1 Introduction to Hybrid Materials (Guido Kickelbick).1.1 Introduction.1.1.1 Natural Origins.1.1.

2 The Development of Hybrid Materials.1.1.3 De.nition: Hybrid Materials and Nanocomposites.1.1.4 Advantages of Combining Inorganic and Organic Species in One Material.

1.1.5 Interface-determined Materials.1.1.6 The Role of the Interaction Mechanisms.1.2 Synthetic Strategies towards Hybrid Materials.

1.2.1 In situ Formation of Inorganic Materials.1.2.1.1 Sol-Gel Process.1.

2.1.2 Nonhydrolytic Sol-Gel Process.1.2.1.3 Sol-Gel Reactions of Non-Silicates.1.

2.1.4 Hybrid Materials by the Sol-Gel Process.1.2.1.5 Hybrid Materials Derived by Combining the Sol-Gel Approach and Organic Polymers.1.

2.2 Formation of Organic Polymers in Presence of Preformed Inorganic Materials.1.2.3 Hybrid Materials by Simultaneous Formation of Both Components.1.2.4 Building Block Approach.

1.2.4.1 Inorganic Building Blocks.1.2.4.2 Organic Building Blocks.

1.3 Structural Engineering.1.4 Properties and Applications.1.5 Characterization of Materials.1.6 Summary.

2 Nanocomposites of Polymers and Inorganic Particles (Walter Caseri).2.1 Introduction.2.2 Consequences of Very Small Particle Sizes.2.3 Historical Reports on Inorganic Nanoparticles and Polymer Nanocomposites.2.

4 Preparation of Polymer Nanocomposites.2.4.1 Mixing of Dispersed Particles with Polymers in Liquids.2.4.2 Mixing of Particles with Monomers Followed by Polymerization.2.

4.3 Nanocomposite Formation by means of Molten or Solid Polymers.2.4.4 Concomitant Formation of Particles and Polymers.2.5 Properties and Applications of Polymer Nanocomposites.2.

5.1 Properties.2.5.2 Applications.2.5.2.

1 Catalysts.2.5.2.2 Gas Sensors.2.5.2.

3 Materials with Improved Flame Retardance.2.5.2.4 Optical Filters.2.5.2.

5 Dichroic Materials.2.5.2.6 High and Low Refractive Index Materials.2.6 Summary.3 Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Particles (Elodie Bourgeat-Lami).

3.1 Introduction.3.2 Methods for creating Particles.3.2.1 Polymer Particles.3.

2.1.1 Oil-in-water Suspension Polymerization.3.2.1.2 Precipitation and Dispersion Polymerizations.3.

2.1.3 Oil-in-water Emulsion Polymerization.3.2.1.4 Oil-in-water Miniemulsion Polymerization.3.

2.1.5 Oil-in-water Microemulsion Polymerization.3.2.2 Vesicles, Assemblies and Dendrimers.3.2.

2.1 Vesicles.3.2.2.2 Block Copolymer Assemblies.3.2.

2.3 Dendrimers.3.2.3 Inorganic Particles.3.2.3.

1 Metal Oxide Particles.3.2.3.2 Metallic Particles.3.2.3.

3 Semiconductor Nanoparticles.3.2.3.4 Synthesis in Microemulsion.3.3 Hybrid Nanoparticles Obtained Through Self-assembly Techniques.3.

3.1 Electrostatically Driven Self-assembly.3.3.1.1 Heterocoagulation.3.3.

1.2 Layer-by-layer Assembly.3.3.2 Molecular Recognition Assembly.3.4 O/I Nanoparticles Obtained by in situ Polymerization Techniques.3.

4.1 Polymerizations Performed in the Presence of Preformed Mineral Particles.3.4.1.1 Surface Modi.cation of Inorganic Particles.3.

4.1.2 Polymerizations in Multiphase Systems.3.4.1.3 Surface-initiated Polymerizations.