Synthesis, characterization and applications of hybrid materials

Abstract

This thesis presents the synthesis of various novel hybrid materials. The potential applications of these hybrid materials are demonstrated. Chapter 1 introduces hybrid materials and signifies the advantages of combining inorganic and organic materials together. It presents recent developments in their synthesis and lists a few important applications. Chapter 2 deals with fabrication of a smart material from polyelectrolytes and amino clay using layer by layer method. These organic-inorganic hybrid materials reversibly change their size in response to pH variation. These spheres are shown to have applications in sustained release of negatively charged drug molecules. Capsule preparation from these breathing spheres was successfully achieved. In chapter 3 surface modification of carbon nanospheres with magnetic and luminescent probes have been performed. These hybrid nanospheres show superparamagnetic behaviour and enhanced luminescent intensity. Chapter 4 consists of preliminary studies on the self-assembly of C60 fullerenes and single-walled carbon nanotubes at the liquid-liquid interface. The films of C60 formed at the organic-aqueous interface are single crystalline and mechanically robust.