General Information
Materials Engineering is a discipline that applies the knowledge and principles of materials science into research on problems linked to the materials applications. Materials engineers continue to be at the vanguard of many areas of science. The Gdańsk University of Technology accommodates multiple groups researching various types of areas which all can be described as materials studies. In the case of the scientific research undertaken in our university, we are interested in both industrial applications and basic research. Knowledge of the relations concerning properties, structure, processing, and performance makes the researchers working in materials engineering the masters of the engineering universe.
Ceramics Engineering
The vast group of materials studied by scientists affiliated with our university can be assigned to the ceramics group. A ceramic is an inorganic non-metallic solid made up of either metal or non-metal compounds that have been shaped and then hardened by sintering at elevated temperatures. Ceramics synthesized and studied at GUT belong to both industrial ceramics (concrete, bricks) and well as functional ceramics (electroceramics, thermoelectrics, superconductors, dielectrics). The basic studies undertaken at Gdańsk Tech are focused on ceramics for various energy conversion applications like fuel cells, photovoltaics, thermoelectrical energy sources, or batteries. The properties studied by research groups cover structure, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, mechanical properties and other refine materials parameters.
Physical properties of materials
The important part of the material studies is the low-temperature testing. The studies at Gdańsk Tech also cover this aspect. Usage of techniques allowing measurements at temperatures as low as liquid helium temperature allows scientists to measure the physical properties of superconductors and other interesting physical systems. Thermal analysis laboratory from the other end focuses on high-temperature properties of different materials including organic and non-organic functional materials. One of the important aspects of the physical properties’ determination is also studies basing on the structure and microstructure of materials. The groups working at Gdańsk Tech use both in-house equipment and external big scale facilities like neutron sources and synchrotron beamlines. Moreover, the studies of electrical properties are also an important part of today's materials science. The research includes both materials testing as well as testing of operating devices like e.g., fuel cells and capacitors. Our research focus spans from development of the new materials for energy storage and conversion, characterizing and modelling reactions on interfaces, and creating the fundamental understanding of the effects of structure and defects on transport and electrical properties. These include world-leading measurement techniques for determination of various materials characteristics.
Biomaterials Engineering
Biomaterials is a growing field that aims to develop materials to enhance the interface between technology and human tissue. In the case of studies undertaken at the Gdańsk Tech, the biomaterials for implantology are a broad topic. Resorbable and inert alloys for use as fixation or joint replacement to healing reconstructed and grafted bone as well as materials for regeneration of bone such as resorbable materials for biomanufacturing are investigated.
Studies of nanostructures
Nanostructured materials as nanoparticles, nanorods, nanotubes, nanopillars, nanolayers, nanocoatings, and even nanodevices have conquered the research field in the past three decades. Nanostructured materials can be strategically engineered by the controlled fabrication of numerous suitable nanoobjects as building blocks. Fabrication of nanostructures with the special emphasis put on nanolayers is one of the hot material topics realized at the Gdańsk Tech. The novel techniques of particle and layer deposition are developed to optimize different classes of materials. The engineering of nanostructures focuses on a broad range of materials and applications including biological barriers and coatings, energy harvesting and storage applications, electronic, optoelectronic, and photonic devices based on organic and inorganic materials, quantum dots. The research at Gdańsk Tech also aims at characterizing, determining, and computing the unique biological, chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of various forms of nanostructured materials.
Keywords: ceramics, materials science, biomaterials, nanomaterials, layers, intermetallics, electrolytes, alloys
