Defects dynamics in NanoMaterials: research based on Ion Track Experiments - DOK
Principal investigator
Advanced materials and advanced materials processing techniques are basis of the present-day technology. Scientific advances initiated by recent discovery of graphene that captures many extraordinary properties in a single material promises unpreceded benefits that should justify disruption of current industrial processes, thus giving birth to radically new products. Clearly, to control properties of these new and exciting nanomaterials is of paramount importance for any kind of industrial application. Ion implantation is good example where electrical properties of semiconductors can be tuned in extraordinary wide range by ion doping. High energy ion irradiations can also be used to control materials properties, but in this instance control is achieved via defect engineering (i.e. ion tracks). This kind of irradiation has found many uses in diverse applications like track-etch-membrane production, hadron therapy, and nuclear waste storage studies.The aim of the project is to study in detail defects and their dynamics in advanced materials during high energy ion irradiation, in order to establish suitable conditions for defects engineering. In the research focus is defects analysis in graphene and other selected 2D materials using AFM/STM and Raman spectroscopy. Complementary to this research, studies of defects engineering by high energy ion beams in other technologically relevant materials using RBS/c-PIXE/c and AFM will be undertaken. To gain full control over defect engineering using ion beams, it is important to understand basic mechanisms governing defect production and their dynamics. Therefore, expected results of the project will provide insight into processes governing defect dynamics in advanced materials during ion irradiation. We expected project results to have impact on applications, like sensing and catalysis, due to new materials functionalities gained by defects engineering.