Projects / Programmes
Magnetic resonance and dielectric spectroscopy of "smart" new materials
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P002 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.03 |
Natural Sciences |
Physical sciences |
smart materials; intermetallic compounds; quasicrystals; thermal memory; multiferroics; unconventional superconductors; frustrated magnets; electrocalorics; cold atoms; elastomer composites; nuclear magnetic resonance; dielectric spectroscopy
Researchers (47)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
"Smart" materials are compounds with unusual, sometimes mutually excluding physical, chemical, mechanical or structural properties that can be manipulated via an external physical parameter, making them promissing for possible functional applications. We will study the following groups of such materials (1-12) and develop the methods for their preparation or characterization (13-14):
1. Materials with "smart" combinations of physical properties like a combination of metallic electrical conductivity with low thermal conductivity and both tunable by varying the composition.
2. Intermetallic compounds for "smart" catalysis with outstanding catalytic selectivity and long-term stability of the catalyst material, based on the active-site isolation concept.
3. "Smart" materials with thermal memory for thermal storage of digital information from the classes of quasicrystals and complex metallic alloys, representing the beginning of thermal computing.
4. Self-organized "smart" nanocomposites like metallic nanoparticle arrays (Co, Ni and Mo) in a dielectric matrix (e.g. Bi12GeO20) that possess functional optical properties (frequency-selective reflectors and/or filters).
5. "Smart" antiferromagnets where the exchange interactions can be continuously tuned by the magnetic field or temperature.
6. Improper multiferroic materials with coexisting magnetic and polar orders and efficient magnetoelectric coupling representing the basis of their multi-functionality.
7. Geometrically frustrated spin systems with unconventional magnetic properties that can lead to functional phases when multiple degrees of freedom are active.
8. Unconventional superconductors where the increase in critical temperatures and critical fields is anticipated due to the electron-electron correlations within the multi-orbital electronic structures.
9. Thermomechanically active elastomer composites are novel, elastically anisotropic materials with a nontrivial profile of thermal expansion, tailorable by orientational ordering of thermomechanically responsive micro- and nanoparticle inclusions.
10. Materials with enhanced dielectric and electromechanical response that are used to control and store charges and electric energy and in advanced electromechanical applications.
11. Materials with giant electrocaloric response for development of new dielectric cooling technologies, less noisy, more environmentally friendly, and more energy efficient than any other existing cooling technology.
12. Nanoscaled transition metal oxides, focusing our research on their catalytic properties in acidic/base catalyzed reactions in organic chemistry and photochemical activity in the decomposition of organic pollutants.
13. Quadrupole resonance of active pharmaceutical ingredients prepared in new, cocrystalline forms can be engineered with adjusted physical properties, e.g. solubility, dissolution rate, hygroscopy or chemical stability.
14. Cold atom experimental setup as a new possible way to design and simulate "smart" materials.
Significance for science
"Smart" materials defined by the interplay of different degrees of freedom are currently at the forefront of materials research in Europe and in the world. This stems from the fact that their physics is far more complex than the physics of ordinary materials, this being also the reason for their ability to be manipulated by an external physical parameter, like temperature, electric or magnetic field. The detailed understanding of how the interplay among different degrees of freedom affects the behavior of the material, its ordering and local dynamics are crucial for the basic science as well as for possible applications. The knowledge of the basic physical mechanisms driving the thermal response of the material and the response to the external fields is currently far from being complete. The gaps in understanding should be closed for the successful future implementation of these materials in various applications areas: for thermal computing as the possible new branch of digital information technology, for sensors, actuators, artificial muscles, "lab on a chip" technologies, MEMS and NEMS devices, memory components, electronic elements in high-frequency devices (GPS systems, cellular phones), frequency-selective optical components, electrical components with reduced heating, cooling devices with higher energy efficiency, devices based on quantum phenomena with reduced decoherence, selective catalysis, increased stability and efficiency of chemical reactions etc. These devices, systems and processes are widely recognized to play an important role in information technologies, biomimetic technologies, energy conservation, and other high-tech endeavors that crucially rely on strong basic science support. All the proposed research topics within this program are at the forefront of modern science, ensuring high novelty, originality and international competitiveness of the proposed research. The results are expected to yield significant advancement and development of the investigated research fields.
Significance for the country
1. Relevance for the economy
The proposed research of "smart" materials falls within the broad scope of "Advanced materials", one of the "Key enabling technologies" in the Horizon 2020 program (http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/area/key-enabling-technologies ). According to its presentation, the advanced materials are expected to bring new functionalities and improved properties, thus adding value to the existing products and processes, with emphasis on the sustainable development. There is a tendency in Europe to shift from the old, resource-intensive industry to the efficient, knowledge-intensive industry, with big emphasis on environmental protection. Advanced materials are expected to play an importnat role in this shift, allowing the European industry to remain competitive against the Eastern developing economies based on the intensive use of resources. The research of "smart" materials proposed in the program is aimed at precisely this goal. It is directed towards the understanding of the properties of materials and thus uncovering of their new functionalities. This also underlies the relevance of the program for the technological development of Slovenia in the framework of existing and emerging small and medium enterprises, finally opening new job possibilities.
2. Promotion and international division of labor
The proposed research of "smart" materials will represent Slovenian contribution to the world level of materials science and condensed matter physics, thus identifying Slovenian society as knowledge-based. We expect significant indirect impact, such as the promotion of Slovenia as a high-tech state, incorporation into the international work scheme by cooperation with foreign top-notch scientific institutions and by participating in European and World networks where the knowledge transfer to the private sector is taking place. The existing program has been successful in both respects in the past.
3. Education and knowledge dissemenation
In line with tradition, the university students of all levels will be included in the proposed research of "smart" materials. They will profit from the existing knowledge of "smart" materials and participate at the creation of new knowledge. Some members of the proposed program group are actively involved at the university as subject holders where the immediate pedagogical transfer of fresh knowledge about "smart" materials to the students is taking place. Two such subjects are being held at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana:
(i) "Methods of experimental physics of materials" by Janez Dolinšek, the proposed program leader, who recently published the manuscript "Experimental Methods of Condensed Matter Physics",
(ii) "Industrial physics" by Denis Arčon.
Another two subjects are being held at Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School:
(iii) "Materials physics" by Boštjan Zalar and Zdravko Kutnjak,
(iv) "Dielectric and thermal properties of nanomaterials" by Vid Bobnar.
(v) "Nuclear magnetic relaxation and resonance of nanomaterials" by Tomaž Apih
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
