Projects

• Brief description of the project
• Structure and properties of networks of nanoscopic magnetic wires
• Electronic structure of artificial atoms and molecules: spin-orbit coupling effects
• Computer simulations of quantum transport in semiconductor nanodevices
• Surfactants, polyelectrolytes and nanoparticles as building blocks for surface nanostructures
• Design and computer simulations of the nanodevices to applications in quantum computing
• Current induced magnetization switching (CIMS) and noise characterization of MgO based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs)
• Dynamics of nanostructural organization and activity of photosynthetic systems in natural and model membranes

In 2009 five more PhD positions will be opened:

• Computer modeling of biological nanostructures
• Surface and interface properties of metal-oxide magnetic nanostructures
• Hybrid organic-inorganic layered materials - precursors of semiconducting nanostructures
• Physical properties of multilayer thin films of Mg-Ti-V/Ni and their hydrides
• Nanostructures and stability of thin liquid layers

Supervisor:

Prof. Dr hab. Piotr Warszyński (ICSC) ()

Student:

Małgorzata Adamczak

Topic:

Surfactants, polyelectrolytes and nanoparticles as building blocks for surface nanostructures

Foreign partner:

Dr. Christian Simon, SINTEF Material and Chemistry, Forskningsveien 1, PB. 124 Blindern, NO-0314 Oslo, Norway

Brief description:

Surfactants, polyelectrolyte and nanoparticles has become a basic materials for formation of soft matter (or composite) nanostructures, which can find applications as functional surface modifiers or in targeted delivery systems. By involving various methods of formation of nanostructures both in solutions (e.g. complex formation, aggregation, emulsification) or at the interface (e.g. self-assembly, layer-by-layer adsorption) systems with various properties and functionalities can be obtained. We will investigated various types of ionic surfactants with combination of synthetic and natural polyelectrolytes and/or nanoparticles (metallic, organic, proteins) as materials for formation of nanostructures. We propose several novel approaches to obtain functional nanoparticles, capsules or nanostructured surface, all based on understanding the nature of the intermolecular interactions, which will guide the design of our materials. To control these interactions systems with various parameters such as type and composition of suspensions, electric charge, size, shape, steric conformation of polymers and nanoparticles will be used. Controlling these parameters will provide means to evaluate their role and capability to induce desired self assembled structures that in turn will control their function.

Students international exchange:

Two visits of the phd-student in Norway are planned:
first introductory visit : Second half of 2009 (one month)
second research visit: November 2010 - March 2012 (16 months)

The aim of the first visit is to get acquaintance with the experimental methods available at partner institute and to perform first measurements of complex coacervation and membrane emulsification using model surfactants and polyelectrolytes. SINTEF Materials and Chemistry has a long time experience with the production of membranes with controlled pore size and hydrophobicity. This parameters, decisive, for the properties of obtained suspensions of nanostructures have to be tailored specifically for each material used for their formation.

The second visit will be devoted to the long term systematic study of formation of nanostructures by complex formation and membrane emulsification using previously selected materials (surfactant, polyelectrolytes) in order to determine the optimal values of various parameters as type and composition of suspensions, electric charge, size, shape, steric conformation of polymers and nanoparticles. The long span of the visit (16 month) will be benefitial for both PhD student and the partner institution as a complete set of experiments necessary for full characterization of obtained nanostructures in agreement with they scientific planning.