Solution processable metal boride nanostructures for functional hard coatings in extreme conditions (BORNANO)

Descrizione del progetto

L’ingegneria dei nanocristalli per condizioni estreme

Sebbene i materiali su scala nanometrica siano interessanti, non durano se esposti a forti radiazioni, sostanze chimiche reattive o temperature elevate. Alla luce di tale premessa, il progetto BORNANO, finanziato dal CER, si propone di risolvere questo problema realizzando film sottili con nanocristalli colloidali di boruro metallico che combinano la resistenza dei materiali al boro con la moderna ingegneria delle superfici, proprietà che li rendono adatti al settore aerospaziale, alle strutture in acque profonde e ad altri contesti difficili. Il progetto studia nuovi metodi di fabbricazione, analizza le modalità di crescita dei nanocristalli e crea ligandi di superficie per mantenere la stabilità delle sospensioni, convertendo singoli nanocristalli in solidi film sottili. BORNANO punta alla creazione di un nuovo tipo di rivestimento funzionale in grado di resistere alle condizioni più difficili, combinando la chimica di base con le tecniche di costruzione del mondo reale.

Obiettivo

Nanometer-sized solids such as nanocrystals (NCs) or layers that are one or few atomic layers thick offer advantages in fields from catalysis to optoelectronics. However, they are mostly incompatible with ‘extreme’ conditions, e.g. high levels of radiation, harsh chemicals, or extreme temperatures as found in aerospace or deep-sea infrastructures. To introduce nanomaterials to these conditions, I propose to combine innovative chemical design and surface engineering to create thin films composed of colloidal metal boride NCs. Based on the boron chemistry, these NCs promise unparalleled levels of hardness and wear resistance when processed in thin films, paving the way for the development of solution-processable coatings with many functionalities and resistance to extreme conditions.
I will develop novel metal boride colloidal NCs, study their growth mechanisms and structure-property relationships, use solution processing to create thin films, and determine their mechanical and physical properties as functional materials in extreme conditions.
Main innovations are:(1) as traditional methods have been found wanting in terms of purity, yield, and morphology control, I will introduce innovative high-throughput solid-state synthesis techniques, setting the stage for scalable and reliable production; (2) I will explore the atomic-level surface dynamics and develop suitable ligands to achieve stable suspensions through surface engineering; (3) I will test and validate methodologies to turn individual NCs into solid thin films with similar robustness and stability as bulk materials.
BORNANO aims to introduce a new class of hard coatings and implement innovative processing methods for thin-film fabrication from colloidal suspensions. In parallel, it targets the fundamental understanding of the chemistry of metal boride colloidal NCs and their surface chemistry. These materials have potential applications in extreme condition technologies,from aerospace coatings to sensors.