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Composite materials prepared to have inhomogeniety in smaller scale than submicron (10-7m) are called nanocomposites. Research on nanocomposites aims at developing materials with outstanding mechanical properties as well as optical, electric, magnetic, chemical and so-called smart functionalities. Research on functional nanocomposite materials at the Institute has been focused on their preparation process and functional characteristics. A new preparation process has been developed which uses the successive deposition of nanoparticles and continuous phases by physical deposition methods to provide a greater degree of flexibility in selecting components. Concerning functional characteristics, we use the sputtering method to prepare nanocomposite materials with structures as shown in the figure below. An example is a material with a sensor function that varies its optical transmittance by nitrogen oxide. It is composed of CoO nanoparticles, SiO2 matrix and nanopores which give paths to gas molecules.
Structure of nanocomposite with gas sensor function |