VŠB-TUO - Nanotechnology Centre - Departments - Department of nanotechnology and nanomaterials structure

Research

Nanomaterials based on modified inorganic layered structures (silicates and layer double hydroxides) are prepared using following methods:

• Intercalation and grafting of layered inorganic structures with organic and metal-organic molecules, ions and complex ions.
• Synthesis of organometalic complexes, nanoparticles of metals, metal oxides and metal sulfides in nanoreactor of inorganic host matrices.
• Surface modification of inorganic matrices first of all layer silicates by anchoring of nanoparticles (metals, metal oxides and metal sulfides) grown directly on the silicate matrix.
• Nanocomposite coatings on the silicate matrix are prepared by gradual deposition of various types of nanoparticles on the silicate surface.
• Preparation of polymer-silicate-carbon nanocomposites by intercalation and delamination of silicate matrices.
• Nanoparticles for various types of nanocomposites are prepared by mechanical and chemical methods (chemical and electrochemical etching, chemical delamination of layered structure via intercalation) combined with microwave field. Milling and grinding of materials is carried out by dry jet milling, cryo-milling and hard materials grinding combined with microwave field. Nano/micro-particles are characterized with laser particle size analyzer, using dynamical light scattering.

Investigation of carbon materials and friction composites is focused to:

• Structural defects, particle size and shape evaluation in graphite and carbon materials and their impact on the composite properties.
• Mechanism of friction processes.
• Tribochemistry.
• Investigation of friction material components and their mutual interactions.
• Optimization of friction materials composition.
• Evaluation of friction products (i.e. friction layers and friction debris).

Characterization of nanomaterials and composites is carried out using combination of diffraction and spectroscopic methods, electron microscopy, AFM microscopy, chromatography, et.c. In addition to experimental methods we use computer aided nanomaterials design – molecular simulations (molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics). Molecular dynamics calculations of supramolecular structures based on organic guest molecules arranged in host structures and on the surfaces of host matrix are carried out in Materials Studio (Accelrys) modeling environment. Nano/micro-particles are characterized with laser particle size analyzer, using dynamical light scattering.

Analytical equipment

AFM microscope - EXPLORER^TM

Measurement in contact and noncontact mode.
Dry scanner, 8 microns in z direction, maximum range in x,y direction: 100 x 100 microns.
Liquid scanner, 8 microns in z direction, maximum range in x,y direction: 100 x 100 microns.
Dry scanner, 0.8 microns in z direction, maximum range in x,y direction: 2 x 2 microns.
Liquid scanner, 0.8 microns in z direction, maximum range in x,y direction: 2 x 2 microns.

Light microscope - OLYMPUS BX51

Jet mill - STURTEVANT

X-ray powder diffractometer - INEL CPS 120

Curved Position Sensitive detector CPS 120.
Horizontal multi-purpose goniometer - model MPG.
Germanium crystal monochromator.
X-ray tube: Cu anode - fine focus.
Sample holders (flat, capillary) for reflection or transmission mode.

X-ray powder diffractometer - BRUKER D8 ADVANCE

Scintilation and position sensitive detector.
Irradiation source - Co lamp, reflection mode.
Measurement in grazing incidence mode.
High temperature chamber - heating up to 1600°C.
Database PDF-2 Release 2004.

Materials Studio (MS) Accelrys version 4.1. –  software for molecular modeling.

Molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations are used to optimize structure of supramolecular systems and to study dynamics processes (diffusion, intercalation, deintercalation, structure stability, phase transitions etc.