Eureka time for Argentinean physicists

Sepliarsky and Stachiotti relaxed after their paper´s publication

Two researchers from the Rosario Institute of Physics recently published a breakthrough in the prestigious Physical Review Letters. The paper entitled "Toroidal ferroelectricity in PbTiO3 nanoparticles" was published by Marcelo Stachiotti and Marcelo Sepliarsky, both Professors at the National University of Rosario and members of the National Council of Scientific and Technological Research from Argentina.

Stachiotti and Sepliarsky obtained surprising results regarding a new ordering of ferroelectric materials considering the shape of tiny particles. This discovery in the fascinating field of nanomaterials, more specifically in nanoelectronics, paves the way for the design of smaller devices and the development of power sources for a wide variety of techno gadgets.

The researchers found that a stable ferroelectric state can be reached for nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm when their height-width ratio is considered. Previous studies suggested that ferroelectricity faded when particles became smaller until this work was published.

A ferroelectric material can be considered as the electrical version of a magnet, where a spontaneous polarization is created as a result of the alignment of electric dipoles in a certain direction when an electric field is applied.

In a press release from their institute, Stachiotti explained that "the ability to invert the polarization direction of a ferroelectric material between two stable states represents the basis of a new technology to develop non-volatile memories for binary codification, which is used in smart cards and high-density memories employed in aerospace computers".

"The possibility to use these materials for biomechanical generation of electric power is currenty being explored. This will allow for our cell phone or portable player to be charged while we are walking, running or dancing which leads to energy savings" Sepliarsky added.

The phenomenon of ferroelectricity was discovered in 1920 and since it is similar to ferromagnetism, where iron represents one of its classic examples, the term "ferro" remained although most ferroelectric materials do not contain iron.

Source:
Grecco, N. Investigadores de IFIR-CONICET-UNR descubrieron un nuevo ordenamiento de los materiales ferroeléctricos en la nano-escala. www.unr.edu.ar. April, 2011. www.unr.edu.ar/noticia/3562/investigadores-de-ifir-conicet-unr-descubrieron-un-nuevo-ordenamiento-de-los-materiales-ferroelectricos-en-la-nano-escala

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A big step for Science, a huge step for Argentina

Claudio Pairoba

 

Dr. Claudio Fernández and his research team at the IBR

Claudio Fernández returned to Argentina in 2006 with a clear goal in mind: to continue his research on neurodegenerative disorders in the country where he was born, grew up and studied.

A graduate from the University of Buenos Aires, Fernández is a Biochemist, Pharmacist and PhD from that institution. After spending more than 10 years doing research at different international laboratories, including the world renowned Max Planck Institute in Göttingen, Germany, Fernández decided it was time for him to go back to Argentina. The task ahead was not a minor one: to set up a state of the art laboratory in a country that has distinguished itself academically and in the scientific research field (three Argentinean researchers were awarded Nobel Prizes) but has also been struggling to recover from several decades of uncertain scientific policies and military governments.

A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance equipment, one of the key tools Fernández and his team use to carry out his research, was provided by the National Agency for the Promotion of Science and Technology and the National Council of Scientific and Technological Research from Argentina (both dependent from the national government). This was the kickoff for Fernández’s voyage back home, to the city of Rosario in the province of Santa Fe.

Fernández is currently working at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology of Rosario. He and his team have continued to publish scientific papers in top science journals. The most recent elucidates the interaction between molecules of the protein α-sinuclein to produce insoluble aggregates that lead to neuron malfunction, a mechanism underlying the development of several neurodegenerative disorders.

But the good news faced new challenges. The development of new drugs required a 5-million dollar investment, which was prohibitive in terms of economic resources. The Argentinean pharmaceutical business was not interested and those who were interested were not Argentinean. Fernández received a tempting offer: returning to Germany and getting funding for the next step of his research project: drug development.

It would be a road definitely easy to follow but not the one Fernández had in mind. As a graduate from the public university system, he feels responsible for contributing to society in return for the opportunity society gave him: to study at the university tuition-free.

After knocking on many doors, giving countless interviews and calling every influential person he could get ahold of, that is, showing people what he was doing, he has finally received the much needed political and institutional support. As a result of this, the national and provincial governments as well as the National University of Rosario will join efforts to build a new center where an interdisciplinary team will do the research and design of new drugs aimed at treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Not only that: this effort paves the way for the discovery of new drugs and the subsequent patent applications in Argentina, with all their obvious implications.

Fernández´s story is a clear example that excellent scientific research and valuable results are undoubtedly required but not enough if a country is to grow based on science. Researchers who are devoted to communicate their research to politicians, government officials, the media and society in general are equally needed.