What is MATTER?
MATTER focuses on nanoscale material behaviour in complex environments and upscaling of control of nanomaterial for interdisciplinary and widespread use. We enable breakthrough research in areas such as biomedical applications (nano-medicine, drug delivery, regenerative medicine), renewable energy sources, high electric field applications, high power microwave and radar equipment, materials research, ICT and electronics applications, MEMS & NEMS etc.
MATTER combines competence of research groups in University of Tartu in fields, which are all related to different aspects of the development and use of nanomaterials in extreme environments with the aim of creating Centre of MATerials in Extreme EnviRonments.
Multiscale computer simulations
Nanomanipulation
Molecular biology
Nanotechnology applications
Concentrated competence of MATTER allows to solve materials problems starting from the CERN accelerator design to biomedical applications such as nanomedicine and cancer therapy by focusing on the common problem — nanoscale material damage mechanisms in extreme environments!
Challenges
Currently the preparation of nanomaterials requires specialized cleanrooms and technical equipment as well as highly trained staff. For example, lithography equipment for small scale electronics costs in magnitude of 1 million euros, seriously limiting its availability.
To overcome such challenges, MATTER will combine simulation and experiment of material behaviour in heterogeneous extreme environments and conditions, enabling building of “low-tech” control of nanosystems.
We upscale high-tech nanomanipulation techniques to reduce its technical complexity and reach widespread ability to use it outside high-tech lab environments, in large scale applications and in interdisciplinary research
The vision of MATTER
Generate knowledge that is meaningful for society by tackling complex problems with a multidisciplinary approach, while maintaining uncompromising scientific quality.
