UAVR
The associate laboratory CICECO was created on March 2002 in the University of Aveiro (UAVR), Portugal, with the mission of developing the scientific and technological knowledge necessary for the innovative production and transformation of ceramics and composite materials. Our main areas of expertise are: advanced micro and nano-structured materials for communications technologies; advanced materials for industrial applications; chemistry and technology of polymeric and lignocellulosic materials and biomaterials. CICECO is the largest Portuguese institute in the field of materials science and engineering, comprising (Dec. 2006) 53 academic staff, 20 full-time researchers, 46 post-doctoral associates, 68 PhD students, and ca. 60 other students. CICECO is also one of the most productive research institutes in the country in all scientific areas, with an average publication of 4.5-5 SCI papers per year per academic staff or full-time researcher, over 1400 SCI papers (many in top journals) and 27 patents published, and 71 Ph.D. theses terminated in the last 5 years (2002-06). Aveiro University is at the top 1% of the most cited World institutions in the fields of Chemistry and Materials Science (Essential Science Indicators, Web of Knowledge).

The Surface Technologies and Corrosion Protection group of the UAVR has an extensive experience in the field of anticorrosion coatings for steels and aluminium alloys. Intense investigations are conducted at present time underway on  different metallic substrates coated with thin organic and hybrid films by means of different electrochemical and localised techniques starting from nano-scale (AFM, SKPFM) through micro-scale (SVET, SIET) and up to macro-scale (EIS, DC polarization). The recent focus of group is positioned on development new self-healing anticorrosion coatings based on nanocontainers of corrosion inhibitors. Number of papers is published in last 3 years on self-healing ability of thin coatings doped with different nanocontainers. The applicability of localized and conventional electrochemical techniques to study self-healing processes was also recently demonstrated by our group.
In MUST project UAVR is managing WP2 (RTD) playing an important role of scientific coordinator of the project. The main technical tasks of UAVR are related to development of new host-guest nanotraps (1st level of protection) and nanocontainers with corrosion inhibitors (4th protection level). The porous nanoentities and Layered Double Hydroxide nanoparticles will be used as nanoreservoirs for organic and inorganic anticorrosive compounds. Another main branch of activities will be allocated to the investigation of self-healing processes on micro-/nano-level using localized electrochemical techniques.

Dr. Mikhail Zheludkevich is currently researcher in the Department of Ceramics and Glass Engineering at University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. In 1998 he graduated from Belarusian State University. In 2002 he took his PhD degree in physical chemistry at the same University. He also was part-time assistant professor in the University of Aveiro teaching corrosion science. His current interests include investigation of protective coatings doped with nanoreservoirs of corrosion inhibitors for intelligent storage/release properties.
Prof. Mário G. S. Ferreira is Full Professor at the Department of Ceramics and Glass Engineering, University of Aveiro, Portugal. He obtained a first degree in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico in 1971 and his PhD in Corrosion Science and Engineering from UMIST, Manchester in 1981. His main scientific interests are focused on study of Materials Degradation, Development of Advanced Materials and Ecological Processes for Surface Treatments.