Proposed research topics for doctoral theses

Title: Advanced materials for photovoltaic devices.
The research is aimed at exploring new ideas for thin film solar cells based on low-cost technologies, like powder/ink solutions. Template systems are based on Cu2O/ZnO as well as CdTe/CdSe, with the aim of changing the electronic structure of the materials. CIS, CIGS and new systems based on suitable chemical substitutions are also of interest. PVD techniques are also to be explored in parallel. Active collaborations exist with ENEA and other national and international research centers.

Title: Synchrotron radiation X-ray Diffraction for the study of materials.
This proposed topic is strictly related with activities carried out at the Italian synchrotron ELETTRA at Trieste, where we contributed to build and manage the new diffraction beamline MCX. The thesis work would be included in the mainstream of research carried out at Trento (ca 1 year) and Trieste (ca 2 years). Current topics concern: (i) in situ XRD for the study of thin film and coatings elastic properties/texture/residual stresses; (ii) high temperature kinetics of nanocrystalline materials; (iii) advanced line profile analysis methods; (iv) structure solution/refinement studies.

Title: Computational materials science for modelling nanocrystalline materials behaviour.
Activity is within an ongoing collaboration with the MSE School at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where part of the thesis work could be carried out. Joint PhD programs are being created. Several topics are offered, including the modelling of nancrystalline powders (e.g. metal or ceramic catalysts) and bulk systems. the latter topic concern studying the role of lattice defects and nanostructure, also with the aid of advanced X-ray Diffraction methods.

Title: Engineered stress profiles by shot-peening surface treatments.
This activity profits of the unique opportunity offered by a Residual Stress laboratory operating since several years with various techniques (XRD, Blind Hole Drilling, Dynamic microindentation, Curvature measurements, etc.) and by the recently installed shot-peening machine, now available for research. Aim of the thesis is to study advanced methods, and control techniques, to produce suitably designed stress fields in metallic components to enhance performance, and improve fatigue behaviour in particular. Collaborations are already running with private companies.

Title: Powder technologies for ceramic and metallic materials.
Several high energy grinding techniques are available in our laboratory, with a variety of characterization techniques. Various activities can be carried out, including (i) modelling of grinding (e.g. ball milling, cup milling) processes; (ii) nanocrystalline metallic powder production and sintering; (iii) advanced ceramic powders for optoelectronic applications; (iv) nanocrystalline powders for environmental applications; (v) several base-science studies on lattice defects and nanomaterials properties.

Reference person: prof Alessandro Pegoretti

Title: Continuous fibre composites with a nanocomposite matrix.
The aim is the improvement of the thermo-mechanical properties of continuous fibre composites by nanomodification of the polymer matrix. In particular, the attention will be focused on thermosetting matrices, such as epoxies, reinforced with high-strength continuous fibers (such as glass, basalt, carbon or organic fibers) and modified by nanofillers such as organoclays, silica fumed or carbon nanotubes.

Title: Creep and fatigue behaviour of polymer nanocomposites.
The aim of the project is to investigate the peculiar behaviour or polymer nanocompostes under subcritical loading conditions, such as those commonly encountered in creep and fatigue testing. The research will be mainly focused on a fracture mechanics approach to the creep and fatigue failure of thermoplastic nanocomposites.

Title: Oriented polymer nanocomposites.
The aim of the research project is to investigate the thermo-mechanical properties of thermoplastic nanocomposites in form of oriented products, such as films, filaments, and fibers. In particular, the effects of uni- or bi-axial drawing on the microstructure and properties of polymer nanocomposites will be investigated. In collaboration with prof Luca Fambri - Laboratory of Polymers and Composites, DIMTI.

Reference: prof. Riccardo Ceccato

Title: Synthesis of titanium oxide-based nanostructured powders for electrochemical applications.
Provisional research activity (max 5 lines): The synthesis of titanium dioxide powders with nanometric dimensions will be exploited. The synthesis will be in its turn referred to complex inorganic oxide-based systems. The characterization of these powders will lead to several applications in the field of sensors, electrochromism, photovoltaics and other electrochemical devices.

Reference: prof. Flavio Deflorian

Title: Nanostructured organic coatings for corrosion protection with low environmental impact.
The work consists in the development of new organic coatings for corrosion protection with nanopigments improving the performance and reducing the use of toxic components.

Title: Service life prediction of coatings.
The prediction of the life in service of protective coatings is very important in many industrial applications, but it is becoming critical for solar energy applications. The work consists in developing a model able to predict, from laboratory measurements, the service life of coatings for outdoor applications in different environments.

Reference: prof.ssa Sandra Dirè

Title: Synthesis of nanobuilding blocks for the preparation of organic/inorganic films via patterning for sensors application. In the frame of a national project, this research activity deals with the preparation via the sol-gel process of hybrid organic/inorganic materials for sensor applications. Several organic and bio-organic functions will be linked to the sol-gel networks, and functional layers will be prepared by using one-photon and two-photon polymerization processes in collaboration with a research group of the University of Padova.

Title: Synthesis of sol-gel microspheres for the incapsulation of healing agents.
The goal of this research activity is the preparation, by the sol-gel process, of microspheres for the incapsulation of healing agents. The microspheres will be used as active fillers for the preparation of self healing polymers.
(In collaboration with prof. Alessandro Pegoretti - Laboratory of Polymers and Composites, DIMTI).

Reference: prof. Luca Fambri

Title: Processing and properties of polymer fibers. Fiber spinning of polymeric system will be performed by means of a lab-scale extruder. Polymeric composite and blends (virgin and recycled polymers) will be prepared in internal mixer and/or in twin screw extruder. Spinnability of materials will evaluated and compared. Specific testing procedure in fiber characterization will be applied in order to understanding relationships between material processing, morphology, creep, viscoelastic and thermal properties, ….

Reference: ing. Luca Lutterotti, prof. Luca Fambri

Title: Texture XRD  study on oriented polymeric structure.This research will be devoted to study and characterization of oriented polymeric structure, as fibres, films and woven-non woven, typical industrial products. XRD analysis will be perfomed in order to obtain the full texture of the final product, comparing the results with the processing and properties of materials.

Reference: prof. Klaus Mueller

Title: Materials for Energy Storage and Energy Conversion. Solid-state NMR and EPR spectroscopic techniques are applied to study structure, mobility and degradation of fluorinated and non-fluorinated polymer fuel membranes as a function of the sample history and sample condition, and considering different aspects of performance enhancement.  
Solid cationic and anionic conductors are investigated, with particular emphasis on the structural properties and ion mobility. Here, primarily Li conducting materials (Li doped polymers, glasses, plastic crystals or porous materials) and oxygen ion conductors (doped zirconia, ceria, lanthanum gallates, etc.) are considered.
Different types of hydrogen storage materials (metal hydrides, ceramics, porous materials) are considered, and the structural alteration upon hydrogen uptake and hydrogen release, the hydrogen mobility and the degradation of these materials are studied.

Title: New materials for wood and paper protection. Smart materials for wood and paper protection against fungi, heat/fire and chemical attack are prepared using sol-gel techniques. The prepared materials are subjected to a comprehensive structural characterization (NMR, TGA, IR, SEM, mechanical tests, etc.) in order to improve the materials performance for future applications.

Title: Functional materials. Silica (incl. mesoporous systems, i.e. MCM-41, SBA-15,…) and metal oxides are surface modified by organic layers which drastically change the surface features. Such materials are of great importance for HPLC as well as for immobilization of biomolecules and catalysts. Techniques, such as solid-state NMR, EPR, SEM, TEM, X-ray, SAXS, and BET are used to examine the structural and surface characteristics as well as the interfacial properties.

Reference: prof. Massimo Pellizzari

Title: Development of new PM tool materials by Spark Plasma Sintering.
The research is aimed at tailoring and producing new PM tool materials by Spark Plasma Sintering. The design of the most  proper microstructure will be addressed on the base of the specific application. (wear resistance, thermal fatigue resistance…)

Title: Tribological behaviour of materials for hot extrusion dies.
The research is focused on the study of the tribological contact at elevated temperature (400-550°C) between extrusion die and Al billet. A new test methodology will be developed aimed at reproducing the friction and wear phenomena in hot extrusion. The understanding of the base mechanism and the experimental results (friction coefficient, contact temperature,…) will provide the tools for the development of a model describing the tribological contact. New materials/surface treatments will be proposed for the realization of dies.

Reference: ing. Stefano Rossi

Title: Innovative surface treatments to improve perceptive properties of artifacts. The properties required to an artifacts are increasingly determined by perceptive aspects which are present in the observer, in the tactile, visual sense, etc.. The topic consists in the study and characterization of coatings and their deposition techniques to guarantee property considering engineering aspects together with most innovative perceptive aspects.

Title: Corrosion protection of large infrastructural metallic structure.
One of the requirements of a metallic structure is its durability over time. Therefore it is very important to use innovative and reliable corrosion protection systems with low environmental impact.

Reference: prof. Vincenzo M. Sglavo

Title: Materials and components for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).
Solid oxide fule cells (SOFC) represent the new frontier in the environment-friendly production of energy.  Such devices are realized with different ceramic materials that have to be assembled together to realize the electrochemical component.  The present project is devoted in particular to the production of anode-supported cells with high resistance to Red-Ox cycles and the development of conducting coating able isolate the steel current collector from the catode.

Title: Production of ceramic materials for biomedical applications.
The present project aims to the production of granules and porous components by calcium-phosphate or hydroxyapatite to be used as temporary substitute of parts of bones.  Microstructure, porosity and composition will be varied according to the required solubility of the implant material.

Title: Design and production of high mechanical resistance ceramic composites.
The aim of the present project regards the design and production of ceramic laminates with high mechanical performances.  A specific residual stress profile will be frozen in the material by stacking and sintering together layers of different composition.  Both oxides and non-oxides materials will be considered, depending on the potential applications (automotive, safety/armor, biomedical)

Title: Ceramics sintering under electrical field.
This represents an bsolutely innovative reseach field, which is carried out also by some reseach team in USA. The objective is to analyze the sintering phenomenon when a DC or AC electrical field or potential is applied to the component. It has been shown preliminarly that the application of the field allows the consolidation a very low temperature and in very short times.

Reference: ing. Sara Spilimbergo

Title: Mild pasteurization with supercritical fluids. Study on supercritical fluids pasteurization of foodstuff at nearly ambient temperature both experimentally and theoretically:

• Pilot plant set-up at lab scale
• Experimental runs to check the feasibility of the process
• Inactivation mechanism hypotheses 

Reference: prof. Giovanni Straffelini

Title: Contact fatigue resistance of austempered nodular cast iron. The research is aimed at the understanding of the contact damage behaviour in austempered cast iron with different chemical composition and microstructure. In particular, the role of the grafite nodules and og the retained autenite (that may transform to martensite during contact loading) has to be undertstood and modeled.

Title: Optimization of secondary cooling and solidification in continuous casting.
In order to increase the quality (and, in particular, reduce the axial defects) in continuous cast steel products, it is necessary to optimize the secondary cooling. The research is aimed at modeling the influence of cooling parameters solidification on the solidification defects in continuous casting.