NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS - K7
- Technologically interesting materials (by application): intermetallic alloys, hydrogen-storage materials, materials for microdevices, sensors, high-temperature materials (for extreme conditions), semiconducting ceramics, varistors
- Materials with various structures: quasicrystals, magnetic thin films, functionally graded materials, composites with continuous ceramic fibres
- Modifying the properties of colloidal particles: coating with monomolecular layers, studying the influence of magnetic fields on crystal growth
- Modelling of advanced technologically interesting materials: spintronics, nanowires
- Developing techniques for thin and thick layers of solid products: electrodeposition, electrophoresis, infiltration of colloidal suspensions
- Analysing the physical properties of materials: magnetic and electrical properties
- Developing new analytical methods for microstructure analyses
- Studying microstructures: anisotropy, twins, phase transformations
- Mineralogy: paragenesis and morphology to support the tailoring of materials with special properties, preserving the natural heritage
Head of Department
Prof. Sašo Šturm, Ph. D., saso.sturm@ijs.si
Secretary
Sabina Cintauer, sabina.cintauer@ijs.si
Telephone: +386 1 477 38 90
In the program the connection between nanostructural constituents and final properties are studied interactively. We investigate intermetallic magnetic materials, quasicrystals, natural and synthetic materials (amorphous and crystalline nanoparticles), ceramic sensors, the consequences of mechanical wear, neutron radiation, etc. (amorphous and crystalline precipitates), SiC, Si3N4, ZnO varistors (nano-amorphous layers in polycrystalline ceramics), thin films, hetero-layered structures - spintronics, polytypic sequences (grain boundaries between various phases), perovskites, functionally gradient materials like the ceramic parts for hip-joint prostheses, thick coatings (gradients of the structure and chemical composition). Various approaches are used for processing, e.g., powder metallurgy, high-energy milling, HDDR processing, pulsed-laser deposition, processing in aqueous and non-aqueous suspensions, forming from suspensions, building layered structures on different substrates, and layers with various thicknesses (electrophoresis, electrodeposition).
The final goal of our research is to gain the knowledge that will enable us to tailor the properties of various ceramic and metallic materials. This includes improving the final properties of functional materials that we have studied and developed until now, as well as the research and development of new materials with new processing methods.