RICERCA ITALIANA     

CENTRO INTERDISCIPLINARE MATERIALI E INTERFACCE NANOSTRUTTURATI (CIMAINA)

Università degli Studi di Milano

Principal Investigator

Paolo MILANI Università degli Studi di MILANO

Research Objectives

The synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials and the invention of devices based on nanoscale structures is of basic and technological interest. The production of nanoscopic devices represents the natural and necessary evolution in many fields such as microelectronics, sensors, and magnetic storage. On the other hand the availability of new materials assembled from nanoprecursors is opening new perspectives for applications in optoelectronic, special polymers, micromechanics, biomedical sciences, genomics, biochemistry, catalysis and environmental sciences.The development of new nanostructured materials and the manipulation at the nanoscle of surfaces and interfaces are of particular relevance. This requires the capability of synthesizing and fabricating manipulating and exploiting the novel properties atomic and molecular structures organized at the nanoscale. This requires also the development of appropriate diagnostic and manipulation devices and tools. There are three main challenges for the nanotechnological approach to the synthesis of novel materials in order to make it a new industrial revolution:The first is to develop experimental strategies that allow us to make small structures and control the architecture of large structures on the nanometer length scale. The second is to study the influence of miniaturization on the chemical, physical, mechanical and biological properties of the novel materials. This is where the basic science is in nanotechnology. This challenge has a strong interdisciplinary character due the development of a new scientific paradigm not based on rigid separation of competence. The third challenge is to develop new and useful types of technologies and it requires a very strong collaboration between academic fundamental research and industrial R&S development.The University of Milano hosts relevant competence and facilities in the field of nanotecnology for several disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology/biochemistry and biomedicine. The goal of the Center is to stimulate and promote a strong interdisciplinary collaboration to develop novel approaches to synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials and interfaces. The new approaches will be based on a deeper understanding of the chemical, physical and biological interactions that influence the assembling of structures at the nanoscale.The Center aims at reaching, on a three-year basis, a world class standard. Its target is to promote and develop basic and applied research activities in the area of Lombardia. This area is strategic for the industrial system of Southern Europe and it hosts the majority of the italian industrial research activities and, in general, the high tech activity of small and medium size industries.The Center will integrate in a coordinate and interactive way its activity with a Center on nano and microtechnology that is under organization at the Politecnico of Milano (there is already a signed agreement protocol with the Milano Politecnico for the collaboration in the area of micro and nanotechnology) and with other initiatives at the universities of Padova and Torino. This with the aim of constituting an interacting network to support advanced research and to satisfy the needs of innovation of the industry in the Milano/Lombardia and Northern Italy area. To this aim a long-term effort will be directed along five main actions:1 Seeding the formation of multidisciplinary research groups for the development of cutting-edge investigations in the field of organic and inorganic nanostructured systems. Improving the exploration of the assembling and manipulation mechanisms in view of the production of ordered nanostructures with complex properties and functions of interest for the fields of catalysis, optoelectronics, drug delivery, microelectronics, biomedicine, and sensors.2 Developing advanced capabilities for fabrication and modification of nanostructured surfaces and interfaces. The aim is the development of highly interdisciplinary approaches by merging of competencies coming from physics, chemistry and biology3 Enhancing advanced characterization methods4 Favoring the technology transfer of synthesis and modification processes by involving industrial subjects. Promoting the diffusion of technological innovation. Collaborating with R&S programs in the field of nanostructured materials.5 Developing new and interdisciplinary educational approaches in the field of nanotechology to act as a school of excellence for graduate and post-graduate studies.The Center will be hosted by the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of the Milano University where laboratories and experimental facilities are already available to allow the starting of the activities. A short period target will be the coordination and improvement of the synergy between scientists and laboratories sharing different background and instrumentation. The Center will base its activity on the already existing facilities in various laboratories. New facilities and state-of-the art experimental apparatus will be acquired. During the first three years of activity the Center will follow the following research directions:-Synthesis of new molecules and ordered nanostructures with non-linear optical properties, photoemission properties and anisotropic electronic transport properties; development of assembling or autoassembling methods of these species on surfaces from liquid phase; synthesis and characterization of novel nanostructured polymers.-Development of novel techniques for the production, manipulation and assembling of gas-phase nanoparticles.-Implementation of different nanoparticles synthetic routes on substrates by the use of surfaces modification and functionalization techniques.-Development of novel techniques for the production of highly dispersed metallic nanoparticles on inert substrates for catalysis.-Patterning and modification of surfaces at the nanoscale-Development of in situ and ex situ diagnostic techniques for the characterization of nanostructured systems (AFM, optical and electronic spectroscopy). Single-molecule characterization by electronic and optical microscopy, AFM, patch clamping, optical and magnetic tweezers.-Theoretical modeling of nanostructured solids, surfaces and low-dimensional liquids-Development of novel characterization techniques for the study of cell molecular process at the nanoscale. Characterization and manipulation of the biomolecule-surface interactions-Production of nanostructured materials for sensors, integration on microchips, software development-Study of the microadhesion processes of biological glues based on large proteinsDuring the first three years, the Center will target the starting of collaborations with companies and technological parks located in Northern Italy. These collaborations will be extended on a national and international basis. The industrial partners will be identified on the basis of already existing collaborative projects with some of the proposers of the Center (Fiat Research Center, Pirelli, Point Dalmine, (see letters of endorsement)). The long-term target is to significantly improve the technology transfer from the academy to the industrial partners.Since the beginning the Center will integrate its technological transfer activities with the Nanostructured Materials Development Center directed by P.Milani. This is an initiative sponsored by the Milano University and located in the Innovation Technology Park, Dalmine (BG). The Park is administrated by SERVITEC and supported by the industrial organizations of the province of Bergamo. The Center will create new educational activities by favoring the integration between the already existing pH schools in Physics, Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Genetics and promoting a new pH school on nanotechnology. We will organize short interdisciplinary courses, seminars on subjects close to the activity of the Center and with leading experts in the field belonging to the Center or coming from other academic and industrial institutions. The Center will also organize interdisciplinary workshops with the participation of visiting scientists in order to favor a cross-disciplinary approach. <<<