Research Themes
The Institute's research in Inorganic Hybrid Materials is undertaken at the School of Chemical & Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington.
Theme Leader: Professor Jim Johnston
Overview
Theme 5 research will develop new inorganic hybrid materials whose hierarchy of nano-, micro- and macro-scaled features will give rise to new chemical, physical and biological functionality. Our goals are supported by a record of excellence in fundamental, strategic and applied inorganic and conducting polymer materials chemistry, underpinned by strong interactions with industry and long standing international strength and leadership in nano-structured materials including inorganic-natural fibre hybrid materials, conducting polymers, solid state and advanced ceramic science, thin film and coatings science, and in the applications of solid state NMR and surface analysis techniques to materials research. We propose two complementary approaches to the design and fabrication of these new hybrid materials:
- Chemical manipulation of the surface functionality of nanostructured fibres, arrays or templates (objectives 1, 2, 3) – a ‘bottom up’ fabrication strategy
- Incorporation or grafting of nanoscaled particles, fibres or tubes into or onto microand macro-scaled substrates (objective 4) – a ‘top down’ fabrication strategy
- Hybrid Nanoparticle-fibre, Quantum Dot-fibre and Conducting Polymer Materials with Bio- and Synthetic Fibres: This objective is concerned with the design and development of new hybrid fibre materials in which metal (Au, Ag, transition metals and composites) and particular metal oxide, sulfide and chloride nanoparticles and conducting polymers (polypyrrole and polyaniline) are incorporated into natural fibres (wool, cotton, paper) and synthetic fibres (lycra, polyamide). The new hybrid materials will couple the inherent properties of the conventional fibres such as lightweight, flexibility and strength, with the specialist chemical, anti-microbial, optical, fluorescence and electronic properties of the functionalizing nanoparticles, quantum dots and conducting polymers respectively. Collectively, these attributes will generate a suite of new and unique materials with a wide range of potential applications and technology uptake in smart consumer products. In addition the stability, health aspects and environmental implications of the nanoparticle-hybrid materials particularly gold-wool and silver-wool will be studied.
- Nano-Structured Hybrid Materials: This research involves the innovative design and development of new nano-structured silicate materials with high pore volumes and surface areas which can be functionalised to impart specific properties. The research will include the development of new materials for energy storage and release, the capture of environmentally problematic metal ions and the controlled release of environmentally acceptable anti-microbial agents. These materials will play an important role in addressing current energy, packaging and environment issues.
- Hybrid Nanostructured Arrays and Conformal Coating of Micro and Nano- Porous Materials: These two components of this objective will build on our knowledge of fabrication and characterisation of nanostructured anodic alumina ceramic membranes. The purpose is to form gas separation membranes and new generation voltaics utilizing hybrid nano-structured materials. This will involve the integration of new fabrication methodologies with our expertise in inorganic nanochemistry, thin film deposition and Polymer Assisted Deposition (PAD) techniques (via our US partner lab). It will enable the functionalisation of the surface structure of the ceramic membranes, for example by applying ZnO, TiO2 and WO3 coatings. The membranes therefore act as templates for the formation of new hybrid nanostructured materials or devices, with potential applications as sensors, gas separation membranes, photocatalysts, and new generation photovoltaics.
- Inorganic Polymer Hybrid Nanocomposites: This research will build on our internationally recognized work on inborganic polymers (also known as geopolymers), to create a new class of inorganic hybrid nanocomposites through the incorporation of elements or nano-entities to produce specific functionalities. As examples of the possibilities of this approach, calcium and phosphorus could be included in aluminosilicate inorganic polymers to produce biocompatible materials for bone reconstruction, and the inclusion of elemental gallium and germanium or carbon nanotubes would produce materials with novel electronic or optoelectronic properties. The mechanical strength of inorganic polymers could be increased by their reinforcement with organic or inorganic fibres, and composites formed by the incorporation of elemental carbon or silicon could act as precursors for the production of high-technology engineering ceramics (SiAlONs) by carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) or silicothermal reduction and nitridation (SRN) processes. New materials containing aligned nanopores could be produced by burning out synthetic fibres from inorganic polymer-fibre composites; such nanoporous materials have the potential for environmental remediation of heat island effects in large cities.
Key to the achievement of these objectives is the development of new synthesis methods for inorganic polymers and a thorough understanding of the materials chemistry and structure of the products. This draws on a range of techniques and expertise available both within the MacDiarmid Institute and through our collaborators in Japan, UK, Europe and the USA. There is a clear intention to communicate our fundamental science outputs to the international science community, but the research team members also have a demonstrated ability to develop and patent new technologies from their best applied science and commercialise those technologies with national and international business partners.
- Hybrid Nanoparticle-fi bre and Conducting Polymer Materials with Natural and Synthetic Fibres (J.H. Johnston)
- Nano-Structured Hybrid Materials (J.H. Johnston, K.J. MacKenzie)
- Hybrid Nanostructured Arrays and Conformal Coating of Micro and Nano-Porous Materials (I. Brown, T. Kemmitt, J. Metson, K.J. MacKenzie)
- Inorganic Polymer Hybrid Nanocomposites (K.J. MacKenzie, J.H. Johnston)
