Structure of MBN systems
The aggregation of atoms and small molecules into clusters, nanoparticles, microdroplets is a process in which a wide range of complex bio-, nano- and mesoscopic objects, hybrid systems can be created. Some of these systems have been discovered only recently and have become a subject of intensive investigations because of the variety of potentially important applications. The discovered nanosystems often possess very unique structural, optical, electric, magnetic and thermal properties. Often, such systems are seen as building blocks for new nanostructured materials with specifically tailored properties.
The work of the group in this field is focused on theoretical characterization of a variety of selected nanosystems. The selection of systems for study is usually based on two criteria. First, the system should possess a certain specific fundamental property controllable during its formation. Second, the system should be important for direct or potential applications in nanotechnology, microelectronics or medicine.
Structure investigations of complex MBN systems are aimed at obtaining a detail theoretical description of their properties. A variety of ab initio theoretical methods, model approaches and computational techniques is used by the group in these investigations.
The following systems have been studied by the MBN Science group at FIAS:
- Free atomic and molecular clusters, nanoparticles and microdroplets
- Supported clusters, nanoparticles and microdroplets
- Fullerenes and nanocarbon systems
- Endohedral atoms, molecules and molecular complexes
- Biomolecules (peptides, polypeptides, proteins, DNA)
- Nanotubes
- Nanowires
- Nanofractals
- Crystalline undulators