Study of the physical properties of nanostructured materials and fundamental interactions in bulk systems

Abstract

This project has two lines of basic research. The first proposes the investigation of structural, thermodynamic and electronic properties of nanostructured systems. In particular, two types of nanoparticles (NPs) will be studied: i) Simple metal NPs using noble and transition metals type Au, Ag, Pd, Pt, Cu Al with diluted magnetic impurities (mainly rare earths) and ii) try to obtain intermetallic NPs binary systems (e.g. YIn3, GdIn3, YPb3, GdPb3) doped with rare earth (Gd, Nd, Er, Dy). The goal is a better understanding (macroscopic and local) of the different quantum states and microscopic interactions in the reduction of dimensionality. This study will allow the comparison of different physical interactions bulk and nano, tuning one or more of the basic relevant properties for practical applications. In addition, X-ray diffraction measurements, TEM, DLS and magnetization will be performed that combined with electron spin resonance measurements (ESR), will give a better understanding of the correlation between spin, charge, and lattice size degrees of freedom present in these systems. The second line of research is associated with massive systems (bulk) in which it is proposed to investigate the magnetic interactions in complex cage systems. That systems of the type RT2X20 (R = Gd, Er, Nd, Y; T = Fe, Co, Mn and X = Zn, Cd, Hg) have rare earth sites quite distant among them thus allowing a clearer study of physical phenomena involved (exchange interactions and crystal field effects). The development of this project will be developed at UNICAMP-GPOMS in the new nanotechnology laboratory in close collaboration with the condensed matter Laboratory of the Quantum Materials group (UFABC). The realization of this project in two years will contribute to a significant advance in understanding the microscopic properties of massive and nanostructured systems. (AU)