Nanotechnology

Overview

Nanotechnology aims at exploiting the remarkable size effects that arise when materials are reduced to nanoscale dimensions. Exploiting such effects will lead to new applications in different areas of human endeavor.

Our goal is to create new materials which can help in decreasing our carbon footprint, cleaning our environment, and improving our health.

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Organisational unit
Lead unit Science and Engineering Faculty
 

Details

Solar Energy

The need for solar energy production is dramatically increasing in these years, making photovoltaics the fastest-growing energy technology in the world. We are researching alternative technologies which can replace the traditional silicon panels at a fraction of the cost and with eco-friendly fabrication process.

  • Organic photovoltaics
  • Dye sensitized solar cells

Environmental Applications

Keeping our environment clean and free of pollutant is crucial in a technological world. We are applying nanotechnology to improve water purification, trapping nuclear wastes, and limiting the amount of chemicals used in agriculture.

  • Gold nanotechnology
  • Water purification
  • Trapping nuclear waste with nanofibres
  • Solar powered nanosensors

Medical Applications

Health is an important issue in our aging society. Nanotechnology can help us in creating new materials for bone and dental implants and tissue regeneration.

  • Tissue-material integration
  • Bone replacement and regeneration

New Materials

Nanotechnology is able to create new and stronger materials. New phenomena occur in reduce gravity: new materials and alloys can be formed in our unique drop tower in the southern hemisphere.

  • Drop tower
  • Polymer nanocomposites
  • Nanocrystalline and amorphous alloys
  • Strain sensors from carbon nanotubes