report
3.3.3 State of R&D

Individual nanocomposite materials are currently in a broader commercial application. Rubber-clay nanocomposites e. g. are widely used as additive to vehicle tires and some metal-ceramic nanocomposites are used for surgical implants, as wear and heat resistant coating or as lubricants. However, the majority of polymer-, metal- and ceramic-matrix composites is still in an applied research state with market maturity being expectable within the next 5-10 years. Applications range from lightweight materials via electrode and electrolyte materials to sealings, coatings packaging materials catalysts etc.

Core-shell nanosystems are frequently semiconductor materials with applications in electronics, sensing and bio-medical diagnostics. Core-shell materials are commercially available since the end of the last decade. However, due to remaining issues concerning e. g. water solubility and surface functionalization, they currently represent only a niche market.