Abstract
The National Institute for Research, Development and Innovation in Functional Complex Materials (INOMAT) represents a new era in the scientific, technological and innovation activities of a group of Brazilian scientists. These scientists, loosely assembled as a group a few years ago, have pioneered a new concept in Brazil: how to explore the knowledge frontiers while at the same time participating in the transformation of knowledge into products and processes that contribute to the wealth of the country. The general objective of the project is the discovery and development of new functional materials that can lead to new products applicable in different industrial sectors and to new production processes. The project general objective is the creation, development and production of advanced materials, leading to the expansion of scientific knowledge and to the generation of new products and processes aimed to different applications. The main materials belong to several classes of biopolymers obtained from the biodiversity and the by-products from agrobusiness, synthetic polymers, amorphous and crystalline inorganic solids, hybrids, nanocomposites, some types of nanoparticles, nanotubes, layered structures, micro and meso porous solids and other nanostructures. Their functionalities make possible the fabrication of several types of products: materials for environmental applications (adsorbents, membranes, catalysts for remediation), for water supply (membranes, electro-assisted photocatalizers), catalysts for hydrocarbon processing, vegetal oils and other raw materials, polymeric nanocomposites, materials for opto-electronic devices and solar cells. The Institute wills also do theoretical and methodology research as well as the investigation of relevant model systems, which generate new information and ideas that will be reflected in the development of new materials. Moreover, it will do methodological research on advanced techniques as mass spectrometry, electron and probe microscope techniques, especially those applied to distribution patterns of electrical changes in solid) Terahertz spectroscopy acoustic and electroacoustic spectroscopes. The general strategy makes use of the state-of-the art in the characterization and creation of novel functional materials as well as of the formulation of new concepts necessary for a deeper exploration of the results obtained from the concerted use of several advanced experimental techniques. A recent example is the demonstration of the effective capillary adhesion in the formulation and stabilization of several classes of nanocomposites, which allows the introduction of original processes and environment feasible processes in the production of new functional materials. The definition of the research directions and the decision making during the implementation of the specific projects will be guided by the continuous access to the relevant publications, patents and news of the scientific-technological-industrial milieu. It is also an important component of the strategy, the permanent dialogue with professionals in the industry, involving all the necessary profiles for achieving the objectives of the specific projects, whether by personal contact, or by participating in events of the industrial milieu. Research Iines that will be pursued in the various nodes of the network are the following: 1) structure, spectroscopy and reactivity of ionic clusters in gas phase and in solids: electrostatics in dielectrics, electrostatic adhesion; 2) nanostructured functional materials: functional porous materials and nanoparticles with core and skin structure; 3) inorganic nanotubes; 4) layered materials: synthesis, properties and applications; 5) nanomaterials: preparation, characterization and applications in cosmetic and pharmaceutical drugs; 6) preparation and characterization of blends and polymeric nanocomposites (specially involving clays nanotubes and biodegradable polymers); 7) development of hybrid nanostructured inorganic-organic systems from recyclable materials (pet bottles); 8) flame retardant materials; 9) materials for optoelectronics: rare earth oxide and semiconductors for optoelectronic devices… (AU)
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