Leading scientist: S. Žumer; Senior scientists: S. Kralj, H. van Midden, I. Muševič, J. Pirš, A. Prodan, M. Remškar,

M. Škarabot, M. Vilfan ; Younger scientists: M. Conradi, G. Skačej, D. Svenšek, A. Šarlah, A. Vilfan, R. Žitko;PhD students: B. Črnko, M. Humar, M. Ravnik, U. Tkalec, M. Viršek, A. Vrečko; technicians: I. Kvasić, S. Mendizza, S. Pirš, E. Zupanič;

9 FTEs

Physics of soft matter, surfaces, and nanostructuresJozef Stefan Institute University of Ljubljana

Research methods

Collaboration (local & international)Dynanamic light scatteringNMR & RelaxometryMagnetic field techniquesComplex optical tweezersMicrofluidicsTribologyCalorimetryLattice-Boltzman approach

Experimental tecniques

AFM STMOptical tweezersEllipsometryOptical microscopySEM &TEMVapor depositionLithographyUHV techniquesNanoparticle detectionSubstrate preparations in clean room Electro-optical studies

Theory, modeling & simulationsLandau - de Gennes approachTopology HydrodynamicsElastic theoryKinetic equationsTransport equationsMonte Carlo simulationsMolecular dynamicsSecond quantizationNumerical renormalization group

To establish basic equipment nearly a milion € was invested in 2004-08.

Publications 2004-08

• ~ 125 SCI papers (>15% - PRL, Advanced materials, Science) • 19 chapters in monographs published by international publishers• 3 edited books and proceedings published by international publishers

(Springer, Taylor & Francis, and Kluwer)• 7 international patents

~ 2300 - 1998-2008 papers ~ 7800 - all papers

Citations

Structural forces and 2D colloidal structures →2008

Assembling of 2D colloidal crystals in nematics

Science 313, 954 (2006) 2 Plenary lectures at 21th ILCC 06, Keystone, USA Plenary lecture at 9th ECLC 05, Lisbon, Portugal

Laser trapping of low refractive index particles in nematic LC

PRL 2004

2D dipolar colloidal crystal

2D quadrupolar colloidal crystalColloidal assembly

2D colloidal lattice with superstructure PRL 2008

Colloidal particles entangled by a nematic disclination line PRL 2007

Modeling Experiment

Structural forces and 2D colloidal structures → 2008

Formation via I-N thermal quench →

Entanglad chain:

Entangled dimer

Dipolar & quadrupolar

layersPossible applications of 1D & 2D structures:Light guiding and beam stearing

Colloids, complex mesophases,... 2008 →

1D colloidal chain → nematic colloidal optical microresonators

Application: Micrometer sized split ring resonator with negative resonant magnetic response

Hierarchical structures → meta materials

Entangled colloidal particlesdecorated by small conductive or dielectric particles

Nematic colloidal wire

assembling of superstructures

Transport of light along fluorescent colloidal particles, tightly entangled by defect lines, could be controlled by light.

Fluorescently-labelled colloidal microcavities, embedded in a liquid crystal.

Colloids, complex mesophases,... 2008 →

3D nematic colloidal structures: defect & disclination entangled

Possible applications of 3D colloidal crystals in photonics and plasmonics

Chiral nematic and blue phase colloids

BP2 and colloidal particles

Assembling & modeling

Colloids, complex mesophases,... 2008 →

Modeling of the responsiveness to external stimuli: temperature, ultra-violet light irradiation, electric or mechanical field…

• colloids covered with nematic shells: topological defect and colloidal valence control;

• Patterned colloidal particles

• Magnetic particles

• Dedrimers as building bloks

Fuctionalization of nematic elastomers

PRL 2008

5nm

Fuctionalization of colloidal particles

Motor proteins: Myosin V- mechanics, kinetics, coordination,branching behaviour (Biophys. J 2008)

Bio & bioinspired systems → 2008 →

Active swimmers: 2 ciliaPhys. Rev. Lett 2006

Novel motors (dynein)

Biomimetic ciliaN cilia, phase waves

Beating patterns

No. 1 ranked proposal to International Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) 2008 (collaboration: Leeds, Tokyo, Sendai, Ljubljana)

maximumefficiency

Liquid Crystal Applications → 2008

• Study of mechanisms affecting performances of LC light modulators :- Alignment surface influence on switching times- Ionic contamination/field screening/memory effects/degraded gray scale performance

[J. Appl. Phys. 2x, 2006, Displays 2004, SPIE 2004 , patent granted in EU and USA]

• Novel wide-view angel LC light modulators: Highly Twisted Light Shutters (HTLS)

- Concept, computer modeling, compensation, LC blending, prototyping eye protective filters - Technology transfer to spin-off company Balder Ltd yielded the best filter on the market- [SID Digest 2003, 2005, J. Appl. Optics 2008, 3 patents granted in EU, USA]

• Spin-off company of IJS, Balder Ltd:- World recognized producer of eye protective filters:

• 60% increase of sales in USA in 2007 (10% total)• Long term ( 4 years) no. 1 supplier to Germany (>25%),….

- Breakthrough into the sales network of ESAB – No.1 producer

of welding equipment in EU (2008)

TN LCD HTLS

Liquid Crystal Applications 2008 →

• Research of basic mechanisms affecting shutter performances: - anchoring energy of LC mono-layers on surfaces,- influence of adsorbed water molecules on the anchoring energy,

• High light-efficiency LCD light shutters: - Polarizer free LCD light shutters: Multilayer CLC light shutters &

electrically controlled polarizing filters (EU FP7 – pilot protection; invitation of EADS, FOI, Fraunhofer),- Ultra-high speed OCB light shutter for medical application (cooperation with Japanese company Yamamoto).

• Invitation to participate in ISO work group for “Eye protection standard” (ISO/TC94/SC6/WG2 in WG4): Only three World best producers were invited: 3M, Sperian, Balder!

• Nematic biosensor based on anchoring strength sensor: regular array of micrometer scale wells in a solid substrate filled with a nematic LC that are exposed to dispersions of biological molecules.

Inorganic nanotubes → 2008

WS2 “nanobuds” Nano Letters 2008

MoS2 peapods -“mama”- tubesAdvanced Matter. 2007

Possible applications:• tribology• catalysis• composite materials

Synthesis and characterization of new hybrid nanomaterials

Josef Stefan Institute “Spin-off” company

development, synthesis and commercialization of new nanomaterials

Detection of nanoparticles in air

Prototype based on our inovative idea

Participation in legislation process in nanosafety

EU projects:-Industrial FOREMOST (lubricants)- Industrial NANOSAFE2 (detection of oparticles)- IMPART (nanosafety)

- 3 national patents- 2 PCT patent applications

- Adv. Matter. 2004, 100 citations!

Drop of friction using MoS2 “mama”-tubes

Hybrid nanomaterials for use in tribology, solar cells, polymer composites and in catalysis.

MoS2 “mama”-tubes in TBAP

Photovoltaic effect in visible light

Kalin, SF-UL - Collaboration in legislation for safe nanotechnology

- Preliminary monitoring of polution with nanoparticles at exposed locations in Slovenia

Synthesis of new hybrid inorganic nanomaterials

Development of a new generation of a prototype for detection of nanoparticles;

- patent application

- cheap portable detector- commercialization

Inorganic nanotubes and nanoparticles 2008 →

Electrical mobility diameter

Nanotoxicity data for public use

Nanoparticle size distribution before and after opening a hard coating reactor (IonBond, UK)

Synthesis of ordered surface nanostructures → 2008

Cu(111) , T=9K 1nm

STM single atom manipulationTransport properties of nanostructures & Kondo effect

Low temperature STM addapted for single atom precision.

2 software packages have been developed :

• “SNEG” calculates in the framework of the 2nd quantization formalism.

• “NRG Ljubljana” efficient implementation of the numerical renormalization group technique.

Applications to clusters of impurities (quantum dots) 1 PRL, 6 PRBs

Atoms & Surfaces 2008 →

Spintronics using NMR-LT STM

Joint programme of developing a combined NMR-Low temperaqture STM instrument

Manipulation and spectroscopy of single/cluster atom magnetic impurities

Effects of single atom magnetic impurities on the surfaces of superconductors and magnets, the magnetic interaction between impurity pairs and local properties of larger impurity clusters will be studied.Chemical identification of single atoms, based

on local spin NMR measurements.

International impact

Last 4 years

• 30 invited and plenary talks at international meetings• 4 organizations of international meetings • 4 memberships in international conference boards • 2 memberships in boards of international societies• Editorial work for European Physics Journal E • 9 partnerships in EU projects 350 000 €

New• Samsung Mid-Career Award of the International Liquid Crystal Society (I. Muševič 2008) • President of the International Liquid Crystal Society (4 years starting July 2008- S. Žumer) • 3 partnerships (JSI-Muševič, FMF-UL-Žumer, Balder-Pirš) out of 9 in HIERARCHY ITN EU project starting September 2008 (4 years) - close to 1 000 000 € for Slovenian partners • Partnership in No. 1 ranked proposal to International Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) 2008 (collaboration: Leeds, Tokyo, Sendai, Ljubljana - A. Vilfan)

National relevance

Conclusions

Synergy

• of approaches: experiments, applications, simulations and theory

• institutional (IJS in FMF UL): lab facilities & source of new researchers

• personal (IJS, UL, UM, Balder, Nanotul)

• international (formal and informal collaboration)

Internationally competitive research with leading roll in some segments

Priority fields: nanotechnology, biotechnology & technology for informatics

A 10% increase in funding would enable:

• postdoc position,

• redistribution between research and teaching loads.

This would enable a full scale realization of our ambitious goals.