Organic/inorganic fusion materials: cyclodextrin-based polymer/CaCO3 hybrids incorporating dye molecules through host–guest interactions

Bioinspired macromolecular templates for crystallographic orientation control of ZnO thin films through zinc hydroxide carbonate

The biomineralization-inspired preparation of inorganic hybrid materials has attracted attention. Here, we report a new approach to the orientation control of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin-film crystals through the preparation of zinc hydroxide carbonate (ZHC) by the macromolecular templates of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Using 100-nm-thick PHEMA templates, ZHC thin films with the c-axis oriented parallel to the substrate were obtained, while ZHC thin films prepared by 100-nm-thick PVA templates showed perpendicular orientation. After the thermal treatment of ZHC, the crystal orientations of the ZnO thin films were maintained. The effects of the thickness and annealing time for the polymer templates on the morphologies of the ZnO thin films were examined.

Formation of Helically Structured Chitin/CaCO3 Hybrids through an Approach Inspired by the Biomineralization Processes of Crustacean Cuticles

Chitin/CaCO3 hybrids with helical structures are formed through a biomineralization-inspired crystallization process under ambient conditions. Liquid-crystalline chitin whiskers are used as helically ordered templates. The liquid-crystalline structures are stabilized by acidic polymer networks which interact with the chitin templates. The crystallization of CaCO3 is conducted by soaking the templates in the colloidal suspension of amorphous CaCO3 (ACC) at room temperature. At the initial stage of crystallization, ACC particles are introduced inside the templates, and they crystallize to CaCO3 nanocrystals. The acidic polymer networks induce CaCO3 crystallization. The characterization of the resultant hybrids reveals that they possess helical order and homogeneous hybrid structures of chitin and CaCO3 , which resemble the structure and composition of the exoskeleton of crustaceans.

Tuning of morphology and polymorphs of carbonate/polymer hybrids using photoreactive polymer templates

Crystallization of inorganic carbonates on photolithographic polymer matrices led to development of inorganic/organic hybrid materials with photo-controlled and self-organized structures.