MAFF - Thermoelectric materials in shape of nanowires for medical applications in microthermocouples and micro-coolers

Field of activity - Information and communication technology, New materials and technologies testing for nanostructures and integrated circuits at nano scale - Health, Technologies and medical procedures.

The main objective of this project is the identification, designing and development of new concepts based on rapid manufacturing for thermo electrical devices made from micro nanostructures which will be transferred in a production system (designed in devices for diagnostic and treatment in cardiovascular diseases).

Every year many people needs rapid and delicate treatments/diagnostics for cardiovascular diseases. Thus is very important: a) direct access in very thick parts of the human body, where the access ways are inside the thin blood capillaries. b) The accurate measurement of body temperature and the opportunity of local tranquillization by molecular cooling of a variety of surfaces. These goals can be achieved using micro-devices based on nanowires.

These devices will be compatible with the human body, easy to be associated and integrated with other micro- and nano- devices, as MEMS sensors (electromechanical microdevices) and intelligent multifunctional materials. The fabrication concepts of filiformed nanostructured composite materials permit the production of efficient devices which can be used in a wide range of applications in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology and have a big socio-economical impact by creating new jobs and releasing the work of products fabrication and the implementation technologies presented in the project.

The implementation of MAFF project has a real contribution to the actual production technique of nanostructured microwires by improving this production technique of nanostructured microwires having the diameter between 50-1000 nm to obtain a pack of nanowires, with the diameter of one wire between 5-200 nm.

Having in mind the fact that technologies and products obtained have a big development, both European level and world level, this project brings in attention of Romanian research and industry some high-tech elements which the Romanian society will have to integrated them.

The specific objectives of MAFF project are development, testing and validation of viable micro-thermo-electrical devices creation technology which presents a high level of innovation and has the following characteristics:

New nano-structured materials (metals, mixed metals, semiconductors) with high thermoelectrical efficiency;

The concept of fabrication of nanostructures from composite materials with small diameter using innovative technologies;

Development of micro-thermoelectrical devices with high efficiency (thermocouples and coolers) for applications in medicine.