Warsaw PhD School in Natural and BioMedical Sciences

Sekretariat:

phdoffice@warsaw4phd.eu

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 13/06/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and
the Institute of Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by Dr. Andrés Ayuela (Centro de Física de Materiales CSIC-UPV/EHU, Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), San Sebastián, Spain)

When and where?

13th June 2024, 10:30 am
at the IF PAN Auditorium, durations: 45 min + question time

Abstract

In this talk I will present a few success case studies where calculations using atomistic techniques, typical of the nanoscale, have been employed to study problems in cementitious materials. I will begin by describing challenges associated with powder cement, the clinker, with compounds such as belite, which are currently a key focus in the design of low CO2 cements. Secondly, I will proceed to describe the compounds that are formed following the hydration of the clinker. These include the C-S-H gel, which constitutes the cement glue that holds the aggregates together, as well as other secondary compounds such as portlandite. Furthermore, I will review the characterisation of the C-S-H gel using NMR techniques and how this technique can be used to define the nanoscale structure of the gel phases. Finally, I will examine the potential role of nanoadditions that could be intentionally incorporated into cement pastes.

Andrés Ayuela got his PhD in physics at University of Valladolid in 1995. He was postdoctoral reasercher at Dresden University in Technology in 1996 – 1997, in 1998 – 2003 he was reasercher at Helsinki University of Technology (including two years Marie Curie fellowship). Since 2003 he works in San Sebastián, holding scientific positions at Donostia International Physics Center and Centro de Física de Materiales CSIC-UPV/EHU.

His research interests focus on the atomistic simulations of structural, optical and magnetic properties of solids and nanostructures, such as graphene and 2D materials, nanotubes, alloys, layered oxides and cements. He published over 120 peer-reviewed papers in such journals like Physical Review Letters, Applied Physics Reviews, Advanced Materials, Nano Letters, Nanoscale, Nanophotonics, 2D Materials, Chemistry of Materials, Cement and Concrete Research, Carbon and Acta Materialia (H-index = 38).

This event is supported by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, grant no. BPI/STE/2021/1/00034/U/00001.

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 06/06/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Center for Theoretical Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by prof. Adi Nusser (Technion University Haifa, Israel).

When and where?

6th June 2024, 5:00 pm
at the Center for Theoretical Physics PAS, al. Lotników 32/46, Auditorium Duration: 90+ min

Abstract

Galaxies form at the peaks of the dark matter density fields, and as such, their spatial distribution is correlated with the dark matter density field, albeit not in a straightforward relationship. In contrast, by virtue of the equivalence principle, galaxy peculiar motions (deviations from a pure Hubble flow) faithfully trace the dark matter flow across large scales, away from regions affected by stellar and AGN feedback (such as supernova explosions and the ejection of energy via accretion onto galactic supermassive black holes).
The lecture will focus on the challenges in extracting cosmological information on the nature of dark matter, dark energy, and the fundamental theory of gravity from observations of the galaxy distribution and peculiar motions in the late Universe (within a few hundred Megaparsecs from us). It will review a few of the key analysis methods developed over the years and delve into the use of AI/ML, addressing the question of whether this methodology will eventually replace previous tools.

This event is supported by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, grant no. BPI/STE/2021/1/00034/U/00001.

CANCELLED! SPOTLIGHT TALK – 10/06/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of High Pressure Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by Prof. Horst Hahn (Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States of America; Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany).

When and where?

Abstract

Advanced materials are typically characterized by complex nano- and microstructures with various phase compositions, grain sizes, chemical inhomogeneity or homogeneity, crystalline and amorphous structures, all leading to metastability. Over the past 30 years, many new materials have been developed making use of these possibilities and leading to many interesting properties. Prominent examples of such materials are metallic glasses, nanocrystalline materials and high entropy materials. In recent years, new ideas and novel synthesis routes have shown the way to advanced materials with yet unknown structures and properties. The talk will present examples of synthesis, characterization and properties of advanced materials with amorphous and crystalline structures: nanoglasses, cluster-assembled amorphous and crystalline materials and high entropy oxides.

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 21/05/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of High Pressure Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by Dr. Andriy Palasyuk (Critical Materials Institute, Ames Laboratory, USA).

When and where?

21st May 2024, 11:00 am
at the IHPP PAS New Technologies Building, Al. Prymasa Tysiąclecia 98, seminar room, 2nd floor
Duration: 60 min + more

Abstract

A gap in the market exists between super strong neodymium magnets and less sensitive ferrite magnets. This gap means that compromises are made in engineering items like car sensors or wind turbine rotors. The Critical Materials Institute is working on a cerium-based magnet that will hit the sweet spot between powerful rare earth magnets and the much weaker ferrites. The magnet is process effective and less susceptible to supply chain disruptions. Its unique intra-granular coercivity mechanism does not require complicated microstructure developments and opens potential for advanced manufacturing.

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 08/05/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of High Pressure Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by Prof. Eugen Rabkin (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003 Haifa, Israel).

When and where?

8th May 2024 2024, 12:30 pm
at the IHPP PAS New Technologies Building, Al. Prymasa Tysiąclecia 98 Duration: 60 min + more

Abstract

We studied the uniaxial compression behavior of micro- and nanoparticles of several elemental metals (Au, Ni, Ag, Mo, Pt) and alloys (Ni-Co, Ni-Fe, Au-Ag, Cu-Au). The particles were obtained by solid state dewetting of thin metal films and bi-layers deposited on sapphire substrates. The high homological temperatures employed in dewetting process ensure the low concentration of dislocations and their sources in the particles. The particles compressed with a flat diamond punch exhibit purely elastic behavior up to very high values of strain approaching 10%, followed by a catastrophic plastic collapse. The uniaxial yield strength of the particles defined as an engineering stress at the point of catastrophic collapse reached the astonishing values of 34, 41 and 46 GPa for the smallest faceted particles of Ni, disordered Cu3Au, and Mo, respectively. The atomistic molecular dynamic simulations of the particle compression demonstrated that the catastrophic plastic yielding of the particles is associated with the multiple nucleation of dislocations at the facet corners or inside the particles. The latter, homogeneous nucleation mode resulted in higher particle strength. The size effect in compression was observed both in the experiments and in atomistic simulations, with smaller particles exhibiting higher compressive strength. We discussed the stronger size effect observed in the experiment (as compared with simulations) in terms of the effect of residual defects trapped in the particles. Finally, we produced Au-Ag core-shell nanoparticles by coating the single crystalline Ag nanoparticles with a polycrystalline Au shell. The core-shell nanoparticles exhibited much lower strength than their single crystalline pure Ag counterparts. We related this decrease in strength with the active role of grain- and interphase boundaries in the polycrystalline Au shell in decreasing the energy barrier for dislocations nucleation.

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 26/04/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by Prof. Herre van der Zant (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands).

When and where?

On Friday, 26th April 2024 at 10 a.m.
Aula IOC/ICP PAS, Warsaw, Kasprzaka 44/52

This event is supported by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, grant no. BPI/STE/2021/1/00034/U/00001.

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 24/04/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of High Pressure Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by Prof. Eva Monroy (Quantum Photonics, Electronics and Engineering Laboratory, PHELIQS of CEA-Grenoble, France).

When and where?

24th April 2024, 13:00 pm
at the IHPP PAS New Technologies Building, Al. Prymasa Tysiąclecia 98, seminar room, 2nd floor
Duration: 60 min + more

Abstract

The COVID pandemic triggered a demand for UV lamps for disinfection, which was initially met with low-pressure mercury lamps. Presently, there is a transition towards the use of AlGaN LEDs, which are regarded as a safer and more environmentally sustainable alternative. Despite their advantages, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of LEDs at 270 nm remain low due to several unsolved challenges, including the optimization of electrical injection. Moreover, the 250-270 nm spectral range, which corresponds to the peak efficiency for disinfection, is associated with risk of cancer and cataracts, prompting research into alternative UV sources with reduced penetration depth, notably within the 220-230 nm spectrum. In this domain, cathodoluminescent UV lamps emerge as a viable solution to obtain substantial radiant power while mitigating associated health risks.

This presentation will focus on the development of efficient UVC emitters by exploring the growth of AlGaN/AlN dots-in-a-wire structures, quantum dot superlattices, and ultrathin GaN/AlN quantum wells using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. For nanowires, we fine-tune growth conditions to ensure uniform active regions suitable for electron beam interaction. With quantum dots or wells, we optimize aluminum content and growth conditions to achieve strong emission at wavelengths below 230 nm. These nanostructures show internal quantum efficiency higher than 50% and maintain performance under varying pumping power, making them versatile for different device applications.

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 24/04/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by Dr Ioannis Skarmoutsos (Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece).

When and where?

On 24th April 2024, 12:30 at the IP PAS Conference room 203, building I
Duration: 45 min + question time

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 19/04/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by dr. Karel Výborný (FZU – Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep., Praha, Czech Republic).

When and where?

On Thursday, 19th April 2024, 14:00 at the IP PAS Auditorium
Duration: 45 min + question time

SPOTLIGHT TALK – 18/04/2024

The Warsaw Doctoral School in Natural and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of Physics PAS cordially invites you to a SPOTLIGHT TALK.

The talk is given by dr. Karel Výborný (FZU – Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences Czech Rep., Praha, Czech Republic).

When and where?

On Thursday, 18th April 2024, 14:00 at the IP PAS Auditorium
Duration: 45 min + question time