The main objective of this thematic line is the promotion of transversal methodologies that can be applied to different materials and target different functions.
The conducting line of TL1 is a Chemical Product Engineering approach that tries to congregate all the research efforts within a systematic procedure driven by the desired product functionalities. Thus, the pre-specification of targeted product performance, preferably translated into a set of physicochemical properties, is taken as the backbone to all research activities. Functionalisation of materials is the physicochemical modification of natural/synthetic materials or synthesis of new ones to achieve enhanced properties and functionalities, beyond those of conventional materials.
Strategies used include manipulation of materials at the molecular scale (e.g. molecular grafting, self-assembling) and/or supramolecular scales. In the latter, the term structuring is used and refers to a physically-driven process of microstructure creation. Functionalisation of materials is nowadays used in several sectors, namely for application in health, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, environment, advanced catalysis as well as in more traditional areas, such as papermaking, textiles and coatings, and it has gradually been assumed by several European economic sectors as a key activity for development.
Regarding more specific research objectives, they are structured around 6 vectors, as follows:
- Structuring of materials especially through the sol-gel technology
- Functionalisation of materials including nanomaterials for APIs delivery and pollutants cleaning
- Functionalisation of papermaking additives and coatings
- Functionalisation of polymers aimed at tailored biosensors, biocatalysts, electrodes and polyelectrolytes (PEL)
- Functionalisation of polymer supported catalysts
- Functionalization of nanofiltration membranes
Several groups in the unit are already working in this area. Thus, the reasoning behind this thematic line is to congregate those efforts towards a more systematic approach to this subject, enhancing the synergies between the research groups in orderto lead to improved developments. It will be possible, for instance, to combine competencies in synthesis, modelling, characterization and product engineering, to achieve systematic approaches to the development of new products/materials tailored for drug delivery, effluent treatment, paper manufacturing, coatings, etc.