Projects / Programmes
Novel nanostructured materials with giant electromechanical response, soft elasticity, and unusual physical properties: thermal, dielectric, transport and selforganization studies
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.01 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
Physics of condesed matter |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P250 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties, crystallography, phase equilibria |
| P260 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic and optical properties, supraconductors, magnetic resonance, relaxation, spectroscopy |
| T152 |
Technological sciences |
Composite materials |
| T390 |
Technological sciences |
Polymer technology, biopolymers |
nanostructured materials, nanowires, nanotubes, elastomers, relaxors, confined systems, calorimetry, dielectric spectroscopy, transport properties
Researchers (7)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
We intend to study influence of critical fluctuations on the giant electromechanical response of organic and inorganic relaxor ferroelectrics in the vicinity of the critical point of the liquid-vapor type and in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary. These systems are very important for application due to their giant dielectric, piezoelectric and electrostrictive response, especially in development of new sensors, actuators, and memory elements. Our intention is to study via high resolution calorymetry, dielectric spectroscopy, polarized light microscopy, and piezoelectric coefficient measurements the influnce of the critical fluctuations on the polarization vector rotations via intermediate monoclinic states in the proximity of the morphotropic phase boundary on various relaxor materials. Intention is to determine the nature of criticality and its influence on the giant electromechanical response.
Elastomer systems have attracted special attention due to their strong coupling between the spontaneous orientational order and elastic properties of the polymer network. Soft elasticity makes these systems very important novel materials with potential medical applications and applications in nanomachines and artificial muscles. We intend to perform calorimetric studies of the ordering phenomena, which are directly related to the soft elasticity in the novel main-chain and smectic liquid crystal elastomer materials, which has recently attracted considerable attention. Intention is to prove or disprove an existence of a critical point in these systems. This information is very important for future engenering and properties tunning of these systems.
We intend to perform thermodynamic and structural studies of the novel materials with nanostructured liquid crystal phases, such as confined smectic and blue phase systems, as well as the colloidal sytems with new phases such as transparent nematics. Experimental investigations will be supported with theoretical modelling and numerical simulations. These systems are considered as novel materials in various electrooptical aplications.
We intend to study electrical-transport, dielectric properties, structural selfassembling and external field driven structural patterning of organic and inorganic nanomaterials such as nanowires and nanotubes. Nanomaterials that mimic some functions of the nanomachines, and novel optical and actuator materials have attracted considerable attention of basic and applicative research in last decade due to its potential applicability in medical purposes and in nanocomputers and nanomachines.
Significance for science
Research proposed in project, novel findings about the origin of the giant electromechanical response of the relaxor ferroelectrics, existence of the critical point in liquid crystal elastomers, transport mechanism of electric charge in nanowires, and influence of quenched disorder on various thermodynamic properties of confined systems could besides the advancement of our basic scientific field also significantly contribute to new scientific knowledge, to comprehension of basic scientific laws, to the development of applicative knowledge and novel technologies as well as to production of the novel materials with enhanced properties.
We have shown that the giant electromechanical response in otherwise for application very interesting perovskite relaxor ferroelectrics is related to the existence of the critical points in these systems. These results are very important for future engineering of novel sensors and actuators based on these systems.
Within this project it was shown experimentally for the first time that the type of the giant thermomechanical response in side-chain Liquid Crystal Elastomers can be controlled and thus arbitrary changed from fast (on-off) regime to slow continuous response in a broad temperature range. This can be achived by changing the single chemical parameter, i.e., density of crosslinkers. By increasing the density the response transforms from the sharp, to continuous supercritical like. These results are very important for application because it is now possible to produce materials which properties will be taylored on application demand.
Experimental and theoretical finding that the third blue phase (BPIII) temperature range can be widened for about 20 times in mixtures with CdSe nanoparticles is very important for application since the blue phases play an important role in development of new screens and optical modulators.
We have also discovered novel class of spin modulated multiferroics and new phase transition at low temperatures in Fe-Cu alloys which both were unknown so far.
Significance for the country
Results of the proposed project are very much relevant for the potential applications (as can be seen from the previous work of the project group published in international applyed journals) as they are relevat to the development of novel advanced materials with enhanced transport, thermomechanical, electromechanical and dielectric properties, some of them developed at the Jozef Stefan Institute and University of Ljubljana. This is especially important for development and engineering of new detectors and actuators on the basis of these materials. Research within this project will also help in particular in development of new composit relaxor ferroelectric materials, detectors and actuators on the basis of ceramics in cooperation with the chemistry department at the J. Stefan Institute, development of novel theoretical models in cooperation with the theoretical physics department at J. Stefan institute and Universities of Ljubljana and Maribor. Project has also significant importance in professional trainig of young researchers.
Acqusition of new practical knowledge and information as well as new scientific knowledge allows for improvement and better qualification of the research and development personnel, thus keeping the quality level on international level. Research and improvements of properties of novel materials lead to the improvements of the technological level. Apprehension of the physical properties of novel materials lead to faster introduction and improvement of these materials in industrial production. As the consequence this reduces the production cost per unit and enhances the profit, improves the competitivness and thus enhances the quality of life. Quality scientific research helps in development of university education (undergraduate and graduate levels). Quality scientific achievemnts on the international level enhances the international image of the country and improves the national scientific development.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
