Nanocomposite Materials with Oriented Functionalized Structure

Abstract

Functionalized materials are material structures able to meet certain functions and tasks in well established interaction conditions. The functionality of a nanostructured material is completely conditioned by the well-defined relation holding between the functionality of the host structure (carrier support CS) and the structure upon which it is carried out (target structure TS). The functionality and the functions of a material are carried out by means of its physical, chemical or other characteristics, and by means of which it interacts with neighbour material systems, in order to fulfil the assigned functions. The most well-known examples of functionalities are those of: chemical reticulation, detection, controlled stimulation, chemical separation, etc. (fig.1). Most of the natural material structures are found in the form of nano or micrometrically structured composites, and dependency and interaction relations are established between their structural elements, depending on the internal structure and the physical and chemical characteristics of the neighbouring material structures. Composite materials are mixtures of material phases, either amorphous, or structurally well delimited, varied from a morphostructural and morphochemical point of view. The basic structure of composite materials is represented by nanostructured material phases, as material superior form of organization of atomic and molecular structures. As a result of physical and chemical interactions, the structural components of natural composites establish complex physical and chemical equilibrium states, characterised by the fact that the functional structure of this type of composites is masked or cancelled. The functionality concept is a relatively defined concept, taking as a reference point the investigation and order needs of the surrounding material structures. Basically, the function of a functionalized material defines the way in which the functional structure affects a certain process or a certain material structure, not necessarily neighbouring it. All material structures are carriers of certain types of inherent functionalities, by means of which they specifically interact with the exterior, but which do not have selectivity for certain target structures. Most modern scientific and technological applications need nanostructured or nanocomposite materials, having an oriented functional structure. These constrains impose that natural composite materials (CM) should be submitted to morphostructural and morphochemical modelling processes, in order to use them as oriented functionality materials. From the point of view of the sense of functionality orientation, the materials with oriented functional structure (MOF) can be defined as materials whose structure and