The Center for Microscopy and Detection of Nanomaterials
The Center for Microscopy and Detection of Nanomaterials (CMD-NANO) specializes in researching the structural properties of nanomaterials, such as those that are synthesized in detail at the Laboratory for the Synthesis of Inorganic Nanotubes and Ropes (LSNIR), Department of Solid State Physics, IJS, and those samples from the atmosphere of working and general environments. CMD-NANO carries out experimental research on nanoparticles from the point of view of their size, morphology, electrical properties, agglomerations and interactions with the substrate. Research is performed with a combined atomic microscope, which contains microscopy probes for atomic force and scanning tunnelling microscopy. The advantage of such an instrument is that it distinguish between electronic and morphological information on nanomaterials. The instrument is equipped with Kelvin probe for measuring work function with nanometre resolution and with device for field emission experiments. The microscope is entirely aimed at researching the surface structure of inorganic nanotubes in partnership with an industrial EU project and study of inorganic nanoparticles, training young researchers and graduates of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and the implementation of bilateral projects. In addition to the study of morphology, we measure the coefficient of friction of various materials useful for lubricants (cooperation with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UL) and electrical properties of nanotubes.
Air sampling is carried out with the nanoparticle detector, which is in the prototype phase and is being built in cooperation with the EU project and the national project, and with commercial TSI instrument working in the size range 12 nm to 750 nm. For standardization purpose we have also generator of ultrafine dust and instrument for Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) applicable for polymer nanocomposites.
