The self-assembly of polymers such as block copolymers or polymer particles is a feasible tool for the formation of nanostructured (hybrid) materials for a manifold of different potential applications.

In our group, we study polymer-based templating strategies for the preparation of advanced ceramics.

Two self-assembly techniques of preceramic or hybrid polymers are of special interest: (i) the self-assembly of block copolymers featuring a ceramic precursor as integral part of the polymer chain for at least one block segment and (ii) colloidal crystallization of polymeric spherical (hybrid) nano-particles. In the recent past, both concepts have attracted significant attention in order to generate ordered ceramic (composite) nano-structures.

Exemplary references:

  1. Scheid, D.; Cherkashinin, G.; Ionescu, E.; Gallei, M. Single-Source Magnetic Nanorattles By Using Convenient Emulsion Polymerization Protocols. Langmuir 2014, 30, (5), 1204-1209.
  2. Rüttiger, C.; Pfeifer, V.; Rittscher, V.; Stock, D.; Scheid, D.; Vowinkel, S.; Roth, F.; Didzoleit, H.; Stühn, B.; Elbert, J.; Ionescu, E.; Gallei, M. One for all: cobalt-containing polymethacrylates for magnetic ceramics, block copolymerization, unexpected electrochemistry, and stimuli-responsiveness. Polym. Chem. 2016, 7, 1129-1137.
  3. Vowinkel, S.; Schäfer, C. G.; Cherkashinin, G.; Fasel, C.; Roth, F.; Liu, N.; Dietz, C.; Ionescu, E.; Gallei, M. 3D-ordered carbon materials by melt-shear organization for tailor-made hybrid core–shell polymer particle architectures. J. Mater. Chem. C 2016, 4, 3976-3986.
  4. Schöttner, S.; Schaffrath, H.-J.; Gallei, M. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-Based Amphiphilic Block Copolymers for High Water Flux Membranes and Ceramic Templates. Macromolecules 2016, 49, (19), 7286-7295.
  5. Scheid, D.; Stock, D.; Winter, T.; Gutmann, T.; Dietz, C.; Gallei, M. The pivotal step of nanoparticle functionalization for the preparation of functional and magnetic hybrid opal films. J. Mater. Chem. C 2016, 4, (11), 2187-2196.
  6. Mera, G.; Gallei, M.; Bernard, S.; Ionescu, E. Ceramic Nanocomposites from Tailor-Made Preceramic Polymers. Nanomaterials 2015, 5, (2), 468-540.
  7. Kaur, S.; Gallei, M.; Ionescu, E. Polymer–Ceramic Nanohybrid Materials. Adv. Polym. Sci. 2015, 267, 143-185.
  8. Elbert, J.; Didzoleit, H.; Fasel, C.; Ionescu, E.; Riedel, R.; Stuhn, B.; Gallei, M. Surface-initiated anionic polymerization of [1]silaferrocenophanes for the preparation of colloidal preceramic materials. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2015, 36, (7), 597-603.
  9. Schäfer, C. G.; Vowinkel, S.; Hellmann, G. P.; Herdt, T.; Contiu, C.; Schneider, J. J.; Gallei, M. A polymer based and template-directed approach towards functional multidimensional microstructured organic/inorganic hybrid materials. J. Mater. Chem. C 2014, 2, 7960-7975.
  10. Gallei, M. The Renaissance of Side-Chain Ferrocene-Containing Polymers: Scope and Limitations of Vinylferrocene and Ferrocenyl Methacrylates. Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2014, 215, 699-704.