TEAM Project : ‘Self-assembly of functionalized inorganic-organic liquid crystalline
hybrids for multifunctional nanomaterials’- supported by the Polish Foundation of
Science
Nov 1, 2010 – Spt 30, 2013
chemistry and physics of hybrid materials
dr. hab. Ewa Górecka, prof. UW
Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw
Project duration:
Discipline:
Head of the TEAM:
Location:
We are seeking for 2 Post-Docs, 5 PhD students and 1 MSc student to work on the TEAM
Project. Candidates from all countries are invited to apply.
Position
Formal requirements

Postdoctoral fellow



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PhD student
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Undergraduate
student
Duration
Benefits
PhD degree (organic chemistry, physical
chemistry, physics) obtained not earlier
than 4 years ago
2 articles in journals from ‘Philadelphia
List’
good command of English
1 year
(with possibility
for extension up
to 3 years)
MSc in the field of chemistry, physics or
related subject
candidate should be either already
enrolled to PhD program or being able to
fulfill all formal requirements required in
order to be enrolled to PhD program (at
Warsaw University or other scientific
institution).
good command of English
up to 3 years
monthly income of
3500 PLN (nontaxed)
completed 3rd year of studies at the faculty
of Chemistry or Physics
1 year
monthly income of
1000 PLN (nontaxed)
monthly income of
5000 PLN
(non-taxed)
Candidate should send application documents by 15th Oct 2010. After screening of application
documents, the successful candidate will be invited for interview. In case of foreign students
on-line interview can be arranged.
TEAM Project : ‘Self-assembly of functionalized inorganic-organic liquid crystalline
hybrids for multifunctional nanomaterials’- supported by the Polish Foundation of
Science
Project duration:
Discipline:
Head of the TEAM:
Location:
Nov 1, 2010 – Spt 30, 2013
chemistry and physics of hybrid materials
dr. hab. Ewa Górecka, prof. UW
Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw
Concept and objectives
Main topic: Synthesis and characterization of new hybrid materials made from inorganic nanoparticles
grafted with polyfunctional organic compounds, able to self-assemble into liquid crystalline structures.
Objective: Prepare self-organized multi-functional hybrid materials with programmed optical, dielectric,
magnetic or multiferroic properties. 3D-metamaterials constitute our ultimate goal and will receive as
such a special interest.
Impact: Development of scalable process for the preparation of new hybrid materials with potential
applications in optics, electronics and magnetism.
The aim of this project is to develop novel approaches for the fabrication of self-organized materials for
future photonic technologies. In particular, we are aiming to synthesize of inorganic/organic
building blocks able to self-assemble into liquid crystalline (LC) structures and to investigate
their photonic and electromagnetic properties for possible manipulation of optical fields.
Nanosystems will be synthesized by grafting various inorganic nanoparticles, made of metals and
metal oxides, with mesogenic molecules. These nano-objects will possess built-in multi-functionality,
owing to the organic layer and inorganic core: for example, grafting luminescent or dipole ordered
organic layer on metal particles should yield photo active, polar or conducting particle systems, with
long range auto-organization. Moreover, the upper-level organization and/or the concomitant use of
another complementary building block will favor the emergence of new properties or the enhancement
of the existing ones because of collective or synergetic effects. This strategy – bottom-up selforganization of nanoparticles – will benefit from the self-assembling nature inherent to mesogens. It
should therefore prove much easier and less expensive than currently, broadly exploited top-down
lithographic methods. A careful and interdisciplinary design of nano-components will therefore cause
spontaneous, yet anticipated build-up of structurally organized and functionally unique supramolecular
system.
Our end-of-project goals are three, much desired material properties for future technology:
multiferroics, metamaterials, magnetically tunable photonic crystals. Multiferroics are single
phase materials, which simultaneously possess ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties. Coupling
between these two order parameters allows for controling one by another, which is particullarly
promissing for spinotronic devices. The term metamaterials is used for ‘artificial’ materials with
negative refractive index. The unprecedented interest in that type of systems comes from their
unlimitted optical applications. Such materials permit fabricating 'superlenses' with spacial resolution
below the diffraction limit or even generating the objects 'invisibility'. Photonic crystals are periodic
structures, for which optical electromagnetic waves can exhibit forbidden energy bands. Such
materials, particularly if the photonic crystal periodicity is controlled by external fields, could be used in
number of optical applications, e.g. low-loss-waveguiding and mirrorless cavities. It should be stressed
that the advantage of the ‘liquid crystals approach’ which we propose in this project is unique as it
allows for obtaining these very different ultimate properties for similar NPs structures by fine tuning of
NPs chemical composition.
Resources and Collaboration
The project will be focused on two different aspects: preparation and characterization of new materials
and systematic investigations of their potential in view of possible new applications.
Fabrication of new materials will be conducted in close collaboration with professors J. Mieczkowski
and A. Krowczynski, (Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw), well recognized for their
contribution to organic synthesis of different types of liquid crystals.
Our group has world recognized expertise in soft matter science. Variety of x-ray methods (small and
wide angle diffraction, scattering and reflectivity) are available for the Project together with other
techniques: Differential Scanning Calorimetry, UV/VIS-IR, FTIR (with microscope) spectroscopy,
dielectric spectroscopy, polarizing microcopy, fluorymetery. The Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)
method is also available for studies of magnetically ordered materials. The second-order optical
properties of new materials will be studied by picosecond laser spectroscopy.
To achieve goals of the Project we will collaborate with few widely recognized groups having unique
and complementary to ours experience and facilities. Owing to long collaboration with group of Prof.
Daniel Guillon from CNRS (Strasburg) we will have access to TEM visualization (including 3D TEM
tomography), we will also benefit from their expertise in synthesis of dendrimeric mesogens. Several
short term visits (1-2 weeks) are planed at CNRS-Strasburg are planed to conduct electronic
microscopic measurements and 2 longer (few months) stays for conducting organic synthesis of
dendrimers. Theoretical modeling for hybrid-structures properties necessary for understanding
structure – property relationship and for structure optimization will be conducted by group of Dr.
Natasa Vaupotic from University of Maribor. Regular short visits (every half year) at Maribor University
are planed to discuss the theoretical work with Prof. N. Vapoutic. We will also continue collaboration
with group of Prof. Milada Glogarova from Institute of Physics, Academy of Science of Czech Republic,
to gain from their experience in synthesis and physicochemical studies of ferroelectric liquid crystalline
materials.
Group composition: To achieve anticipated goals of the Project we are searching for young, talented
and highly motivated scientist. Successful candidate will have access to modern research equipment
and will benefit from collaboration with experienced scientists, but is expected to be independent and
creative in solving the scientific problems. We expect that the salaries we offer, much higher than
average in Poland, will be reflected in the quality of work.
The group will be diversified, composed of organic chemists, physicochemists and physicists.