The activities are focused on the development of materials and technologies for micro/nano-sensors and actuators based on MEMS and NEMS technology. The following items are investigated:
- lead free piezoelectric materials based on polymer-ceramic composites, piezoresistive materials, piezoelectric nanostructures, hybrid and nanocomposite materials, nanostructured multifunctional polymers (for sensing and energy applications, including mechanical harvesting);
- new nanostructured materials for energy applications: polymeric electrolytes and new materials for electrodes with a particular focus on metal oxides and carbon based structures;
- innovative processing techniques for device fabrication.
The investigated materials are obtained through several low cost techniques: thin film deposition (CVD and sputtering), ink-jet deposition, chemical synthesis (hydrothermal, microwave assisted and wet processes), electrochemical synthesis (anodic oxidation), surface functionalization (with specific molecules, thus easily expanding the materials functions in sensing or energetic direction).