Porous Nanoparticles

Since the emergence of nanotechnology, the synthesis of nano-objects has dramatically changed the functional possibilities of materials from the nano- to the macroworld.  The fascination of nanoparticles (NPs) relies on their properties that fundamentally differ from those of the corresponding three-dimensional infinite solids. These properties are size- and surface-dependent and start to become significant at a length scale below 100 nm, which defines the arbitrary (but scientifically accepted) definition of nanomaterials and NPs in particular. The most important feature of NPs is their large external surface area, i.e. their high surface-to-volume ratio, which dominates NPs physicochemical properties.

A major emphasis of our group lies in the synthesis of porous NPs along with the study and the specific manipulation of their underlying properties. It is focused on linking different molecular units, which can be designed and precisely generated chemically to shape functional NPs. At the same time, a basic understanding of the involved chemical and physical elementary processes in the synthesis and functionalization of these materials is intended. In light of this, our research aim is the establishment of material chemistry guidelines to engineer smart MOF NPs able to unlock their potential for applications in the field of life sciences. Therefore, we aim at transferring the technologies developed in the bulk synthesis of MOFs to the nanometre level as MOF NPs (Figure).