Dynamics of dense nanosuspensions: a pathway to novel functional materials

ended

Nanoparticles serve as additives for controlling the liquid properties. They are extensively applied in food industry and home care products, they are the essential part of ink and paint formulations and of coatings, they are used for manufacturing of functional materials and are very promising drug carriers. The presence of nanoparticles in air or in water can influence the Earth ecology and human health. Although dilute suspensions of nanoparticles which are close to equilibrium have been extensively studied, in many important applications, such as food industry and printing, the suspensions are dense, or strongly interacting, they experience significant external stress and are far from equilibrium. A fundamental understanding of interaction between nanoparticles in liquid bulk and at interfaces, allowing to effectively use particulate systems in these applications, has not yet been achieved. The aim of the NanoPaInt network is understanding, predictive modelling and application of the strongly interacting nanoparticle-laden systems out of equilibrium. The specific objectives are: understanding strong interactions between the nanoparticles and their effect on the rheological properties of suspensions; understanding the behavior of nanoparticles in complex interfacial flows under strong external forces and with wetting and dewetting; design and applications of smart capillary nanosuspensions; drying of nanosuspensions towards assembly and fabrication of functional superparticulate systems. The training aim of NanoPaInt network is to support the career development of young researchers both in academic and non-academic sectors and to train a new generation of creative, mobile, entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers (ESRs) through the experience of independent and interdisciplinary research, participation at local and network-wide training activities and intersectorial and international secondments.