Recruitment: 15 ESRs have been recruiting after a selection procedure among 475 applications.
Training: 5 training events have been organized: 1) Fundamentals of electrochemistry and corrosion mechanisms – TUD 15-20/07/2018, 2) Structural, mechanical and surface analytical techniques – JTH 6-9/11/2018, 3) Fundamentals of corrosion protection and coatings production – JSI 24-29/06/2016, 4) Corrosion protection at micro-scale - application fields – UAB 18-20/11/2019, 5) Innovation and Technology Transfer – VUB (Online event) 25/05-19/06/2020
Research activities:
WP2: The corrosion mechanisms in the three application fields have been studied. In particular, localized electrochemical techniques were used to evaluate corrosion phenomena in implantable alloys, micro-nano swimmers, SD memory cards and fuel cells bipolar plates
WP3: A Dynamic Electrolyte Film Model has been developed which numerically simulates the thickness evolution of a uniform thin electrolyte layer due to condensation/evaporation of moisture. A deterministic pitting corrosion model has been implemented and validated on aluminium alloys.
WP4: Different types of coatings have been developed for different applications. In particular, ALD Al2O3 and HfO2 single and multilayer coatings as well as chitosan based coatings have been developed on biomedical alloys, Ni-Sn, SnNiCu and Ag pure and composite coatings have been produced by electrodeposition from ionic liquids on printed circuit boards and Ce based conversion coatings have been developed and studied to protect aluminium alloys.
WP5: Ferromagnetic-ferroelectric multilayers, self-rolled helicalr structures and core-shell nanoparticles composed by CoFe2O4-BaTiO3 (CFO-BTO) have been prepared and characterized. Electrolytic anodization has been used to create nanotubes arrays on Ti6Al4V implantable alloy decorated with either Cu, Zn or Ag nanoparticles to enhance osteointegration and to decrease the microbial risk. Rat organotypic cultures as model of epilepsy have been successfully established in culture.
WP6: Integrated multifunctional hinged nanorobots with high biocompatibility has been produced consisting of a magnetic Ni head and a Rh tail connected with a deformable hinge. A wearable sensing device combining electromagnetic metamaterial resonators with surface acoustic wave actuators has been developed for sweat sampling.
WP7: Electrodeposition of Ni-Pt porous film, anodization of Ni foams in molten salts and template assisted electrodeposition to produce free-standing nanowires are the techniques which have been used in order to obtain high active surface and corrosion resistant electrodes. NiPt nanoparticles have also been deposited on GDLs and tested in PEMFC.
Dissemination/communication:
29 scientific peer-reviewed papers and 42 presentations to international/national congresses have been produced. mCBEEs dedicated sessions have been organized in Electrochem 2019 and Eurocorr 2020 conferences. A final mCBEEs workshop has been organized and held online on July 2021. The mcbees activities were also reported in bulletins of scientific and technical journals of industrial associations and continuously through the web site of the project, on facebook, twitter and linkedin pages and videos prepared by the ESRs have been published to the mCBEEs youtube channel.
