Polymer–ceramic nanohybrid materials

Abstract

This review is dedicated to nanohybrid materials consisting of a polymer-based matrix and a disperse nanoscaled ceramic phase. Different preparation techniques for the synthesis of polymer–ceramic nanohybrid materials will be presented, such as blending techniques, sol–gel processing, in-situ polymerization, and self-assembly methods. Selected structural and functional properties of polymer–ceramic nanohybrid materials will be highlighted and discussed within the context of their dependence on parameters such as the homogeneity of the dispersion of the ceramic throughout the polymer matrix, the particle size of the ceramic phase, and the polymer–ceramic interface. Moreover, some advanced applications of polymer–ceramic nanohybrid materials will be addressed and compared with their polymeric counterparts.