High-performance TiO2 nanoparticle/DOPA-polymer composites.
Many natural materials are complex composites whose mechanical properties are often outstanding considering the weak constituents from which they are assembled. Nacre, made of inorganic (CaCO3 ) and organic constituents, is a textbook example because of its strength and toughness, which are related to its hierarchical structure and its well-defined organic-inorganic interface. Emulating the construction principles of nacre using simple inorganic materials and polymers is essential for understanding how chemical composition and structure determine biomaterial functions. A hard multilayered nanocomposite is assembled based on alternating layers of TiO2 nanoparticles and a 3-hydroxy-tyramine (DOPA) substituted polymer (DOPA-polymer), strongly cemented together by chelation through infiltration of the polymer into the TiO2 mesocrystal. With a Young's modulus of 17.5 ± 2.5 GPa and a hardness of 1.1 ± 0.3 GPa the resulting material exhibits high resistance against elastic as well as plastic deformation. A key feature leading to the high strength is the strong adhesion of the DOPA-polymer to the TiO2 nanoparticles.
Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
Faroha
F
Liaqat
Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
Muhammad Nawaz
MN
Tahir
Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
Eugen
E
Schechtel
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Michael
M
Kappl
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Günter K
GK
Auernhammer
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The National Creative Research Initiative Center for Intelligent Hybrids, The WCU Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy and Environment, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-744, South Korea.
Kookheon
K
Char
Institute for Organic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
Rudolf
R
Zentel
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Butt
Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
Wolfgang
W
Tremel
D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D011108:Polymers; C009495:titanium dioxide; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D014025:Titanium; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
TiO2 nanoparticles; catechol polymers; fracture toughness; inorganic-organic nanocomposites; metal-coordination bonding