Acronym: POLYSEM

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-1332

Contract number: TE 94, 17/05/2022

Total budget: 450 000 lei

Duration: 24 months

The research aim of this project is the synthesis, characterization and study of performances of novel nanocomposites containing multifunctional Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) as filler. The scientific merit is the use of amphiphilic snowman-type and semiconducting Janus nanoparticles for development of facile solvent-free synthesis of nanocomposites, homogeneity of the filler distribution in the nanocomposites and enhanced electrical conductivity of the final product with respect to that of the constituting polymer components. The first key target of the current proposal is the synthesis of snowman-type JNPs comprising one semiconducting and hydrophobic lobe and one electrically insulating and hydrophilic lobe. The second key target is related to fabrication of semiconducting nanocomposites, ensuring a homogeneous dispersion of the multifunctional JNPs in the polymer matrix. The third key target is evaluation of nanocomposites performances. As follows, the polymer nanocomposites varying in the JNPs loading will be investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. We will attempt to correlate the experimental data in order to shed light on molecular motions, interactions between JNPs and polymer matrix, and on transport processes in semiconducting nanocomposites. What is more, we will evaluate the resistivity of designed polymer nanocomposites in a printed electronic element on a solid support.