Bio-Inspired nacre-like materials for the next generation of conservation treatments in stone art works
The degradation of our rich stone cultural heritage (CH) represents an irreversible loss; an issue that has become urgent due to the increase of natural decay caused by climate change and the impact of atmospheric pollution and/or the current use of inappropriate treatments against stone weathering. The main challenge of BIONA4ART project will be to address this issue within an innovative framework in the conservation science: i) the development of a new generation of bioinspired nacre-like composites with self- healing and antimicrobial properties; and ii) its validation as stone conservation treatments with the aid of advanced characterization techniques. Thereby this research is marked by an interdisciplinary approach involving material science, biomaterials, physics, chemistry, petrophysics and CH conservation. In order to develop the proposed research the applicant  will acquire new research skills by partnering her with the three specialized institutions involved: the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (supervisor Prof. R. Fort, world-renowned expert in the stone CH conservation), the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (supervisor: Prof. H. Fairbrother, expert in nanocomposites, environmental implications and applications of nanomaterials), and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), (supervisor Dr. S. Weber, internationally recognized expert in the use and development of SFM methods to study the underlying physics of nanoscale systems). The new knowledge and transferable skills gained during the project coupled with the opening of an innovative and exciting research line in the stone-CH field, will be an ideal springboard for the applicant´s subsequent career, which is to become a fully independent academic researcher in a top european university.