In materials research typically materials of either inorganic or polymeric nature are considered individually. However, the need of improvement of materials´ properties and functions more recently requires the fabrication and characterization of hybrids of those two materials classes. For example, for flexible electronics materials are needed which are flexible like polymers, but at the same time show reasonable (semi)conductivity.

Currently, numerous ways for the creation of such (multi)functional hybrid materials are investigated. While purely chemical routes rely on the bottom-up growth, that is, the chemical reaction of organic and inorganic molecules in solvents, our strategy relies on the formation of hybrid materials at the gas-solid interface by applying an industrial process called atomic layer deposition (ALD). This approach is in an early stage of development and opens up exciting possibilities for gaining new scientific understanding as well as producing the developed materials directly for future devices.

In this Master Thesis project, the student will learn about the process technology and apply it in order to fabricate various polymeric-inorganic material combinations. The resulting hybrids will be characterized with a broad range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques in order to understand the composition, structure and morphology. Electrical and/or photochemical characterization will be performed for understanding the level of functionality or activity the resulting hybrids show. 

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this project, the student will have the opportunity to learn about various strategies for fabrication and characterization of the hybrid materials that he/she will develop. Furthermore, the candidate will get insights into the state-of-the-art equipment available at nanoGUNE´s facilities such as mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (TEM) or atomic force microscopy (AFM), among others.

We encourage highly motivated candidates, eager to immerse into a multidisciplinary and top leading research topic in hybrid material science field, to join us and develop their master project in an international and interdisciplinary research group.

Application:

If you are a master student and you are interested in this project, please get in touch with the scientist in charge: Mato Knez (m.knez@nanogune.eu)

To apply for a master scholarship fill in the form below and follow the instructions and recomendations of the general call open until 30 June 2020.