National Projects

1.

Project title: Emerging 2D materials based on two-dimensional permethylated metal-organic networks

Project code: PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2000

Acronym: 2D-PerMONSil

Project Manager: Dr. Maria Cazacu

Duration: 2021-2023

Buget: 1200000 Ron

After the discovery of graphene with the set of properties that essentially distinguish it from other allotropes of carbon, ultra-thin layered materials, classified as 2D nanomaterials, enjoy a growing interest due to their unique properties. In this context, very recently become of interest 2D MOFs. But in the crystallization process, 2D layers stack on the basis of intermolecular interactions, leading to higher dimensional materials. To manifest behavioral particularities specific to a 2D material, they must be isolated individually or in multilayers with thickness/surface aspect ratio as small, which is a challenge that seek solutions through different approaches (top-down or bottom-up). The project idea is to design and synthesize two-dimensional metal-organic networks with extremely weak intermolecular interactions, which facilitate delamination in nanosheets. The originality and the key to success in this approach is the use of ligands containing permethylated silicon units which by their natural exposure shield the structure and prevent the establishment of noticeable interactions. New ligands and combinations thereof will be prepared and used to coordinate various metal ions or clusters. Nanosheets formed will be evaluated as such, but also the effect of their incorporation in silicone matrices for the development of materials responsive to stimuli. Their common nature creates the premises for a better compatibility and forming advanced composites.

https://www.2dpermosil.ro

https://icmpp.ro/projects/l6/about.php?id=35

2.

Project title: Intelligent tools for design, processing and optimization of new
PS-POSS-IL (polysulfone-silsesquioxanes impregnated with ionic liquids) type membranes applied in CO₂ gas separation

Project code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3900

Acronym: AI-Syn-PPOSS

Contract: PED 698/2022

Project Manager: Dr. Alexandra Bargan

Duration: 2022-2024

Budget: 598795 Ron

The project aims to develop, through a cost-reasonable approach, a laboratory technology for making new PSf-POSS-IL membranes (polysulfones-silsesquioxanes membranes impregnated with ionic liquids) as active materials with user-controlled adaptability for integrated management of the CO2 gas separation using artificial intelligence tools. The incorporation of silsesquioxanes-the inorganic nanomaterials into the polymer matrix makes possible the improvement of a wide range of properties. Therefore, the heterogeneous matrix membranes composed by a thin film of polymer and well dispersed silsesquioxanes have been studied in CO2 separation. Artificial intelligence tools will be used in order to find the most appropriate reaction conditions for obtaining and characterization of new polysulfone-silsesquioxanes membranes impregnated with ionic liquids (PS-POSS-IL) (with predetermined characteristics) as new materials suitable for CO2 capture and storage.

https://icmpp.ro/projects/l6/about.php?id=54

https://icmpp.ro/aisynpposs/

3.

Project title: Silicone-based modular artificial sensing skin for MMOD impact damage detection and evaluation system in spacecraft Force sensors with self-healing properties

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-0156

Acronym: SilArtSkin

Project Manager: Dr. Bele Adrian

Duration: 05.2020 - 05.2024

Buget: 450.000 Ron

Spacecrafts (such as CubeSat) in low Earth orbit (LEO) are exposed to several hazardous environments including the impact made by micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMOD). There are 500,000 pieces of debris that are currently tracked and there are more than one million small debris pieces that can't be tracked due to their small size. Collision results made by a piece of space debris can cause mechanical damage, material degradation, and, occasionally, the catastrophic breakup of operational spacecraft. Expeditions like Apollo 13 or STS-107 failed due to the lack of identification of external damages in the spacecraft. The project aims to develop a large-scalable method and a modular sensing technology based on silicone elastomers suppressing the disadvantages of other technologies intensely studied at the day. The proposed project aims to determine in real-time when an MMOD impact has occurred on a spacecraft shield or structure, area of the impact, depth, and importantly, where it occurred. Moreover, the proposed sensing technology will be operating on a wide temperature range (-70 to more than 150 oC), being lightweight and able to give real-time feedback to the operator, can detect simultaneous multiple damage impacts of different projectile sizes, as well as recovering the original shape after taking damage will be possible (self-healing properties).

https://icmpp.ro/silartskin/index.php

4.

Project title: Polysiloxane/metal complexes composites with dielectric elastomers properties

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2021-0687

Acronym: DE-Comp

Contract: 33/2022

Project Manager: Dr. Alina Soroceanu

Duration: 2022-2024

Buget: 250.000 Ron

Silicone-based dielectric elastomers are crosslinked materials composed of polysiloxane functionalized with ionizable groups. They are soft polymeric materials that bring together the properties required for actuation and energy harvesting: large energy density, fast response times, operation in air, long lifetimes, and low Young's modulus as well as high value for breaking strain. In spite of their very useful properties, such as hydrophobicity, thermal resistance, low variation of propertis with temperature, their technical use being limited due to the low dielectric constant.

The properties of silicones can be significantly modified from the mechanical and electromechanical point of view within appreciable limits (i) by properly designing the elastomeric network. It is known that the topology of the polymer network is crucial in determining macroscopic material properties, especially mechanical (e.g., elasticity) and physical properties; (ii) by introducing inorganic filler able to increase the permittivity of the siloxane matrix.

The project aims at developing new silicone-based dielectric elastomers by using metal-salen Schiff base complexes decorated with long, high flexible and hydrophobic siloxane segment as active fillers for silicone matrices. The overall objectives address systematic studies of the obtained materials so as to highlight their structure-property relationships. Achievement of dielectric elastomers with high efficiency requires smooth surface topography, good correlations between structural, morphological, mechanical and dielectrical proprieties.

https://www.icmpp.ro/de-comp/  

https://icmpp.ro/projects/l6/about.php?id=48

5.

Project title: Mimicking living matter mechanisms by five-dimensional chemistry

Project code: PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF-2016-0050

Acronym: 5D-nanoP

Contract: nr. 4/2018

Project Coordinator: Prof. Aatto LAAKSONEN

Responsible Partner: Dr. Maria Cazacu

Project duration: 1.07.2018 - 30.06.2022

Budget: 8 450 000 Ron

Mimicking of the living matter mechanism of cooperation by complementarity represents one of the most challenging tasks of supramolecular chemistry. The momentary solution consists in using particularly designed molecular unimers, endowed with the necessary amount of chemical information. The 5D-nanoP project is dedicated to interfacing the fundamental research area of constitutional dynamic chemistry with the practical approaches of medicinal chemistry and biomedical applications. In the spirit of a metaphor of Jean-Marie Lehn (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1987), the project aims to materialize the concept of 5D chemistry in designing, synthesizing, characterizing, and using molecules with conditional affinity, to build versatile supramolecular nanoplatforms able to vectorize compounds of pharmaceutical or biochemical relevance, all of them involved in physiologic and pathologic processes at cell- and tissue-level. The project will add the layer of 5D chemistry over the backgrounds of molecular assembling line techniques, to produce particulate nanoplatforms, self-assemblable in the virtue of the chemical information stored by the designed unimer molecules. Two modern techniques of building dynamic chemical structures will be considered: (i) the use of self-immolative linkers, and (ii) the space stepwise and time phased assisted synthesis. In order to prove the applicability of the produced nanoplatforms, an ex vivo cell cultivation system will be developed, to emulate tissue/tumor niches.  Seven teams will be involved in the 5D-nanoP project, to cover the main addressed research areas: (i) the in silico molecular design, (ii) the development of a unimers chemical library, (iii) the development of a molecular assembling line, (iv) the conjugation of the developed platforms with chemical species of biomedical interest, (v) the build of ex vivo emulating niches, and (vi) the bio-oriented assessment of the nanoconstructs efficacy.

https://www.intelcentru.ro/5D-nanoP/index.php

6.

Project title: Soft electromechanical transducers based on 3D printed silicones

Project code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-3652

Acronym: 3DETSi

Contract: 320PED/2020

Project Manager: Dr. Cazacu Maria

Duration: 2020-2022

Budget:600000 Ron

The project aims at developing a 3D silicone printing technology for electromechanical stretchable and flexible displacement sensors/actuators to eliminate the disadvantages of the classic production processes of these devices, ensuring real time production of complex geometries with high accuracy (and reversible configuration of DETs), involving the formulation and optimization of silicone materials both for dielectric and electrode suitable for 3D printing of DET, the construction of the printer and the development of adaptable software for the production of DETs with different degrees of complexity. Immediate applications of the printed DETs aimed at civil engineering as sensors for monitoring the tension in the structural elements, as dampers for attenuating the seismic movement in buildings, bridges and foundations but also in the field of material testing (determining the Poisson ratio in soil samples). Thus, in the project, the silicone to be injected will be optimized, the 3D silicone printer will be built and optimized to produce electromechanical transducers (actuators and sensors).

https://icmpp.ro/projects/l6/about.php?id=5

7.

Project title: Smart composite system with self-controlled configuration developed from shape Memory/Amorphous Magnetic materials in Elastomeric Matrices - SMAMEM

Project code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-4138

Acronym: SMAMEM

Contract: nr. 321PED/2020

Project Manager: Dr. Cazacu Maria

Duration: 2020-2022

Budget:100000 Ron

The project aims to develop a novel smart composite system, constituted of shape memory alloy (SMA)/ amorphous magnetic materials embedded into elastomeric matrices (SMA-AM/ E) with self-controlled configuration and extended functionality, dedicated to the operation, detection and monitoring of fluid volume, temperature and transition parameters, such as recipients with controlled volume, hydraulic pumps, multifunctional pipes for complex fluid transportation or even stents. Thermoelastic SMAs, such as Ni-Ti-Cu(Nb, Ta) that are nonmagnetic and martensitic at room temperature (RT), will be designed and produced by the Company „R & D Consultanță și Servicii” (P3), under the form of cylindrical ingots. The „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi (P1) will homogenize the ingots that will be cut, hot rolled, heat treated and thermomechanically trained into active elements, which will be attached firstly into 2D flexible modules comprising 3 to 6 elements and finally into 3D systems. The National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics Iasi (CO) will produce, process and characterize the amorphous magnetic microwires, melt spun from Co-based ultra-soft magnetic alloys. CO will study the integration of amorphous microwires into the host composite consisting of a SMA skeleton incorporated into flexible elastomers. „Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (P2) will synthesize and characterize the elastomeric matrix based on polysiloxanes, which needs to be flexible and temperature-resistant. CO, assisted by P1 and P2 will test the functionality of several variants of experimental smart systems with different number of 2D modules and different initial configurations of the modules comprising 3-6 active elements.

http://www.phys-iasi.ro/en/projects/en/smamem

8.

Project title: Dynamic Dual Mode Materials for Human Thermal Comfort

Project code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-1885

Acronym: DYMATCO

Contract: nr. 463PED/2020

Project Manager: Dr. Stiubianu George

Duration: 29.10.2020-29.07.2022

Budget:575500 Ron

The aim of DYMATCO project was to develop, through a cost-affordable approach, a laboratory technology for wearable clothing-integrated materials with passive dual-mode thermal comfort (heating and cooling). The newly developed materials will have user-controlled adaptability for integrated management of the heat flux between the body of the user and the environment. These materials use the synergistic effects of elastomers and nanometer-sized metallic structures integrated within clothing made of usual textile materials (such as cotton, polyester, etc).

https://icmpp.ro/projects/l6/about.php?id=32

9.

Project title: Multi-stimuli responsive silicone composites for switchable dual-function transducers

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-0649

Acronym: SwitchACT

Contract: nr. PD129 /2020

Project Manager: Dr. Tugui Codrin

Duration: 2020-2022

Budget:246950 Ron

The project proposes to broaden the application of silicone elastomers via an innovative technique. The goal of the project is to create dielectric elastomers with diverse functions that may be employed as active components in switchable transducers (actuator/sensor). The suggested solution is unique in that it combines the good features of silicone elastomers with those of spin crossover complexes (SCO) and makes use of the synergy between them. Without the use of solvents, SCO components will be physically integrated into silicone matrices. When SCO components are introduced into the silicone matrix, they perform two functions: they increase dielectric permittivity and transform the composite material into a multi-stimulus responsive material. These materials might serve as the foundation for a new generation of transducers, providing technical compatibility for a variety of applications, including stretchy sensors, flexible electronics, robotics, energy harvesting, medical devices, and environmental monitoring.

https://icmpp.ro/projects/l6/about.php?id=4

10.

Project title: Green silicone-based interpenetrated polymeric „spider webs” engineered for wave energy harvesting

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-0148

Acronym: SilWebWEH

Project Manager: Dr. Bele Adrian

Duration: 2020-2022

Budget: 184450 RON Ron

The main objective of the project is to use nature-inspired silicone-based IPNs to increase the yield strength and elongation at break of the final products based on remarkable architectures presented by spider webs choosing the right similarities, as presented below. New approaches will be developed mainly consisting of obtaining new full interpenetrated polymer networks (IPNs) by choosing different cross-linking pathways: condensation route (Network A1 or A2) and UV thiol-ene cross-linking (Network B1 or B2). Moreover, the nature of these two approaches allowed green approaches to obtain silicone-based IPNs by means of synthesis and thin elastomer preparation. Condensation route (that takes place between hydroxyl-terminated PDMSs) will ensure the radial threads with a variable θ angle by choosing different cross-linking agent (trifunctional or multi-functional; thus a small angle is obtained) and varying the molecular mass will toiler the mechanical properties. UV thiol-ene cross-linking (that takes place between a multifunctional copolymer with pendant -SH groups and vinyl terminated PDMS) will ensure the spiral threads with a variable R distance obtained by different vinyl terminated PDMS having several molecular weights.

https://silweb.icmpp.ro/details.php

11.

Project title: Metal-organic frameworks with hydrophobicity fine-tunned by using silicones chemistry

Project code: PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0642

Acronym: SilMofs
Contract: 114/2017
Project Manager: Dr. Maria Cazacu
Duration: 2017-2019
Budget: 1200000 Ron

The project is devoted to design, synthesis and structural characterization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with controlled hydrophobicity required for certain applications such as gas storage, drug delivery systems, self-compatibilizing fillers for special energy composites, supercapacitors, etc. Different from the approaches reported in literature consisting in attaching hydrophobic groups near coordination sites, or post-synthetic grafting of such groups onto linkers, here will be used mainly ligands with siloxane spacers having attached to the silicon atoms one of the highest hydrophobic group, methyl, but also some derivatives inserting more longer (octyl), more rigid (phenyl, diphenyl), more polar (chloropropyl) or more hydrophobe (trifluoropropyl) groups in order to fine tune moisture stability of the resulted MOFs but also their lipophilicity and crystallinity. The high flexibility of the siloxane backbone allows the organic groups to be arranged and presented to their best effect. In addition, metals in high oxidation state will be used. The key steps in achieving the project objectives consist in engineering the spacer by using new approaches in silicones chemistry (i.e., Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction), attaching coordination groups (by thiol-ene addition or nucleophilic substitution), construction of MOF's and their isolation in a form accessible to characterize accurately. Thus original polydentate ligands mainly consisting in polycarboxylic acids and N-donor heterocycles with controlled diorganosiloxane or silane spacers will be obtained and used to built MOFs. The rare examples of assembling using the flexible linker, apart from those published by the authors of this proposal, and limited investigation in the field opens the innovative perspective for new knowledge and unique properties of MOFs.

http://silmofs.icmpp.ro/index.html

12.

Project: Eco-innovative technologies for recovering the platinum metal group from used catalytic converters

Project code: PN-III-76PCCDI/2018

Acronym: ECOTECH-GMP
Contract: 76PCCDI/ 2018
Responsible Partner: Dr. Maria Cazacu
Duration: 2018-2021
Budget: 800 000 Ron

Autocatalysts are used to convert vehicle exhaust (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, etc.) into less harmful products, such as: carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Platinum group metals (PGMs) are the active component in autocatalysts and consequently the auto industry is the largest PGM consumer. Limited PGM resources demands recycling to support an expanding auto market. Traditional recycling methods are using high temperatures and highly oxidative agents (e.g. aqua regia) making them large energy consumers and environmental pollutants. As a result, there is a need to develop alternative ways to recycle PGMs with a significant decrease in energy consumption and a reduced impact on the environment. ECOTECH-GMP project at hand draws from the knowledge, skills and competences of top leading Romanian research institutions in materials science, physics, chemistry and engineering for creating the know-how to develop the eco-technologies required to recycle PGM with zero emissions. There is currently no such technology available in the world. Four sub-projects are proposed to solve the issue of PGM eco-recycling, encompassing electrochemistry, coordination chemistry, hydrodynamics and bioelectrochemistry. The sub-projects are intertwined and function in synergy to deliver several solutions to the issue at hand. The potential of this project is mesmerizing for any interested company: small initial capital, low energy consumption and high throughput. The benefits for the society at large are thrilling: improved public health because of decreased toxic pollutants (chlorides, nitrates, nitrides, etc.) and creating new jobs owing to the potential of this technology to transform into an industry.

http://www.3nanosae.org/ecotech-gmp-en/

13.

Project title: Energy harvesting structures optimized through green silicone chemistry

Project code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2016-0188

Acronym: GreENergy
Contract: 68PED/2017
Project Manager: Dr. Maria Cazacu
Duration: 1.01.2017-30.06.2018
Budget: 600 000 Ron

The project aims is to develop, through a relatively green approach, a laboratory technology for getting active elements able to efficiently convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. These are based on dielectric elastomers (DEs) coated on both sides with stretchable compliant electrodes forming a capacitor or dielectric elastomer.

The project responds by excellent science (future and emergent technologies) to one of the grand challenges facing EU society, i.e., secure, clean and efficient energy. Dielectric elastomers (DE) have emerged as promising smart energy-transduction materials offering many advantages over other technologies, having good performance as generator (high energy density and efficiency) and better material properties (low cost, high compliance, durability and environmental tolerance).

The project will deliver a laboratory-scale technology able to produce DEs energy harvesting elements adjustable on request, built up from alternating, highly stretchable and compliant dielectric/electrode layers, based on different silicone formulations.

http://greenergy.icmpp.ro/index.html

14.

Project title: New scaffolds for extension of structure-activity relantionship studies of metal-based anticancer drugs

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2016-1027

Acronym: METDRUG

Contract: 5/02.05.2018

Project Manager: Dr. Mirela-Fernanda Zaltariov

Duration:2018-2020

Budget: 250 000 Ron

The present proposal is concerned with the development of new metal complexes based on a library of specifically modified indolo[2,3-c]quinolines and new indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines to be evaluated as anticancer drugs. We propose to extend our studies on structure-activity relationships on these frameworks and to elucidate the effects of location of the lactam group in azepine ring, and orientation of indole basic unit with respect to quinolone-2-(1H)-one entity. The rationale behind our proposal is to design new metal complexes which can allow their application at very low doses due to the highly cytotoxicity, at nanomolar concentrations. Thus the enormous potential impact of these new classes of metal-based drugs relies in their possible site-specific delivery in localized tumors, strongly improving their cellular uptake and minimizing unwanted side-effects, which could offer a significant advantage over platinum-based chemotherapeutics.

https://icmpp.ro/metdrug/index.php

International Projects

1.

Project: Multifunctional Spin Crossover Materials

Project: H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016, Cod proiect:734322
Acronym: SPINSWITCH
Responsible partner (ICMPP): Dr. Sergiu Shova
Duration: 2017-2021
Buget: 90000 Euro

This project deals with an exchange programme of seven research teams with the aim to establish and consolidate a network for the design of innovative multifunctional materials based upon iron(II) spin crossover complexes: their synthesis, magnetic and spectroscopic studies, investigations on their crystalline, liquid crystalline and morphological structures, pressure effects on spin crossover properties and, particularly, their implementation into pressure sensors. The synthetic part of this project aims to access novel types of crystalline and liquid crystalline spin crossover complexes, hybrid luminescent materials, photo-switchable liquid crystalline compounds, composites and nano- objects of original morphologies and transition characteristics. These switchable materials will become a matter of different experiments under pressure: magnetic and Mӧssbauer measurements under hydrostatic pressure and optical experiments in a gas pressure cell. This will allow to reach an important impact on the synthesis of new bistable materials, on their behaviour under pressure, and to make them an active part of different pressure sensors. The academic participants involved in this work have collaborated on joint projects and have co-authored several scientific papers. The two industrial institutions have a recognized expertise in organic and material synthesis, commercialization, as well possessing experience on elaboration of spin transition materials. The establishment of this joint exchange programme will promote and strengthen the complementarity of the participants and will stimulate cross-fertilization, thus forming an excellent centre of synergy in research, innovation and technology in the area of functional materials. This network offers a complete training in the synthesis and characterization of new spin crossover materials for various applications. 

http://amnol.usv.ro/pagina-05-4-b.php

2.

Project title: Synthesis and study of the polymeric metallosiloxanes - new materials for catalysis and nanosciences

Project code: POSCCE-A2-O2.1.2-2009-2, ID 570, SMIS - CSNR 12473

Acronym: POLISILMET

Contract: 129/2.06.2010

Project Manager: Dr. Maria Cazacu

Duration: 2010-2013

Budget: 6 000 000 Ron

Sectorial Operational Programme „Increase of Economic Competitiveness”, co-financed by European Regional Development Fund and State Budget.

Priority Axis 2: Research, Technological Development and Innovation for Competitiveness

Key areas of intervention 2.1. - R&D partnerships between universities/research institutes and enterprises for generating results directly applicable in economy.

Operation: 2.1.2. Complex research projects fostering the participation of high-level international experts.

Legal representative: Acad. Bogdan C. Simionescu 

General objective:

Creating a core of high scientific level competent researchers in metallopolymers field, both in terms of human resource and infrastructure. To achieve this objective, a high-level international expert well-known in the field of coordinative chemistry and physical research methods will transfer his competencies to a host group of researchers with concerns and remarkable results in the field of polymers, namely silicone polymers. This group is part of one of the top research institutes in Romania, well known internationally.

Specific objectives:

1. Implementing within the project team the knowledge regarding metallopolymers (principles and methods of preparation, spectral and structural characterization);

2. Developing the necessary infrastructure for the field which will be approached;

3. Developing new metal polymers using silicones as a polymeric support;

4. Identifying the potential applications for the prepared material;

5. Contribution to the formation of human resources in the research area of this project ;

6. Increasing the knowledge in a niche interdisciplinary field;

7. Increasing group visibility by publishing papers in journals with high scientific impact.

http://polisilmet.icmpp.ro/en/index.html

3.

Project title: New mechanisms and concepts for exploiting electroactive polymers for wave energy conversion

Programme type: 7th Framework Programme FET

Project Reference: 309139

Acronym: PolyWec

Contract: 205EU/26.06.2013

Project Manager: Dr. Maria Cazacu

Duration: 2013-2017

Start date: 2012-11-01
Duration: 48 months
Project value: 2.561.976 EURO (Requested EU contribution: 2.059.156 EURO)
Coordinator: Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (SSSA)

Buget for ICMPP: 376.533.33 EURO (Requested EU contribution: 295.600 EURO)
Co-financing: The Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI)

Programm PNII - Capacitaties Modul III

Co-financing value: 365.819,00 lei

PolyWEC aims at generating new knowledge in different fields of science and with specific scientific objectives developing:

- novel concepts and methodologies for wave energy harvesting through transducers based on Dielectric Elastomers (DEs) materials;

- novel fully-coupled electro-hyperelastic-hydrodynamic models for polymeric Wave Energy Converters (WECs) design, numerical simulation and control;

- novel techno-economical models for assessing the economic potential of DE-based WECs in given wave-climates, as well as for evaluating their energy-carbon sustainability;

- novel algorithms for DE-based WECs control;

- novel concepts and methodologies for the development of DE materials and transducers for wave energy harvesting.

http://www.icmpp.ro/polywec/PolyWEC

4.

Project title: Energy harvesting by dielectric elastomer generators

Project code: IZERZO_142215/1; 10/RO-CH/RSRP/01.01.2013

Acronym: IZERZO

Contract: 2013-

Project Manager: Dr. Carmen Racles

Duration: 2013

Budget: 376266 CHF

SWISS ROMANIAN COOPERATION PROGRAMME

The search for new reliable green sources of energy increased significantly in the last years. Nature offers a number of sources of „unlimited” energy, ocean wave's energy being one of them. Dielectric elastomer generators are a relatively new technology that can convert mechanical energy (e.g. wave energy) into more useful electrical energy. It is the aim of this project to develop new materials for Dielectric elastomer generators. New silicone based elastomeric materials with increased permittivity, low dielectric losses, low conductivity, and good mechanical properties will be prepared. In order to increase permittivity, polar groups will be attached to the silicone chains. Copolymers containing different amounts of dipoles at random position on the chain as well as copolymers where the position of the dipole is precisely controlled will be made. The newly prepared materials will be investigated regarding their mechanical and electrical properties as well as regarding their feasibility to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. At the end of the project, not only should a good material for dielectric elastomer generators be achieved but also the understanding on structure property relationship would be greatly improved.

http://www.icmpp.ro/rsrp_energy_harvesting/energy_harvesting