Applications of Non-Linear Dynamics in the Production of Functionalised and Sensing Material

Abstract

Certain applications of functionalised and sensing material require network of connectors such as conducting nano-wires, to pick displaced electrons or signals from an external source. Making nano-scale networks of connections that are durable, efficient and continuous is always a challenge for the material scientists. A possibility to achieve the above goals by mimicking dendritic and other diffusion patterns in nature is discussed here. These ‘naturally grown’ textures have the following characteristics that are very useful, as their intrinsic properties: 1. two branches will never overlap (saving material and avoiding any short circuiting), 2. all the branches will always have in contact with the root. Further, when it is practically impossible to develop a network of branches in an already existing solid material, induced dendritic growth using controlled diffusion can be used to do the job.