Modern amorphous and polycrystalline functional materials for sensors and actuators

	Slovak Grant Agency project APVV-16-0079 for years 2017-2021 Principal Investigator: Prof. Rastislav Varga, DrSc. (Kosice) Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini
	Compendium of the project: The aim of the project is the development of modern functional materials with distinguished physical properties for miniaturized sensors (of magnetic field, electrical current, mechanical stress etc.) and actuators based on magnetocaloric, shape memory and superelastic effect.

Local structure and magnetic behaviour of advanced multiphase alloys under extreme conditions

Slovak Grant Agency project No.1/0182/16 for years 2016-2019 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: The long-term reliability of advanced multiphase materials operating under harsh external conditions as high temperature, intense radiation, and presence of corrosion agents is a serious technological, economical, and environmental demand. In this project, we shall elucidate local structural arrangement and its impact upon magnetic ordering of advanced multiphase alloys. They comprise amorphous metallic glasses and nanocrystalline alloys. Structural transformations (amorphous to nanocrystalline) and modifications imposed by thermal treatment will be studied by conventional and advanced characterization techniques comprising those that make use of synchrotron radiation. Originality of the expected results rests with our effort to determine the relationship between structural arrangement and magnetic state as they depend upon different types of structural modifications. The project is a part of aspirations of modern societies aimed at development and fostering of clean and efficient technologies.

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Slovak Grant Agency project No.1/0220/12 for years 2012-2015 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: This project studies occurrence and quantification of iron forms in biological tissues. The goal is to achieve relevant data defining the decisive physical and structural parameters of nanocrystalline Fe in organism. It aims in description of dependencies between distribution and accumulation of Fe and its oxides in vitally important organs from the viewpoint of their pathological state. We will concentrate on relations defining the impact of Fe with respect to its structure, magnetic state and valence. Using multidisciplinary approach, new knowledge on the effect of Fe upon global state of organism will be achieved. 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry at various temperatures will be used as a principal method for characterization of microstructure and magnetic order. In addition, other analytical techniques will be applied (SQUID, TEM, AFM, XRD, EDX). Important goal of the project is the transfer of knowledge and experience towards university students and its dissemination in publications and scientific conferences.

Slovak Grant Agency project No.1/0033/10 for years 2010-2011 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: This project aims in elucidation of mutual relation between hyperfine interactions and structure of the investigated Fe-based amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys with different composition and phase contents. 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry will be used as a principal method of investigation in transmission geometry at varying temperatures. The interpretation of hyperfine field distributions will be performed with the help of the results from 57Fe NMR spectroscopy. We will try to adopt also 57Fe nuclear forward scattering of synchrotron radiation. One of important goals of the project is the transfer of knowledge and experience towards master and PhD students. Knowledge-based approach to the accomplishment of the project goals should help in the determination of materials characteristics capable of satisfying the demand for future generation of products with high operational performance. Within the project, a low-temperature (4.2 K) Mössbauer channel will be put into operation at the applicant’s department.

Slovak Grant Agency project No.1/4011/07 for years 2007-2009 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: The main goal of this project is to determine the impact of the type, size, and amount of crystalline grains on the resulting properties of rapidly quenched Fe-B-based alloys with additions of other elements using various concentrations. We will focus on the effect of Cu, Mo, and Sn. The studied materials will be prepared by a controlled crystallization of amorphous precursors. As a consequence, we expect formation of nanocrystalline grains depending upon the composition of the original matrix as well as conditions of crystallization. Their amount and size affect mainly magnetic microstructure of the alloy which is of final interest. Characterization of the nanocrystalline alloys will be performed by the help of broad range of nuclear-physical methods including Mössbauer spectrometry, positron annihilation spectroscopy, AFM, XRD, diffraction of synchrotron radiation, tem, and DSC. An underlining objective of the project is to provide an effective transfer of knowledge and expertise to graduate and PhD students. Knowledge-based approach to the achievement of the project goals should help in the elucidation of the particular material properties which are able to satisfy the demand for future generation of innovative products with high performance characteristics.

APVT project No. 20-008404 for years 2005-2007 Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Peter Kollar, PhD. (Kosice) Local co-ordinator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: The aim of this project is to prepare and characterize different amorphous and nanostructured magnetic materials with attractive, not completely understood properties. The project intends to develope systematic investigation focusing on two basic objectives: i) By means of structural and magnetic study to contribute to the explanation of the physical processes that take place during milling and to understand the magnetic state and magnetization processes in the powdered and compacted materials. ii) Optimize the compressing conditions in order to prepare an excellent soft magnetic bulk material.

Slovak Grant Agency project No. 1/1014/04 for years 2004-2006 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: Knowledge-based modification of surfaces improves particular materials‘ characteristics capable of sustaining the future generation of products with high performance. This project aims in elucidating the effects of non-conventional surface alternations of nanocrystalline alloys and their amorphous precursors accomplished by laser irradiation and ion implantation. Resulting changes in microstructure and magnetic arrangement will be investigated by means of Mössbauer effect techniques. Namely transmission geometry experiments and detection of conversion electrons (CEMS) will be employed. The former provides information about bulk of the material investigated whereas the latter characterises surface layers down to the depth of about 150 nm. An underlining objective of the project is to provide an effective transfer of knowledge and expertise to graduate and PhD students. A technological goal of the project is the innovation and upgrade of the existing unique CEMS apparatus aimed to improve its parameters and/or performance.

Slovak Grant Agency project No.1/8305/01 for years 2001-2003 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: Structural transformations belong to principal mechanisms that considerably affect macroscopic physical properties of materials. They notably present themselves in materials with a powder-like structure. Grain size of the order of nanometres in the so-called nanocrystalline alloys is the main source of their excellent magnetic properties. Steels prepared by progressive technology of powder metallurgy depict the mean grain size up to 200 micrometers. In order to understand macroscopic features of both these materials it is inevitable to know their microstructure as well as physical consequences of structural transformations. Main goals of this project comprise identification of crystalline phases, determination of their structure and deepening of knowledge about structural transformations induced by external effects. Nuclear physical techniques will be applied to achieve the goals. Among them, Mössbauer spectrometry will play a crucial role. It enables short-rang order study thus providing information not only on structurally different sites but also on magnetic states of the resonant atoms.

Slovak Grant Agency project No.1/5103/98 for years 1998-2000 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini

Compendium of the project: Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys prepared from amorphous precursors by thermal treatment exhibit soft magnetic properties resulting form changes and processes inside the microstructure. For their determination it is inevitable to employ methods which are able to investigate the short-range order arrangement and to correlate the latter with magnetic states of the atoms. This project is aimed to determine the microstructure and magnetic structure of nanocrystalline alloys by means of Mössbauer spectrometry. The main goal is to elaborate a procedure of Mössbauer spectrum evaluation which will be able to provide an differential assessment of contributions from individual structurally different atomic regions of a nanocrystalline alloy. Based on the evaluation procedure, an influence of the preparation conditions of the nanocrystalline alloys as well as external conditions on the microstructure and magnetic structure will be determined. Both preparation and external conditions are reflected in the macroscopic characteristics of the nanocrystalline alloys.

APVV project No. SK-PL-0032-12 for years 2013-2014 Co-operation with Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland Coordinators: Prof. Jerzy Kaleta (Poland), Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Slovakia)

Compendium of the project: The research project focuses on describing structural and magnetic differences between as-prepared and irradiated Fe-B-based amorphous metallic glasses (MGs). The aim is to find correlations between structural changes induced by ion irradiation at the atomic level and changes of macroscopic properties of the studied MGs such us their thermal stability and magnetic parameters. An attention will be paid to determination of the relation between structural arrangement and magnetic states of the investigated MGs. This will be investigated as a function of the alloys’ composition as well as structural modification introduced by irradiation with accelerated ions. For this purpose we shall use the 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy taking an advantage of resonant 57Fe nuclei which will act as local probes in the studied samples. This method is deeply elaborated at the Slovak University of Technology. Additional methods of structural and/or magnetic characterization will be employed at the Wroclaw University of Technology.

APVV project No. SK-PL-0013-09 for years 2010-2011 Co-operation with Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland Coordinators: Prof. Jerzy Kaleta (Poland), Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Slovakia)

Compendium of the project: This project aims in elucidation of structural transformations which are taking place in Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys during their preparation from amorphous precursors by controlled annealing. Nanocrystalline alloys feature specific magnetic properties connected with an increasing influence of the surface effects, or more generally with the number of atoms with symmetry different from that of a bulk. They will be investigated as a function of the alloys’ composition as well as structural modification introduced by irradiation with accelerated ions. For this purpose we shall use the 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy taking an advantage of resonant 57Fe nuclei which will act as local probes in the studied samples. This method is deeply elaborated at the Slovak University of Technology. Additional methods of structural and/or magnetic characterization will be employed at the Wroclaw University of Technology. One of important goals of the project is the transfer of knowledge and experience from experienced scientists towards university students at all levels of education and young researchers. Knowledge-based approach to achieve the project goals should help in the determination of materials characteristics capable of satisfying the demand for future generation of products with high operational performance.

Slovak - Czech Science and Technology Co-operation project No. 057 for years 2004-2005 Co-operation with Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic Coordinators: Prof. Miroslav Mashlan (Czech Republic), Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Slovakia)

Compendium of the project: This project aims in establishing a close connection between partner institutions in order to effectively exploit the existing R&D infrastructure as well as scientific potential.  Synergic effects of mutual cooperation will lead to realization of the scientific goals of the project which include investigation of surface states of nanostructural materials. Emphasis will be put on characterization of properties of the studied materials especially after structural modification of their surfaces. Taking into account nanoscale dimensions of the constitution elements of nanostructured materials, contribution of their surface to the resulting properties is not negligible and deserves thorough analysis. To achieve the scientific goals of the project, the methods of nuclear-physical analyses will be used. The latter are able to analyze materials on atomic and/or nuclear level. Another goal of the project is the development of methodology of the respective analytical techniques employed aimed to ensure their sustainable growth. These goals will be meet by the help of international cooperation which will extend even beyond the frame of the current project partners.

Slovak - French Science and Technology Co-operation project No. 23 for years 2004-2005, Programme Stefanik Co-operation with Universite du Maine, Le Mans, France Coordinators: Dr. Jean-Marc Greneche (France), Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Slovakia)

Compendium of the project: This project aims in elucidating the mutual relation between magnetic anisotropy and texture in soft magnetic nanocrystalline alloys. Characterisation of the microstructure and magnetic arrangement will be investigated mainly by means of Mössbauer effect techniques. Namely transmission geometry experiments in broad temperature range and in external magnetic fields and detection of conversion electrons (CEMS) will be employed. The former provides information about bulk of the material investigated whereas the latter characterises surface layers down to the depth of about 150 nm. An underlining objective of the project is to provide an effective transfer of knowledge and expertise from experienced researchers to graduate and PhD students. A knowledge-based approach to reaching the project goals should help in the determination of particular materials‘ characteristics capable of sustaining the future generation of products with high performance.

France - Slovakia bilateral project FR/SL/FEISTU/04 for years 2004-2006 Co-operation with Universite du Maine, Le Mans, France Principal Investigators: Dr. Jean-Marc Greneche (France), Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Slovakia)

Compendium of the project: This project targets the elucidation of magnetic microstrucure in magnetically soft nanocrystalline alloys and its relation to structural characteristics. Model nanocrystalline alloys will be prepared especially for this purpose. Principal analytical techniques used to describe the materials studied on atomic level comprise Mössbauer spectrometry. Other methods such as atom field microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as conventional magnetic measurements will be also employed.

	project of Austrian Ministry of Education for years 2003-2005 Co-ordinator: prof. Gero Vogl (Vienna, Austria)
	Co-operation partners: Hahn-Meitner Institut, Berlin, Germany (Dr. S. Klaumünzer) Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia (prof. M. Miglierini) Institute for Materials Physics, CAS, Brno, Czech Republic (Dr. O. Schneeweiss, Dr. J. Cermak) KFKI, Budapest, Hungary (Prof. D. L. Nagy) University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary (prof. D. L. Beke) Technische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria (prof. R. Würschum) ESRF, France (Dr. R. Rüffer, Dr. G. Grübel) University of Mining and Metallurgy, Krakow, Poland (prof. J. Korecki) Jagellonian University, Krakow, Poland (prof. R. Kozubski) Pedagogical University, Krakow, Poland (prof. K. Ruebenbauer)
	Compendium of the project: The co-operation between scientific institutions in Austria, Czech republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia led in the past to a significant exchange of knowledge and new results in the field of materials science. These activities should be strengthened in the future and the achieved results redistributed between the partners. For this purpose the realisation of a materials dynamics network was introduced. The scientific goal of the project comprise the description of elemental jump processes in low-dimensional systems such as surface layers, thin films, and grain boundaries in nanostructured materials.  To achieve this, the process of production of these systems as well as of the diffusion itself should be clearly understood. This will be achieved via incorporation of another research teams into the network. Priority will be given to laboratories from candidate countries. Contribution of these groups will be in providing the studied materials and characterise them by complementary analytical tools. To consolidate the network, a symposium will be organized aimed at exchange of knowledge among European cooperation partners with special emphasis to those from Central and East Europe.

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) and Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic project based personnel exchange project for years 2002-2003 Co-operation with Zweites Physikalisches Institut, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany Principal Investigators: Prof. Peter Schaaf (Germany), Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Slovakia)

Compendium of the project: This project aims to unveil laser-induced modification of magnetic structure in melt-spun amorphous and nanocrystalline materials. Nuclear and atomic based methods of structural analysis such as Mössbauer spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS), Resonant Nuclear Reaction Analysis (RNRA) will be employed. Preferably amorphous alloys with close-to-room Curie temperature will be investigated. Formation of fine crystalline grains with the size of several nanometers that are embedded in a residual amorphous matrix can be easily controlled by composition of the master amorphous alloy and conditions of annealing. Thus, the effects of laser treatment on both crystalline and amorphous structure can be simultaneously studied. Main goals of this project comprise systematic studies aimed to identify crystalline phases, determination of their structure and deepening of knowledge about structural transformations induced by laser treatment of the materials surface.

France - Slovakia bilateral project for years 1998-2001 Co-operation with Laboratoire de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, Faculté des Sciences, Université du Maine, Le Mans, France Principal Investigators: Dr. Jean-Marc Greneche (France), Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Slovakia)

Scientific goals of the project: The design of a physical model of nanostructure and, consequently, the design of a way of fitting of experimental Mössbauer spectra of nanocrystalline alloys. The interpretation of Mössbauer spectra of samples which have been prepared under different conditions, i.e. with different content of the amorphous and the crystalline phase, and which have been recorded under different experimental conditions. The determination of induced structural changes on the spectral parameters obtained and their evaluation form the point of view of changes in the microstructure and magnetic structure of the nanocrystals studied. The elaboration of the methodology and determination of novel procedures in the evaluation of Mössbauer spectra of nanocrystalline materials are expected to bring a contribution to the basic knowledge about the microstructure and magnetic behaviour of Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys prepared from amorphous precursor by heat treatment. The expected contributions of the project can be divided into two parts: 1. contribution to the development of the method used, and 2. contribution to the deepening of the knowledge about nanocrystalline alloys.

Non-Conventional Modifications of Materials' Surfaces (NOCOMO)

	European Commission COPERNICUS project No. CIPACT940208 for years 1994-1998 Principal Investigator: Dr. Harry Bernas (Orsay, France) Administrator: Prof. Dr. Marcel Miglierini (Bratislava, Slovakia)
	Co-operation partners: CSNSM, Orsay, France (Dr. H. Bernas) IMP, Poznan, Poland (Dr. B. Idzikowski) ITME, Warszaw, Poland (Prof. M. Kopcewicz) MTA KFKI MFA, Budapest, Hungary (Prof. J. Gyulai) PROTETIM, Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary (Mr. I. Juhasz) FEI SUT, Bratislava, Slovakia (Prof. J. Lipka, Prof. M. Miglierini) ELEKTROKARBON, j.s.c., Topolcany, Slovakia (MSc. E. Ondrova) NTC, Ltd., Kosice, Slovakia (Dr. M. Ferdinandy)
	Objectives of the project: This project was directed towards the critical evaluation and use of innovative manufacturing techniques for advanced surface materials; the development of a common knowledge base among participants; the implementation of new technologies and efficient cooperation in relating upstream research to industrial applications. Technical and scientific training of the industrial partners was an important feature of the project, as was their access to experimental testing and characterization facilities. The aims of the project were: to provide the industrial contractors with the necessary scientific basis and access to sample preparation equipment, as well as to help them design those features of the industrial process (such as on-line analysis) that require scientific contribution; to evaluate new materials, mostly using hyperfine interaction techniques which provide information via local electronic property measurements, to assess the contribution of surface modified properties for industrial applications. The common goal of the project was an effective know-how and technology transfer from academic institutions towards industrial partners; it also involved know-how transfer of ion beam handling from the Western to Eastern European partners.

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