Basic idea

Today technology, offering innovative solutions in various important applications, require novel, advanced simple or composite materials and devices combining perfectly optimum functionality with low cost, reliability and preservation of environment. Nanotechnology is the ideal approach towards this scope, since the size reduction of matter-structures to the nano-scale can induce novel properties and functionalities. In parallel, the advances in materials science allow easy and excellent control of material properties, leading to novel structures and devices suitable for various applications. Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles as well as carbon allotropes and their composites are considering as promising families of functional materials for many applications. The research efforts in the Smart Functional Materials Group of CEMATEP are focusing on the use of simple, low temperature, low cost and environmental friendly techniques, easily adaptable to the industrial needs and specs, for the growth of novel nanomaterials and devices with tunable properties and multifunctionality in energy, environmental and other daily applications.

Research activities

• Photocatalytic, antibacterial and antifouling materials
• Polymer nanocomposites
• Paints for electromagnetic shielding
• Chromic materials and devices
• Investigation of simple, low-cost and environmentally friendly techniques, such as printing, spraying, etc. and their adaptation to large-scale processes
• Development of laboratory scale prototypes
• Investigation of mechanical, optical, electrical and electrochemical properties of materials and devices in micro- and nano-scale.

Objectives.

• Use of simple, low cost and environmental friendly techniques for the growth of thin films, nanostructure layers, nanomaterials, suspensions and nanocomposites targeting particular applications.
• Knowledge in relationship of composition and functionality to understand the interface between materials chemistry and device engineering for applications related with photocatalytic/antifouling/antibacterial layers, solar control coatings, self-cleaning windows, electromagnetic shielding, optoelectronic devices, nanodielectrics, food packaging, transparent electrodes,
• Theory meets practice to materials with advanced characteristics as well as a better understanding of the structure-performance