Concepts for the design of intelligent organic-inorganic hybrid polymers

Our technological future requires highly integrated and multifunctional materials for various purposes. Hybrid polymeric systems seem to fulfill severall prerequisites to meet some of the demands. The sol-gel process allows the incorporation of organic groups in oxide materials, due to the very mild reaction conditions. The organic froups can be used fort crosslinking reactions or to functionalize the materials. Organic and inorganic building blocks with specific properties can be combined by "molecular engineering". Thus, the deliberate tailoring of material with special combinations of mechanical, opical, electrical or processing probperties becomes possible. The hybrid materials are neither ceramic nor organic materials, but intrinsically combine the properties and functions of both in one material. Nearly any organic function (e.g. dyes and even enzymes) can be incorporated into the hybrid polymers.