Mufit Akinc tells Journal of Materials Chemistry about his hot paper.

Could you explain the significance of your article to the non-specialist? 
Nanoscale hybrid nanocomposites have broad application potential in many fields including biological, environmental, and energy applications. In this paper, we demonstrated formation of calcium phosphate inorganic phase on the self-assembled pentablock copolymer micelles and gels acting as a template for the inorganic phase, just like how nature forms bone by mineralizing calcium phosphate on collagen. This bottom-up approach is an example which may lead to synthesis of many hybrid nanocomposites with varying compositional and microstructural features.

What has motivated you to conduct this work?
As the demands of miniaturization, energy efficiency, and environmental stewardship increase, reducing and controlling the functional features of components to nanometer scale becomes essential. Traditional processing methods are reaching their limits. The inspiration comes from nature through elegant examples of materials synthesized in aqueous media under very mild conditions.

Where do you see this work developing in the future?
The work presented in this paper is just one of many being pursued in our group as well as by many other scientists around the globe. The work described here is just an example and will serve as a model to synthesize many other compositions and with vastly different microstructural features that will meet the current and future technological needs, such as sensors, catalysts, structural materials and others.

Are there any particular challenges facing future research in this area?
As in natural soft materials, the interactions between the macromolecules are rather weak, susceptible to "dis-assembly" of the template or the hybrid material by subtle changes in the chemistry or the environment. Thus, controlling the chemistry and the conditions leading to formation of the materials with desired chemical, structural, and morphological features is not a trivial challenge.

Mufit Akinc is professor of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Iowa State University and senior ceramic engineer at USDOE, Ames Laboratory. He holds B.Sc. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, and a Ph.D. degree in ceramic engineering from Iowa State University.  Akinc's research interests include synthesis and processing of ceramic powders and fibers, processing and high-temperature properties of intermetallics, and processing of bioceramics.  His research has resulted in more than 140 papers and 7 patents.  He was appointed three times as a consultant to the United Nations to assist the governments of Korea and Turkey.  Dr Akinc has been elected to the European Academy of Sciences in 2003, and recipient of the Ross Coffin Purdy Award of the American Ceramic Society in 2006.