Projects / Programmes
Sol-Gel Processing and Characterization of Nanostructured Materials
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
1.04.02 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
Structural chemistry |
Code |
Science |
Field |
P351 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Structure chemistry |
P260 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic and optical properties, supraconductors, magnetic resonance, relaxation, spectroscopy |
P352 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Surface and boundary layery chemistry |
P360 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Inorganic chemistry |
P265 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Semiconductory physics |
T151 |
Technological sciences |
Optical materials |
T152 |
Technological sciences |
Composite materials |
sol-gel, mesoporous silica, nanocomposites, chiral information, polysiloxanes, protonic conductors, organic semiconductors, films, electrooptic and electrochemical devices
Researchers (6)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The aim of the proposed project is the synthesis and characterization of novel nanostructured materials of two types: (A) mesoporous silica films bearing a stereochemical information and other porous inorganic oxide films; (B) hybrid organic-inorganic gels and films with iono-optic or semiconducting properties. All the materials will be prepared by the conventional or template mediated sol-gel processing. The silica films of type A have a significant potential for applications in stereospecific molecular separation or in chemical sensing. The chiral information will be imprinted into the silicate network by sol-gel processing of silicon precursors (alkoxysilanes) with simultaneous self-assembly of chiral amphiphilic template molecules. The proposed surfactant (template) molecules consist of a hydrophilic glycoside head group and a hydrophobic alkyl or polysiloxane chain. The synthesized polysiloxanes will be used also for the preparation of sulfonated proton conducting membranes belonging to type B of nanocomposite materials. We will continue our studies on the membranes based on hybrid silica/polyether nanocomposite gels as well, with the aim to achieve higher hydrophobicity combined with good protonic or ionic (iodide/triiodide) conductivity to be used as semi-solid electrolytes in electrochemical devices (fuel cells, dye sensitized solar cells). One of the main goals will be also to entrap various organic semiconductors (OS) within modified silica matrix or another appropriate sol-gel host to produce thin layers with electrooptic properties. Throughout the project, great emphasis will be given to the assessment of the materials properties with regard to their potential application, especially in the light of transient phenomena of the electric current conduction in OS layers.