During this fellowship we gained deeper knowledge on how a different surfactant affects the stability of suspensions and the formation of ferromagnetic nematic phase. The greatly long-term stable samples achieved were deeply studied in order to relate the defined macroscopic static coupling parameter with the microscopic aspects of these smart materials (N. Sebastián et al., Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 7180–7189). Moreover, in successful collaboration with recognized experts on theory of complex dynamics in anisotropic fluids (Dr. D Svenšek, Prof. H.R. Brand and T. Potisk) we studied switching dynamics in order to analyze the dependency of the dissipative cross-coupling coefficient between the nematic director and magnetization on different material parameters as saturation magnetization and LC host (T. Potisk, et al., Phys. Rev. E, 2018, 97, 012701). The knowledge gained in this study allows to establish which is the path to follow for design of materials with faster responses to external magnetic fields (N. Sebastián et al., Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 7180–7189). FNLC exhibit properties of magneto-rheological fluids which have been explored during the development of this project. Changes of the viscosity up to 4 times have been obtained under really small magnetic fields. Fundamental hydrodynamics of the system were finally explored through the study of the amplitude and rates of thermal orientational fluctuations (N. Sebastián, et al., J. Mol. Liq., 2018) and their dependency of external magnetic fields. All together MagNem outcome constitutes outstanding progress in terms of generated knowledge in this previously inaccessible field of soft matter, which is expected to boost a wide range of investigations, both in fundamental science and in technological applications.
The successful realization of MagNem has allowed the fellow to broaden her scientific and transferable skills in one of the top research institution in Europe. In the framework of H2020, open access to all the per-reviewed publications related with MagNem has been ensured through the ArXiv repository. During the completion of this action special attention was paid in the communication and dissemination of the results to the scientific community and the general public, in order to increase awareness of science. Finally, MagNem's impact on the ERA can be accounted by the interdisciplinary approach of its research, the transfer of knowledge and the creation of new long-term synergies between researchers and institutions of different countries. It should also be noted, that MagNem allowed the ERA to keep a leading position in the research on this new type of advanced functional composites that are the ferromagnetic nematic colloidal systems.
