Theses in Materials

Microfabrication

Highlighted theses topics for 2020/2021 study year

1. Printed carbon electrodes for miniature devices
2. Synthesis of carbon microspheres for development of functional inks

Micro-printing

Miniaturization of technology requires materials with specific properties and use of accurate fabrication methods to sustain the performance of devices despite being smaller in size. One of our research directions is inkjet-printing of functional materials, for example carbon electrodes for three-dimensional micro-batteries and printed soft micro-actuators.

Controlled synthesis of micro-carbon

In order to use ink-jet printing for carbon electrode fabrication, the size of carbon powder particles has to be in the range of 5 µm not clog the nozzles of the dispensing devices. In commercial carbon inks, carbon soot is used which contains nanosized particles, but carbon powder consisting of micrometre-sized particles can provide additional possibilities to functionalize inks and tune the properties of the resulting electrode via tuning the porosity of carbon microspheres. One possibility for controlled synthesis of micro-carbon is spray pyrolysis. The goal is to study spray pyrolysis for synthesis of carbon powder and investigate how morphology and size of particles can be controlled by varying the preparative conditions.

Carbon electrodes for battery via spin-coating

Spin-coating is a technique for preparing thin films. The aim of the project is to fabricate carbon electrodes by spin-coating and investigate their properties as a battery electrode. Carbon under investigation is a specific sol-gel derived carbon which properties are determined by synthesis conditions and in turn are manifested in electrode properties.

Engineering of biomaterials from chemobrionic Ca-doped carrageenan scaffolds

Biodegradable and biocompatible elastic materials for soft robotics, tissue engineering or stretchable electronics with good mechanical properties, tunability, modifiability or healing properties drive technological advance. Carrageenans are well known due to their unique properties such as high-water content, softness, flexibility and biocompatibility. The presence of many hydroxyl groups and anionic sulfate groups in their structures makes carrageenans a hydrophilic, anionic polyelectrolyte. In this project we aim to prepare self-adherable and rapidly healable devices derived entirely from natural and food-safe constituents

Check out also student projects on ionic liquids and soft robotics materials.

Defended theses

PhD Theses

• Inga Põldsalu - "Soft actuators with ink-jet printed electrodes"2018
• Rauno Temmer - "Electrochemistry and nolvel applications of chemically synthesized conductive polymer electrodes" 2014

Master's Theses

• Kadi-Anne Küppar - "Preparation and characterization of biopolymer membranes for electroactive polymers" 2017
• Sagar Ramanbhai Patel - "Development of foreign body detection methodology in industrial food preparation process" 2016
• Paul Jaakson - "Encapsulation of ionic electroactive polymer-composites" 2016
• Hans Priks - "Polypyrrole as a microbial fuel cells electrode material" 2016
• Fred Elhi - "Süsinik-tselluloos komposiit tsüanobakteri elutegevuse pärssimiseks" ["Carbon-Cellulose Composite for Suppression of Cyanobaterial Vital Function"] 2016
• Kätlin Rohtlaid - "Ion mobility in polypyrrole actuators" 2015

Bachelor's theses

• Markus Otsus - "Relations Between the Structure and Compressive Strength of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete" 2017
• Sven-Erik Mändmaa - "Ioonjuhitavate süsinikelektroodide valmistamine vurrkatturiga" ["Fabrication of ion-conducting carbon polymer composite electrodes by spin coating"] 2014
• Fred Elhi - "Süsinikaerogeeli suspensioonide mikroprintimiseks sobivate aluspindade tuvastamine" ["Identification of Compatible Substrates for Microprinting of Carbon Aerogel Suspensions"] 2013