Molecular dynamics in disordered systems – Fundamentals

  • Comparative study of the dynamics of amorphous polymers by relaxation techniques and physicochemical methods
  • Investigation of the effects on the structure and local dynamics of polymers, composites and glass-forming liquids induced by confinement in small volumes of nanometric size
  • Study of polymeric chain dynamics in different systems of well defined architectures (block copolymers, star-like macromolecules, dedrimers) under variation of chemical and geometrical restrictions

Investigation of structure-property relationships in various composite materials

  • Relationships between polymer mobility, material microstructure and macroscopic physical properties
  • Development of methodologies for structural and morphological characterization of nanostructured materials using dielectric measuring techniques
  • Nanoscale modifications of brittle polymer networks by flexible crosslinks
  • Measurements and modeling of the electrical conductivity in nanocomposites consisting of conductive and insulating regions
  • Dynamics and molecular motions in various composite materials: polymeric blends, IPNs, block copolymers, engineering thermoplastics and thermosets, hyperbranched polymers, hybridic materials (polymeric matrix with inorganic inclusions like metal oxides, clays, POSS particles, CNTs)

Electrical conductivity of materials

  • Conductivity effects in various systems: polymer electrolytes – ionic conductors, two- or multi-phase systems exhibiting a percolation-type conductivity (insulating polymeric matrix with conductive inclusions (e.g. metallic particles, CNTs, conductive polymeric phase)
  • Monitoring of changes in electrical resistivity and in dielectric properties of swollen conductive polymeric nanocomposites and inherently conductive polymers which can be potentially used in gas sensing applications
  • Properties of conductive composite polymeric systems used in electromagnetic shielding applications

Thermal conductivity of materials

Processes of heat transfer in a variety of neat materials (polymers, ceramics, metals) or in composites (or nano-composites) based on those matrices

Thermoresponsive behavior

Investigation of the thermoresponsive behavior (transitions) of novel polymeric systems of various forms (nanostructures, networks etc), targeting on a variety of applications, such as in biomedicine (drug delivery applications)

Molecular dynamics and conductivity

Molecular dynamics and conductivity exhibited by materials under on line varying atmosphere (gas sensors applications)

Hydration properties of materials

  • Investigation of the hydration properties of polymers, composites and nanostructured polymer-based materials including both, the various forms of water molecules organization in these materials and the effects of water on the structure and local dynamics of the matrix material
  • Local molecular dynamics and origin of interactions existed between adsorbed water molecules and biocompatible materials. Comparative study of hydrogels by various techniques
  • Molecular dynamics of proteins and thermal transitions at various levels of hydration
  • Equilibrium Sorption and water diffusion measurements on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials in a wide range of relative humidities
  • Hydration properties and transport phenomena in porous media (e.g. silica, natural rocks) and in materials candidates for food packaging applications

Liquid crystals and crystalline polymers

Molecular dynamics in liquid crystals (smectic and discotic forms) and liquid crystalline polymers

Structural health monitoring

Structural health monitoring of conductive filler reinforced polymer composites via dc and ac conductivity measurements (by combining mechanical and dielectric measurements on line)

Chemical processes monitoring

Monitoring of reactive chemical processes, such as the curing of thermosetting polymers