| title: | Interaction between matrial particles for engeneering new multifunctional (industrial) materials. |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6660 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
2.2. Materials Science |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Institute of Physics at University of Tartu |
| head of project: | Ants Lõhmus |
| duration: | 01.01.2006 - 31.12.2009 |
| description: | Research aims at determination of the nature of chemical and physical interactions between material particles and utilizing the obtained knowledge in increasing the practical functionality of several different nanomaterials. The research focuses on: * determination of the nature of chemical and physical interactions in complex materials that control the degree of functionality of the materials; * development of sol-gel technologies that increase the functionality of several nanomaterials respective to external fields, environment, electric current etc.; * fundamental research on structure of sol-gel materials for development of new gas, scanning probe and optical near field sensor technologies; * investigation of the conditions near superplastic state in order to improve the cermets technologies by reducing the density of defects in materials, thus increasing their potential functionality. Systematic fundamental and applied research by our and other groups has proven sol-gel method as effective tool for making new functional coatings, powder and fiber materials. Several materials can be utilized as intelligent sensor materials. In the framework of current project experiments towards new gas sensors that base on luminescence and novel SPM sensors have been planned. These experiments will base on knowledge and experiences acquired during research on interactions between nano- and microparticles in these materials. Furthermore, superplastic composite materials will be studied aiming to decrease the density of defects in these materials in order to increase their functionality and facility of processing. Aforementioned research will focus on hafnium, zirconium, titanium and tin oxides. Search for completely new and non-investigated structures holds several innovative aspects, which, however, are stalked by certain risks in terms of feasibility of the predicted outcomes. As one of the most beneficial virtues the sol-gel technology readily enables to link technically and substantially distant researches. Despite rather unsophisticated nature of sol-gel processes (hydrolysis and polymerization of precursor alkoxide and subsequent gelling of the formed sol) there are serious amount of reaction conditions that can be affected. As a result, materials of very different kinds can be produced, and constantly room for innovations remains. During the gelling process the sol particles agglomerate to form a bulk elastic system. The subsequent treatments of the formed gel involve the removal of solvents and thermal annealing, which lead to the formation of solid oxide materials that can be put into a variety of practice (fibers, powders, films, monoliths etc.). |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Irina Hussainova | |||
| 2. | Urve Kallavus | |||
| 3. | Ants Lõhmus | Tartu Ülikooli Füüsika Instituut | ||
| 4. | Uno Mäeorg | |||
| 5. | Jüri Pirso | |||
| 6. | Valter Reedo | |||
| 7. | Kristjan Saal | |||
| 8. | Ilmo Sildos | |||
| 9. | Tanel Tätte | |||