| Topic title |
Possible scientific supervisors |
Source of funding |
| Development of polymeric systems with multifunctional properties using chemical and structural modifications and their evaluation |
prof. dr. Virginija JANKAUSKAITĖ |
state-funded |
| Investigation and Evaluation of the Comfort Properties of Multilayer Textile Systems |
prof. dr. Virginija DAUKANTIENĖ |
state-funded |
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Modelling, development and investigation of functional protective textiles
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prof. dr. Daiva MIKUČIONIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Recently, a high attention has been paid to development, investigation and manufacturing of functional textile. New technologies of textile manufacturing, new designing methods, new functional fibres and yarns are used for the development of functional textile fabrics and garment. Such textile structures expand functionality of the textile in very high level, it enables to obtain the final dimensional shape. It significantly reduces amount of industrial waste as well as demand of raw materials (fibres and yarns). There is possibility to combine different fibres, textile and non-textile yarns, and different patterns in one spatial and multilayer textile structure. However, such multiplex structure makes processes of modelling and designing more difficult. There are still many unsolved problems and questions in designing of new textile structures and prediction of their properties.
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Formation and Investigation Functional Textile Materials from Nano-microfibers
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doc. dr. Erika ADOMAVIČIŪTĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Functional textile properties (as antimicrobial, antistatic, flame retardance, oil, water repellent, smell elimination) are provided during materials manufacture process or during finishing. In this PhD research work will be created, manufactured and analysed materials for medical application.
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Graphene growth on the dielectrics, study, and application for sensors
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vyr.m.d. dr. Šarūnas MEŠKINIS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Graphene is a 2D nanocarbon material, carbon atomic hexagons monolayer. It is at the top of the significant interest due to the giant electron and hole mobility, charge carrier multiplication, flexibility, optical transparency, chemical inertness and other outstanding properties. One of the possible applications of the graphene is use of the graphene in Schottky contacts instead of the metal. Due to the very high mobilities the graphene can be used as a channel layer in field effect transistors and transistor based biosensors. Till now graphene was usually synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of the graphene on catalytic Cu, Ni, Co foils. Afterward, the long process of the graphene transfer onto the targeted semiconductor or dielectric substrates was used. It is a complex and time consuming procedure. Control of the graphene/semiconductor contact and graphene nanolayer properties are complicated in such a case. In present study graphene will be directly synthesized on the dielectric surface by plasma assisted processes. Effects of the graphene structure on characteristics of the sensors will be studied. The relation between properties of the synthesized graphene layer and characteristics of the graphene-based sensors will be studied.
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| Development of smart MXene-based nanocoatings |
prof. dr. Daiva ZELENIAKIENĖ |
state-funded |
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Development of textile packages with advanced functional properties and investigation of their exploitation
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doc. dr. Jurgita DOMSKIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
To address the problem of overconsumption of energy and natural resources, relevant research focused on high-value-added products with exceptional functional properties and recycling potential. Modern challenges of textile science are related to interdisciplinary research, integrating traditional materials science with the application of biotechnology, principles of microelectronics engineering and so on.
Research is concerned with materials of different properties that are integrated into systems to produce adaptive functional products. The goal of the research is to develop functional flexible systems based on textiles with good wearable properties and recycling possibilities.
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Formation by physical vacuum techniques of thin-film catalytic structures.
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prof. dr. Giedrius LAUKAITIS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Surface derivatives, which are much smaller than bacterial cells, inhibit binding, reducing the interaction between bacterial cells and solids. The use of nanoparticles (metal and metal oxide) as antibacterial surfaces is a viable way. Most metallic or metal oxide nanoparticles (Ag, Fe3O4, TiO2, CuO, ZnO, etc.) have bactericidal properties through the generation of reactive oxygen species, although some of them are effective due to nanostructures and surface potential. Nano-particles formed on ceramic surfaces can disrupt the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane and its potential and activate the production of oxygen-free radicals acting as nanocatalysts.
The project will investigate: a) the formation of thin ceramic films by physical vapour deposition methods, selecting optimal forming technologies; b) the influence of technological parameters on the catalytic and antibacterial properties of the thin films; c) the physicochemical investigation of the formed thin films. The aim of the project is to investigate the physical, chemical, and other characteristics of antimicrobial thin films and, on the basis of the research, cause the practical use of such systems.
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Development of composites using selective laser sintering waste powder
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doc. dr. Kristina ŽUKIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Additive manufacturing (AM), initially designed for prototyping and product personalization, is approaching the final part production to achieve cost effective mass customization. Therefore AM needs to be environmentally friendly and resource efficient in order to be sustainable. The selective laser sintering (SLS) is one of the AM methods. It is known that a considerable amount of powder waste is generated during the SLS process after number of thermal cycles, which a threat to environmental sustainability. The aim of this study is to find proper utilization of thermoplastic powder waste obtained during the SLS process by developing waste composites.
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Micro- and nanotextured functional glass surfaces
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v.m.d. dr. Dalius JUCIUS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Glass is a solid amorphous material widely used due to its optical transparency as well as its thermal and chemical resistance. Optical lenses, mirrors, touch screens, and devices of integrated optics are made of glass. During operation, glass surfaces often become dirty, and when in contact with a warm and humid environment, they tend to fog up. As a result, the optical transmittance of glass decreases and image distortions appear. To increase the operational efficiency and longevity of devices, antifogging, self-cleaning, and antireflective glass surfaces are created, the functionalization of which is performed by changing the surface morphology and chemical composition. Such surface modification can significantly improve the optical properties, but the final result greatly depends on the type and chemical composition of the functionalized glass. There is still a lack of systematic studies that analyze the influence of various factors. The purpose of this work is the functionalization and peculiarity analysis of various types of glass surfaces in order to reduce surface reflections and change the wettability of the glass, thus ensuring self-cleaning and antifogging behaviour of the surfaces, and accelerating the melting of the formed ice. The planned research will lead to the creation of advanced antifouling glass surfaces for optical applications.
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| Investigation and Evaluation of the Release of Microfibers from Synthetic Textile Materials During Washing |
prof. dr. Virginija DAUKANTIENĖ |
state-funded |
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Multiferroic bismuth ferrite thin film synthesis and characterization
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doc. dr. Aleksandras ILJINAS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Ferroelectric memory is one of the most promising technologies of future memories. Supposedly, this type of memory will replace now usable Flash memories, hard disk drives, and operative memories (RAM) from market. The extremely fast performance, much greater maximum number of writeerase cycles, theoretically possible giant density of memory (few terabytes to 1 mm2 or higher), lower power usage for reading and writing are advantages of FRAM. The finally these memories are non-volatile memories.
Complex and expensive technology of active ferroelectric film and many not solved physical-technological problems are main reason for futher study. The proposing technique to synthesize active ferroelectric films BiFeO3 by using reactive magnetron layer-by-layer deposition on 400-700oC substrate temperature is the basic idea of this investigation. Original equipment, constructed at KTU, Department of Physics will be used to synthesize high stechiometry thin films. The main goal of this work is to synthesys the properties of active ferroelectric bismuth ferrite with impurities layer and to perform an investigations, which will allow to obtain the best characteristics. The specific piezoelectric, pyroelectric and electrocaloric properties of designed ferroelectric films also will be investigated in this work.
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Formation and investigation of thin film superclattice of multiferroic magnetoelectrics
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doc. dr. Vytautas STANKUS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
The new millennium has begun to pay close attention to new materials. Many sensors, controlling devices that transform information and energy are already being successfully used. One class of such materials is inorganic complex metal oxides with so-called active dielectric properties. It are substances which transform various physical effects (mechanical, thermal, radiative, light, electric or magnetic, etc.) into an electrical signal which can be recorded. In addition, these materials have the opposite effect - when exposed to an electric field, they change their state - ferroelectric, ferroelastic, electrostriction, pyroelectric, magnetoelectric, electro-optical, electrocaloric and other phenomena are observed. For a long time in the world of science and technology, these materials have been emphasized as necessary for ferromagnetics or ferroelectrics. However, the first multiferroic material with ferroelectric and (albeit weak) ferromagnetic properties was synthesized in 2003, bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 (BFO). The combined effect of having both properties (both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic at room temperature) was discovered only in 2014. Using ferromagnetic additional layers, a team of scientists from the United States developed a multilayer superlattice structure with magnetoelectric properties. These properties make it possible to look at these materials as a completely new type of memory cell, the magnetization (and direction) of which can only be changed by an electric field. Due to the residual magnetization effect, the storage of information in these memories will not require energy support. The proposed research on this topic will be carried out by synthesizing multiferroic magnetoelectric layers by reactive magnetron sputter deposition. Structures consisting of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic layers will be formed and the magnetoelectric effect will be investigated.
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| Modeling of kinetics of nanocomposites coatings during deposition |
prof. habil. dr. Arvaidas GALDIKAS |
state-funded |
| Nanostructures on the gallium arsenide surface |
lekt. dr. Rimantas KNIZIKEVIČIUS |
state-funded |
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Investigation of Dyeing of Textile from Natural Fibres Using Natural Dyestuffs
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doc. dr. Eglė KUMPIKAITĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Textiles are one of the most polluting industries in the world. Therefore, recently, efforts have been made to return to natural, environmentally friendly materials as much as possible in textiles. One of such directions of organic textile production is textile dyeing with natural dyes - plants, food products, metals, etc. Creating the technology of dyeing with natural dyes in an industrial way is quite difficult, because it is difficult to achieve the reproducibility of the shade.
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Design, synthesis and studies of organic semiconductors for optoelectronic devices
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prof. habil. dr. Juozas Vidas GRAŽULEVIČIUS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
The research is related to the design of the structures of new organic semiconductors and their investigation by the thoeoretical methods. On the basis of the results of the theoretical investigations, the most promising organic seniconductors will be selected for the synthesis. The properties of the synthesized materials will be investigated by the experimental methods. The applicability of the materials in the devices of organic optoelectronics, such as perovskite solar cells, organic light emitting diodes will be estimated.
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Investigation of properties of ceramic composite coatings deposited by plasma spraying
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prof. dr. Liutauras MARCINAUSKAS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Aluminium oxide coatings, due to its unique properties, are widely used in technical, medical, energetic and electronic applications. However, the application of Al2O3 coatings for tribological systems is limited by the insufficient adhesion to the substrate, poor fracture toughness, high friction coefficients and low wear resistance at high temperatures. The coatings of aluminium oxide composites (Al2O3-ZrO2, Al2O3-TiO2, etc.) deposited by the plasma spraying has higher wear resistance, lower friction coefficient and are more plastic. The use of various materials (SiC, TiC, TiO2, ZrO2, graphite etc.) additions to the Al2O3 matrix provides formation of self?lubricant composite coatings. The adhesion strength of Al2O3 composite coating increases with the formation of metallic interlayers. However the investigations related to the influence of origin and thickness of the inter-layer on various types of Al2O3 composite (AOC) coatings are insufficient. The researches of tribological properties of AOC coatings at non-lubricated conditions are fragmentary.
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Plasmonic superlattices for SERS sensors
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doc. dr. Asta TAMULEVIČIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
In recent years, the development of nanotechnologies and understanding of the plasmonic properties of nanomaterials has opened new paths for exploitation of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing. SERS is known as extremely sensitive analytical tool that can be applied in variety of areas: electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, chemical physics, solid state physics, biophysics and in medicine.
The crucial point in SERS is usage of noble metal nanoparticles that can enhance the extremely low signal of Raman scattering up to 108 times. Signal enhancement depends on the chemical composition of nanoparticles, shape and geometry of nanoparticles. The self-organized ensembles of nanoparticles that has a predefined order on the surface should allow to use such structures with the different excitation wavelengths and obtain reproducible SERS results. This is obtained through the effect of surface lattice resonance when the coupling distance between nanoparticles increases and becomes comparable to the resonance wavelength (far field contribution).
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| Development of new triphenylamine and carbolinil-based materials for doping-free hole transporting layers of optoelectronic devices |
doc. dr. Audrius BUČINSKAS |
state-funded |
| Modelling of the deformation behavior of textile materials and adhesive systems in order to predict and optimize compression values in functional products |
doc. dr. Kristina ANCUTIENĖ |
state-funded |
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Direct synthesis of the graphene: study and sensor applications
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vyr.m.d. dr. Šarūnas MEŠKINIS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Graphene is a 2D nanocarbon material, carbon atomic hexagons monolayer. It is at the top of the significant interest due to the giant electron and hole mobility, charge carrier multiplication, flexibility, optical transparency, chemical inertness and other outstanding properties. One of the possible applications of the graphene is use of the graphene in Schottky contacts instead of the metal. Due to the very high mobilities the graphene can be used as a channel layer in field effect transistors and transistor based biosensors. Till now graphene was usually synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of the graphene on catalytic Cu, Ni, Co foils. Afterward, the long process of the graphene transfer onto the targeted semiconductor or dielectric substrates was used. It is a complex and time consuming procedure. Control of the graphene/semiconductor contact and graphene nanolayer properties are complicated in such a case. In present study graphene will be directly synthesized on the dielectric surface by plasma assisted processes. Effects of the graphene structure on characteristics of the sensors will be studied. The relation between properties of the synthesized graphene layer and characteristics of the graphene-based sensors will be studied.
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ZnO nanowire synthesis and integration into multifunctional coatings
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vyr.m.d. dr. Simas Račkauskas |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
ZnO nanowires (ZnO NWs) have attracted a lot of attention in the scientific world due to their unique properties and wide application possibilities in renewable energy and electronics, but integration into functional materials remains a problem, as the synthesis of NWs is mainly limited by the growth surface, which hinders their wide application. During the research, multifunctional coatings based on ZnO NW will be developed. A new production method of ZnO NWs will be developed and implemented. Such coatings can be applied: in solar modules as a multifunctional coating - self-cleaning, reducing reflection, changing UV rays into visible light; in multifunctional gas sensors, as a sensitive and selective element, light is activated, thus using low power, which is valuable for applications in wireless platforms.
This research will use state-of-the-art synthesis equipment for the large-scale synthesis of ZnO NWs. The research will lead to the development of new multifunctional coatings that will have a wide range of applications. Coatings can be applied to textiles, plastic, spraying or other coating methods, they will be light and flexible, so new possibilities will be opened for creating electronic textiles, flexible sensors, etc. Although the applications are many, this research focuses on developing materials for two new applications: antireflective coatings for solar cells and selective sensors. These results are important at the international level, as they will open up new areas of application for multifunctional coatings and will be used in the development of next-generation devices.
Since ZnO NWs can be applied in other fields (e.g., electronics, biology, etc.), this equipment and the experience gained will be used in ongoing projects and will enable the development of new products.
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| Development and investigation of lightweight multicomponent thin films for radiation shielding |
prof. dr. Diana ADLIENĖ |
state-funded |
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Synthesis and application of new structure organic semiconductors for OLEDs
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prof. dr. Saulius GRIGALEVIČIUS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Recent advances in organic optoelectronics, particularly in efficient organic light-emitting devices (OLED), have called for new electro-active organic materials as well as for new device technologies. Small OLED-based displays already generate hundreds of millions of dollars. Larger OLED displays will penetrate the television market in the not-too-distant future. Nowadays white displays play important role in lightening. Further advances of these devices substantially rely on development and studying of high-performance organic charge-transport and host materials, theoretical understanding of charge and energy transport in the organic systems and their well-balanced application in phosphorescent and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) devices. The aim of this project is to synthesize several groups of polymeric, dendrimeric or branched wide band gap derivatives, which would serve as thermally stable host materials or TADF emitters for organic light emitting diodes. In order to optimize efficiencies of the devices, several groups of new hole transporting materials, which are used as additional charge injecting/ transporting layers, will be also synthesized in the frame of this project.
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| Investigation of nanostructured multifunctional composite materials treated with high-concentration energy flows |
doc. dr. Rasa Kandrotaitė Janutienė |
state-funded |
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Optimizing of Use of Production Resources and Studying of Possibilities of Applying Green Energy in the Textile Industry
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doc. dr. Eglė KUMPIKAITĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
During the research, it is planned to investigate the possibilities of using green energy in the textile industry, with the aim of saving production and labor resources, reducing their use, and at the same time, the price of the manufactured products and the environmental friendliness of the production. The mentioned researches will be tried to be practically applied in the real production of linen fabrics.
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The application of polymeric waste for the creation of new functional materials
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v.m.d. dr. Daiva MILAŠIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
The use of industrial polymeric waste in the development of new functional materials is a promising area for the development of sustainable technologies. One way to give desirable properties for purposive functional materials is to chemically modify their surface. Secondary raw materials are already mixtures, which are hampered by contamination with residues of additives required for the properties of the former product. The aim of the research is to search for new possibilities to use industrial polymer waste (plastic, textile) in the development of new functional materials.
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Development of blended natural yarns with silk fibres waste
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prof. dr. Rimvydas MILAŠIUS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
Research on silk fiber waste is important both for the development of new yarns with better properties and for solving the sustainability issues of silk waste. Possibilities of development blended yarns from different natural fibers using silk fiber waste will be investigated.
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| Ordered two-dimensional structures of noble metal nanoparticles for nanophotonics |
prof. habil. dr. Sigitas TAMULEVIČIUS |
state-funded |
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Development of electrically conductive fibre reinforced polymer composites with self-diagnostic function
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prof. dr. Daiva ZELENIAKIENĖ |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
The development of advanced transport, aerospace, wind turbines and other structural components of fibre reinforced polymer composites is constantly growing due to perfect combination of their high stiffness, strength and low density. During in-service life these composite structures are subjected to impact and fatigue loads, causing a localized damage such as matrix cracking, delamination and fibre breakage, which leads to the degradation of the mechanical properties. These damages are usually invisible and the prediction of the required maintenance intensity, ensuring the cost efficiency avoiding a catastrophic failure is a very difficult task. Structural health monitoring for the damage detection is essential to enhance in-service reliability and lifetime of composite structures. Many types of sensors, vibration, wave propagation techniques have been developed for damage sensing. Despite their advantages, these techniques also have a number of disadvantages, for instance, integrated sensors can cause the increase of stress concentration in a part, contactless methods are often difficult to use due to sophisticated equipment. The aim of this study is to develop novel electrically conductive fibre reinforced polymer composites with excellent mechanical properties and self-diagnostic function. The objectives for this aim are the following: optimisation of hybrid-hierarchical composite microstructure to ensure extraordinary electrical properties of the material without losing excellent strength and stiffness; experimental-numerical analysis of complex damage processes of new composite with optimized structure under fatigue and impact loading; modelling of the correlation between electrical parameters and damage propagation; development and validation of structural health monitoring methods based on the correlation between electrical parameters and damage propagation.
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Directly synthesized graphene field effect transistors for biosensor applications
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vyr.m.d. dr. Šarūnas MEŠKINIS |
state-funded |
Research Topic Summary.
2D nanomaterial graphene is at the top of the significant interest due to its giant electron and hole mobility, charge carrier multiplication, flexibility, optical transparency, chemical inertness, and other outstanding properties. One of the possible applications of graphene is its use as a material for field-effect-transistor channel fabrication. Till now, graphene was usually synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of the graphene on catalytic Cu, Ni, and Co foils. Afterward, the long process of the graphene transfer onto the targeted semiconductor or dielectric substrates was used. It is a complex and time-consuming procedure. Control of the graphene and graphene/dielectric interface properties is complicated in such a case. In this research, graphene will be directly synthesized on the dielectric surface by plasma-assisted deposition from the vapor phase. The relation between the properties of the synthesized graphene layer and characteristics of the graphene-based field effect transistor (FET) and graphene-FET-based biosensor properties will be studied.
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