title: Self-assembled hierarchically structured organic-inorganic composite systems.
abstract: Designing bio-inspired, multifunctional organic-inorganic composite materials is one of the most popular current research objectives. Due to the high complexity of biocomposite structures found in nacre and bone, for example, a one-pot scalable and versatile synthesis approach addressing structural key features of biominerals and affording bio-inspired, multifunctional organic-inorganic composites with advanced physical properties is highly challenging. This article reviews recent progress in synthesizing organic-inorganic composite materials via various self-assembly techniques and in this context highlights a recently developed bio-inspired synthesis concept for the fabrication of hierarchically structured, organic-inorganic composite materials. This one-step self-organization concept based on simultaneous liquid crystal formation of anisotropic inorganic nanoparticles and a functional liquid crystalline polymer turned out to be simple, fast, scalable and versatile, leading to various (multi-)functional composite materials, which exhibit hierarchical structuring over several length scales. Consequently, this synthesis approach is relevant for further progress and scientific breakthrough in the research field of bio-inspired and biomimetic materials.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tritschler
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cölfen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D009930:Organic Chemicals