Liquid Crystals

Paramagentic metal-containing porphyrazine based discotic liquid crystals have been shown to exhibit interesting materials properties based on the magnetic susceptibility of the unpaired electron density of the metal and the intense electronic absorption bands of the porphyrazine backbone. We are working towards understanding the behavior of these materials throughout their phases with an array of spectroscopic techniques including solid state NMR, neutron scattering, and Raman spectroscopy.

Nanotubes
 
A wide range of nanomaterials such as composites obtained by dispersing carbon nanotubes, nanoclays, conducting nanoparticles, and magnetic nanoparticles are  characterized by a several experimental techniques (Electron Spin Resonance, Raman Spectroscopy, FTIR, UV-VIS, Impedance Spectroscopy, Dynamical Mechanical Analysis, and microscopy). The research focused on carbon nanotube based composites aims to improve the understanding of the interface between carbon nanotubes and the polymeric matrix, and to a more detailed analysis of the load transfer from the composite to the carbon nanotube. The mechanical properties of these composites are governed by the interface characteristics. Future investigations will concentrate on various surface treatments and will result in a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the outstanding mechanical properties of such composites.