswimmers, -catalysts and -templates is targeted. A variety of analytical techniques are suited to study the resulting materials. For the structure determination various microscopic techniques (PLM, TEM, SEM, LSM etc.) are used and to determine and quantify the different phases, diffractometric and spectroscopic methods can be applied. In the further course of the project the applicability of the obtained functional materials will be tested by means of simple reactions to showcase their improved and new features.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Helmut Cölfen, until 1/2024 (†)