FOCUSED SESSION 3: Molecular-level Processing of Functional Materials: Understanding the Conversion of Molecular Compounds to Solid-State and Hybrid Structures

Materials synthesis based on the use of molecular precursors has been recognized as a powerful way to access compounds with controlled and adjustable compositions, crystal structures, morphologies and property profiles. Thus, a careful design of suitable molecular precursors as well as an extensive knowledge about their (thermal) conversion into desired functional materials are of crucial importance for providing improved rational preparative concepts towards tailor-made (multi)functional structures. Molecular synthesis techniques towards functional materials are highly attractive, as they can be performed with highly efficient atom economy, they allow access to well defined chemical and phase compositions as well as to unique morphologies and (metastable) phases.

This focused session intends to conceptually unite the materials chemists, ceramists and materials engineers for developing new concepts and pathways for synthesis, net-shaping and device integration of functional materials. Whereas the conventional top-down methods are preferred due to their simplicity and to some extent predictable nature, they operate mostly in the thermodynamical regimes and are less suited for synthesizing multi-component and hybrid (organic-inorganic) materials. Despite the well-known benefits of molecular-level processing of inorganic solids, a major challenge lies in the limited insight into molecule-to-material transformations and the fact that many of the molecular precursors are commercially not available. During this focused session role of precursor chemistry and additives in solution such as sol-gel, solvothermal, electrospinning, microwave, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques will be critically analysed. Specific emphasis will be laid on materials manufacturing strategies such as 3D printing and chemically controlled assembly and purpose-driven modification of materials. Non-conventional synthesis and analytical methods enabling in-situ diagnostics and mechanistic insights into nucleation, growth and self-assembly are in particular focus. Need of new and smart chemical processing methods to obtain specific material compositions, that can integrate the advancements in materials processing techniques with the existing knowledge-base of materials chemistry will also be a part of this focused session. The industrial potential of chemically processed materials will be analyzed and discussed towards their simplicity, scalability and cost-effectiveness.

Proposed Session Topics

• Precursor chemistry – Structural and thermal transformations
• Chemically processed nanostructures – 0D, 1D, 2D and 3D systems
• Solution-processing of nanomaterials for optical, catalytic and sensing applications
• Molecular precursor approaches for vapor-phase synthesis (ALD, CVD) of materials
• In-situ studies on nucleation and growth of solid-state phases in solution and gas phases
• Smart chemistry for functionalization of nanostructures
• Chemical approaches to new processing methods such as 3D-printing
• Scaled-up production of precursor-derived materials
• Materials integration and device applications

Symposium Organizers

• Sanjay Mathur, University of Cologne, Germany
• Emanuel Ionescu, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany
• Shashank Mishra, Universite of Lyon, France
• Maarit Karppinen, Aalto University, Finland
• Thomas Fischer, University of Cologne, Germany
• Gurpreet Singh, Kansas University, USA
• Gunnar Westin, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Claudia Wickleder, Siegen University, Germany
• Ausrine Bartasyte, University of Franche-Comté, France
• Se Hun Kwon, Pusan National University
• Hiromitsu Kozuka, Kansai university, Japan
• Hirokazu Katsui, Tohoku University, Japan
• Philippe Miele, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier, France

Point of Contact

• Sanjay Mathur: sanjay.mathur@uni-koeln.de