Bio-inspired synthesis of ceramic materials

The evolution-optimized processes of biomineralization lead to the formation of multifunctional biominerals, that can be considered to be inorganic/organic composite materials with a complex structure. The formation of these solids occurs in aqueous solution at ambient conditions and involves biopolymeric templates that control the mineralization of the inorganic components. Bio-inspired material synthesis aims to imitate such principles by technical means. In the meantime thin films as well as multilayer composites made of ceramics and polymers were prepared successfully. Moreover, morphologies, that are similar to structures found within living nature, have been created.