Hydrothermal synthesis of advanced chitin-based materials

Abstract

Chitin is an important, widespread, natural biopolymer, and has gained much attention in various branches of science including biomimetics and the creation of bioinspired materials. The unique chemical and thermal stability as well functionality of chitin have opened the gate for the development of extreme biomimetics routes for the creation of nanostructured biocomposites utilizing chitinous templates in various hydrothermal syntheses in vitro. Here, the unique structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of chitin from the "biomaterials" point of view will be discussed. Next, a short history of the discovery of chitin isolated from sponges will be discussed, as well as its evolutionarily ancient. Finally, the basic principles of solvothermal synthesis and utilization of chitin as a structural template in hydrothermal reactions will be described.