OTKA T037643

In the turn of the Millennium, Nanotechnology has developed as one of the main research directions.Due to nano-meter ranged organization, jump-like changes take place in physical and chemical properties as compared to materials organized only at the micro-scale, through which numerous high-technological applications(data storage, electronical and optical applications, space technology,surface protection, etc.) became achievable.

One of the most important groups of the nanostructured materials is formed by self-assembly molecules (SAMs) on metal surfaces, due to the fact that new materials with special properties can be produced by chemical surface modification. Changing the functional groups of the SAMs can make many tailor-made materials. This nanotechnological process has an importance from environmental point of view, too.

The research on nanostructured coatings and nanocomposites is also very important for the future. Special material properties can be obtained in nano-meter size.

The aim of the research is the understanding of the mechanism of functionalized nano-structured layers prepared by electrochemical,colloid-chemical and self-assembly processes.

The self-assembly process of molecules with different functional groups (thiol-derivatives, organic silicium compounds, calixaren-type supramolecules and compounds with corrosion inhibitive activity) will be investigated on metal and metal nano-powder surfaces. Among the many application fields, a special attention is made to the development of nanostructured layers for corrosion protection and to magnetic nanocomposites.

The research program is composed of the following main tasks:

- Preparation of nanostructured layers by chemical and electrochemical

surface modifications, modelling of organic interfaces by SAMs.

- Preparation of magnetic nano-composites.

- Tip modification of atomic force microscope.