Composite Particles: Design of Hybrid Materials on the Nano-Scale

Summary: In the last decade there has been a steady increased interest in the techniques providing design of nano-structured materials. It has been demonstrated that colloidal polymeric particles can be successfully used for the deposition of different functional nano-materials. Due to their numerous attractive properties polymeric particles have been used as templates for the synthesis, storage and transportation of nanostructured materials. This contribution demonstrates the synthetic ways for the preparation of hybrid particles by effective control over the size, morphology and distribution of the non-miscible phases. Developed methods allow design of the composite particles on the nanometer scale and opens new possibilities for the preparation of the materials with advanced properties. The synthesis, characterization and applications of hybrid particles are discussed in detail.