From molecules to nanoparticles to functional materials

Abstract

Functional nanomaterials have held a steady position at the frontier of materials science and engineering in the 21st century. “Molecular Designing of Nanoparticles with Controlled Morphological and Physicochemical Characteristics and Functional Materials Based on Them” was the title of the research project funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and performed between 2011 and 2019 in the interdisciplinary area of nanoscience and nanotechnologies. Research activities within this program were divided into five interrelated topics: 1) from molecules to nanoparticles; 2) advanced ceramics with improved functional properties; 3) electrode materials for lithium–ion batteries; 4) nano-calcium phosphate in preventive and regenerative medicine; 5) biodegradable microand nano-particles for the controlled delivery of medicaments. This report gives an insight into this bibliographically most impactful Serbian national project on nanotechnologies executed within the aforementioned nine-year cycle, 2011–2019, focusing here only on the results achieved in the past three years. The project provided an outstanding and internationally recognized contribution to synthesis, characterization and functional design of a number of materials systems, including pure and lanthanide–doped hydroxyapatite, zinc oxides, sodium cobaltates, lithium iron pyrophosphates, lithium iron silicates and a number of polymeric systems.