Bio-inspired synthetic pathways and beyond: integrative chemistry

Herein are described some rational synthetic pathways for generating complex architectures with enhanced application in either optics, catalysis, phase separation or magnetism. The ability of integrative chemistry to scissor condensed matter at several length scales where final objects will be macroscopically one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) is discussed. In this general context, the first section deals with fibers generated either through electrospinning or extrusion processes bearing, respectively, magnetic and sensor properties. The second part is dedicated to periodic mesostructured thin films (POMTFs) and nanotextured films obtained, respectively via EISA and Langmuir–Blodgett techniques, where optical properties will be an issue in both cases through respectively sensing and photo band gap properties. Finally the third part will dedicated to pseudo 3D objects, namely membranes, and 3D mesomacrocellular foams, promoted respectively by mesoscale-driven self organization and emulsion-based synthetic routes where final applications will range from filtration to heterogeneous catalysis. After briefly discussing some challenges that should be addressed in the future for ‘‘integrative chemistry'', we conclude that it should be seen as an ‘‘interdisciplinary tool box'', being a specific space of freedom where each chemist can express his or her own creativity through a rational approach