NANEL

Functional ordered NANomaterials via ELectrochemical routes in non-aqueous electrolytes

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The NANEL joint exchange project aims to establish long-lasting research cooperation between Portuguese, Bulgarian, Belgian, Belarusian and Russian scientists in the field of electrochemical synthesis of advanced nanostructured materials. The collaborative consortium joins together a critical mass of the expertise available in the involved groups. The partners bring the complementary experiences and experimental facilities which are essential for effective development and testing of the nanomaterials for to be applied in sensors and photovoltaics. Mutually beneficial transfer of knowledge will be implemented through an intensive exchange program between six partner organizations. The main technical objective of the project is development of novel functional nanomaterials for sensors and solar cell applications on the basis of ordered nanoporous anodic oxides. The main scientific novelty of the project is functionalization of the porous anodic oxides, such as alumina or titania based ones, via electrochemical or electrophoretic ways using non-aqueous electrolytes. Ionic liquids and molten salts will be used as prospective candidates for the electrolytes. The electrochemical synthesis of nanomaterials has several important advantages because of relatively low costs and fine control of the process parameters. The suggested approach will confer creation of new ordered functional nanomaterials via electrochemical routes which are not possible in water-based electrolytes. Use of non-aqueous solution confers significant advantages for specific materials which are not stable in presence of water or can not be electrodeposited because of the relatively narrow electrochemical window of water.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded scientists have provided solid evidence that there is a new route towards developing advanced nanostructures. By moving away from aqueous-based electrochemical methods, and using ionic liquids instead, novel solar cells and sensors are on the way.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Near room temperature molten salts (ionic liquids) possess many important characteristics. Electrodeposition, for example, allows development of processes that are otherwise impossible in water. Use of nanoporous electrode materials with ion sizes matching corresponding pores for deposition has opened up a whole new range of applications.

The EU-funded 'Functional ordered nanomaterials via electrochemical routes in non-aqueous electrolytes' (NANEL) project aims to develop novel functional nanomaterials based on ordered nanoporous anodic oxides. By using non-aqueous solutions, a host of advantages come to the fore for certain materials. These include materials that are not stable in water or cannot be electrodeposited because of the relatively narrow water electrochemical window.

Project members have prepared and studied ordered porous oxide templates on titanium and aluminium surfaces. Pore geometry was optimised to ensure that templates are suitable for further functional nanomaterial electrodeposition. The possibility of depositing metals on porous titanium and aluminium anodic oxides has also been studied.

Another activity was to employ electroetching techniques with silver ions or heavy ion track etching for preparing porous templates on silicon surfaces.

A large part of work has been geared towards understanding the initial stages of nano-phase nucleation during early stages of electrodeposition. Based on this, the researchers proposed a new electrochemical aggregative growth mechanism.

Scientists need to improve the electrodeposition process for both titanium and aluminium to achieve full pore filling. In other work, the team synthesised magnetic oxide nanoparticles and mixed sulphide compounds for sensor and solar cell applications, respectively.

The project has made important progress, as witnessed by eight publications in peer-reviewed journals. Outcomes have been presented at numerous international conferences. In addition a joint workshop was organised to disseminate project activities, thus enhancing networking among researchers.