All HiFunMat research projects aim to push forward the development of the next generation of materials: from the synthesis of building blocks, their assembly in two and three dimensional structures, studying and tuning of the properties of the materials, their interaction with light, and the mimicking of natural materials.
Such research projects have a strong interdisciplinary character, as the design, development and characterization of new materials usually crosses different research fields. This is reflected in the answers given by HiFunMat members in a survey about their research projects. 31% says to be working in material science, 23% in chemistry, 23% in physical chemistry and 9% in biology. 54% of our members indicates working in more than one domain.
Together with our members, ITI HiFunMat has identified five principal research axes:
- Axis I: Design and synthesis of elementary molecular building blocks
- Axis II: Development of finely controlled surfaces to obtain adaptable and reversible properties
- Axis III: Development of hierarchically structured materials, with fine control at different scales
- Axis IV: Developement of new strategies for shaping, modifying and characterizing materials by various types of radiation
- Axis V: Design of new biomimetic, biodegradable, active, self-healing, responsive, life-like materials
The graphs below demonstrate that each research axis is represented equally.
