Mobillity project with Belgium – 2024 Call

Project code: PN-IV-P8-8.3-PM-RO-BE-2024-0004

Project title: “Sustainable carbon aerogels for thermal management”

Project AcronymSCARMA

Total Funding: 19.020,00 lei

Project time: 13 months

Project Leader: CS II Dr. Fiz. Florina Stefania Rus

 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefania-Rus/research

Contact:

Tel: +40 256222119

Fax: +40 256201382

e-mail: rusflorinastefania@gmail.com

Financing Authority: Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS - UEFISCDI

 

Coordinator: National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter Timisoara -INCEMC, Romania

 

Partner: UNIVERSITÉ CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, LOUVAIN SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, ELECTRONICS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS, MAXWELL BUILDING, BTE L5.03.02, PLACE DU LEVANT 3, B-1348, LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, BELGIUM

 

 

Project Abstract

 

Within this project, we aim to synthesize and optimize carbon-based composite aerogels through novel hydrothermal carbonization methods using non-toxic and readily available precursors. The synthesized aerogels can have highly relevant applications such as increasing the thermal transfer coefficient through conduction of phase-change materials used in thermal energy storage. Other applications may include oil removal from polluted waters or utilization as a porous substrate for the growth of denitrifying bacteria used in biological water purification. Moreover, not only the precursors but also the resulting foams are non-toxic, resistant to higher temperatures than polystyrene and polyurethane foams, and can easily decompose without emitting compounds other than CO2. With their help, reactive templates can be created for obtaining various oxide aerogels.

The project will utilize the combined expertise of research groups from National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter Timisoara (INCEMC) and Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain School of Engineering, Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium 

 

Project objectives

 

O1. COMPLETING PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION: THIS INVOLVES OBTAINING ADDITIONAL DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTIES OF CARBON-BASED AEROGEL MATERIALS. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR UNDERSTANDING THE BEHAVIOR AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF THESE MATERIALS.

 

O2. SYNTHESIS AND ADVANCED CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBON-BASED COMPOSITE AEROGELS, A NEW CLASS OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE MATERIALS WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATION IN THERMAL INSULATION. WORKING VISITS TO THE BELGIAN PARTNER. THERMAL MEASUREMENTS OF THE MANUFACTURED MATERIALS CARRIED OUT IN PARTNERSHIP. WORKING VISIT OF THE BELGIAN PARTNER TO ROMANIA FOR THE COMPLETION OF ANALYSES

 

 

Project Team

 

COORDINATOR – INCEMC TIMISOARA, ROMANIA

 

Dr. Phys. Florina Stefania RUS – scientific researcher II, project leader

Dr. Radu Nicolae BANICA - scientific researcher I, key person

Dr. Cristina MOSOARCA– scientific researcher III, key person  

Daiana – Alexandra ALBULESCU - PhD student

 

Partner - Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain School of Engineering, Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics

and Applied Mathematics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium 

 

Dr. Prof. Phys. Sorin MELINTE– Professor, senior researcher, partner leader

José Alcides RUMIPAMBA LÓPEZ- PhD student 

Dr Renan VILLARREAL– Postdoctoral scientific researcher

Diego JARAMILLO – PhD student