Scientific divisions

Cooperation

  • Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Institute of Solid State Physics, Solid States Electrolytes Department, Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USA
  • University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
  • Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan
  • Institute of Electronic Materials Technology, Warszawa
  • Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw
  • Institute of Nonferrous Metals, Gliwice
  • Institute of Plant Protection, National Research Institute, Poznań
  • NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
  • Pedagogical University of Cracow
  • Poznan University of Medical Sciences
  • Poznan University of Technology
  • Rzeszow University of Technology
  • University of Opole

Research

Research carried out in our Laboratory concern mechanisms of formation and stabilization of liquid crystal phases. In particular the analysis of the influence of many different factors (such as electric field, temperature, defects, polymer additives and surface interactions) on the physical properties of liquid crystals is performed. Our investigations include also the development of computer simulation methods to study soft matter particle systems.

The systems under investigation are such different mezophases as: nematics, smectics, cholesterics, frustrated chiral phases (TGB, BP), ferroelectric and antiferroelectric smectics, as well as cellulose-based liotropic superstructures. Investigations are focused on the description of structural, thermodynamic, optical, dielectric, electro-optic and visco-elastic properties of these phases as a function of frequency and strength of electric field, composition of material and temperature. Moreover, the modelling of the soft matter and simple liquids with computer simulation techniques (in particular, Molecular Dynamics MD, Brownian Dynamics BD, Monte Carlo MC) is carried out.

Examples of realized tasks

  1. Structural, dielectric, visco-elastic and electro-optic properties of chiral liquid crystals (blue phases especially)
  2. Self-organization in the systems of soft matter (liquid crystals, colloids)
  3. Nonlinear dynamic effects in surface-stabilized liquid crystals
  4. The influence of surface interactions on the physical properties of thin smectic liquid crystals
  5. Development of computer simulations methods (MD, BD, MC): deterministic thermostats and simulations of strongly confined particle systems
  6. Simulations of structural, thermodynamic and dynamic properties of soft matter and simple liquids systems
  7. Investigation of layered LC/cellulose-type structures

Research projects

  • The statutory project (2016 - 2018) - Physical properties of thin liquid crystal films - dr hab. A.C. Brańka, prof. IFM PAN
  • NCN project (OPUS 13) - Elastic properties of liquid crystal blue phases (2018 - 2021), project leader - dr hab. A.C. Brańka, prof. IFM PAN
  • NCN project (MINIATURA 1) - Preparation and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose/liquid crystal systems (2017/2018), project leader -  dr inż. N. Bielejewska
  • Participation in the LIDER project (Edition VII) carried out by the Wood Technology Institute - New biopolymer adhesives modified with silanes and ionic liquids for application in wood-based materials technology (2017 - 2019), main worker/ investigator - dr inż. N. Bielejewska
  • NCN project (OPUS 3) - Stationary states in spatially limited microscopic systems: acoustic micro-voids and stimulated microgel molecules in microchannels (2013 - 2016), project leader - dr hab. A.C. Brańka, prof. IFM PAN
  • MNiSW project - Identification of a new type of de Vries phase (2010 - 2014), project leader - dr hab. J. Hoffmann, prof. IFM PAN

Equipment

Cooperation

  • Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovakia
  • Institut fur Ferstkörperund Werkstofforschung, Dresden, Germany
  • Helmohltz Centrum Berlin, Germany
  • Instiutute of Physics, Silesian University, Katowice, Poland
  • Institute of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
  • Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Wrocław, Poland
  • Laboratoire de Physique de L,Etat Condense, CNRS, Universite du Maine, France

Equipment

  • Two PPMS systems (Physical Property Measurement System, Quantum Design) with following options:
    • heat capacity (1.9-400K, magnetic field up to 9T)
    • transport (electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, Hall effect, angular dependences), thermopower and thermal conductivity measurements - all from 1.9K up to 400K and magnetic field up to 9T
    • ac/dc magnetometric measurements (magnetic susceptibility, magnetization); up to 1000K in the case of the dc measurements with the VSM option
  • Furnances for high-temperature synthesis (induction melting, arc melting)
  • Vacuum devices for amorphous ribbons preparation
  • Devices for mechanical alloying
  • Differential Scanning Calorimeter (Netzsch DSC 200) from 150 K to 1500 K
PPMS – versatile system
PPMS – versatile system
PPMS – versatile system magnetometer
PPMS – versatile system magnetometer

Subcategories