Objectives
The ever increasing challenges regarding the security and protection of the modern society, for example for early detection and defence against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents, in information technology and cyber defence, in biotechnology, in energy storage and conversion, etc., need solutions employing the up-to-date achievements of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Novel functional materials, techniques, devices and systems allowing control of the matter on atomic and molecular levels, i.e. at the level of the matter building blocks, have to face the new security requirements. The nanostructured materials possess unique mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, biological properties, which are entirely different from those of the conventional micro- or millimeter sized materials, due to their distinctive sizes and shapes, and predominant surface and quantum effects determining their behaviour. In such a sense the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology have a strong potential to be the main driving forces in the development of novel concepts for security and safety. It concerns not only the preparation and investigation of smart nanosized materials for different applications, like quantum dots, nanotubes, graphene, nanowires, nanoparticles and nanocomposites, but also the combination of their performance with ICs, micro- and nanooptics, MEMS and NEMS, leading to higher level of integration and effective processing and transmission. Only the common efforts of scientists from different fields of research – chemistry, physics, biology, materials science and engineering – and from different countries can bring the complimentary expertise in the development of reliable conceptions in the security and protection against CBRN treats taking the advantages of nanoscience and nanotechnologies.
The first objective of the NATO ASI on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Security and Protection against CBRN Treats is to present to the participants the up-to-date achievements for applications of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies in different fields related to security and protection against CBRN agents and the future perspectives and trends. The second objective is the teaching and training of the participants in the scientific and technological background of nanostructured materials used in fields, like, new generation of advanced sensors and systems for early detection of CBRN treats, efficient defence against these agents, etc. The third objective addresses the initiation of trans-border and interdisciplinary collaborations between young scientists towards the implementation of the recent nanotechnological achievements to meet the emerging security challenges. The overall objective of the ASI is the transfer of competence in the nanomaterials and nanotechnological advances in different fields of security and networking between young scientists from NATO and Partner countries in order to meet one of the key priorities of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme.
The ASI will cover topics connected with the recent achievements in different fields of security taking the advantages of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. The lectures will be given by outstanding scientists from universities and research institutes who are experts in nanoscience-related security fields. Eight thematic seminars on specific topics, not covered by the lectures, will be also included in the programme. Three poster sessions will be held in the afternoons, during which the participants can present their results, establish closer contacts and discuss in less formal atmosphere.
The ASI will take place in Sozopol, a small town in Bulgaria with calm and relaxing atmosphere which has already shown many times to be an excellent place for events like NATO ASI. An additional advantage is the excellent transport connection. It can be reached by bus from Sofia, Varna and Bourgas Airports as well as from Istanbul Airport (convenient for participants from a number of Partner countries from the Mediterranean Region and Near East) and by speed boats from Varna and Bourgas ports, both cities connected by direct flights, trains and buses with several Partner countries, like Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, etc. The work of the ASI organizing committee related with the publicity and the local organisation will be actively supported by the Mayor of Sozopol and the City Council.

Director from NATO country:
Prof. Dr. Plamen Petkov
University of Chemical Technology & Metallurgy
Department of Physics
Thin Films Technology Lab.
8 Kliment Ohridsky Blvd.
1756 Sofia
Bulgaria
Tel. 00359 2 81 63 447
E-mail: plamen.petkov@abv.bg

Director from partner country:
Prof. Dr. Mohammed Essaid Achour
Sciences Faculty
Department of Physics
Av. de L’Université,
14000 Kenitra
Morocco
Tel. 00212 5 37 32 94 23
E-mail: achour.me@univ-ibntofail.ac.ma
Lecturers
Prof. Mahmoud Al-Hussein, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Prof. Margarita Apostolova, Institute of Molecular Biology, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
Prof. Luis Cadillon Costa, I3N and Physics Department, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Prof. Yuri Dekhtyar, Riga Technical University, Latvia
Prof. José Miguel González, Instituto de Carboquímica (CSIC), Saragoza, Spain
Prof. Taras Kavetskyy, John Paul II University Lublin, Poland
Prof. Paul May, University of Bristol, UK
Prof. Ion Mihailescu, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Bucharest, Romania
Prof. Perica Paunovic, University “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, North Macedonia
Prof. Cyril Popov, Institute of Nanostructure Technologies and Analytics, University of Kassel, Germany
Prof. Dan Tonchev, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Prof. Dumitru Tsiulyanu, Technical University of Moldova, Chisinau, Moldova
Prof. Ashok Vaseashta, Institute for Advanced Sciences Convergence, VA, USA
Prof. Georgy Vayssilov, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria
Conference Program
Day 1 (12.09.2019, Thursday)
Arrival and registration
12:30 Buffet
19:30 Welcome Party
Day 2 (13.09.2019, Friday)
Morning Session Chair: C. Popov |
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9:00 |
Opening session |
P. Petkov, M.Achour C.Popov |
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9:10 |
Greetings of the Bulgarian Ministry of Science and Education |
K.Kostadinov |
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9:20 |
Greetings of the Lord-Mayor of Sozopol |
P. Reyzi, K.Stoyanova |
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9:30 |
Greetings of the Rector of University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy |
S.Terzieva |
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9:40 |
Introduction to CVD diamond |
P. May |
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10:30 Coffee break |
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11:00 |
Applications of diamond for CBRN threats |
P. May |
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12:00 Lunch |
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Afternoon Session Chair: P.May |
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15:30 Coffee refreshment |
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16:00 |
Advanced polymers and carbon-based materials for construction of third-generation amperometric enzyme biosensors |
T. Kavetskyy |
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17:00 |
Electrical properties of thin chalcogenide CBRN sensors |
P. Petkov |
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18:00 Guided walking tour through the Old Sozopol |
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20:00 Dinner |
Day 3 (14.09.2019, Saturday)
Morning Session Chair: P.Paunovic |
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8:30 |
Color centers in diamond for quantum sensing and quantum key distribution |
C. Popov |
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9:30 |
Emergent carbon nanostructures for high-impact applications |
J.Gonzalez |
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10:30 Coffee break |
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11:00 |
Biomedical potential of carbon nanotubes and graphene |
J.Gonzalez |
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12:00 Lunch |
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Afternoon Session Chair: P. Petkov |
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15:30 Coffee refreshment |
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16:00 |
Chalcogenide containing amorphous materials for optical and electrochemical sensing |
V.Ilcheva |
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16:30 |
Poster session I – Fabrication, Characterization and Processing of Nanomaterials (Session M) – poster-flash presentations |
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18:20 |
Break |
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18:30 |
Poster session I – Fabrication, Characterization and Processing of Nanomaterials (Session M) – poster presentations |
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19:30 Dinner |
Day 4 (15.09.2019, Sunday)
Morning Session Chair: G. Vayssilov |
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8:30 |
Cyber-physical systems and connected aerial platforms: CBRN sensing/detection capabilities |
A.Vaseashta |
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9:30 |
UV decontamination of translucent liquids and gases via metamaterials |
I.Mihailescu |
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10:30 Coffee break |
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11:00 |
Cyber-physical systems and connected aerial platforms: Real-time CBRN monitoring and analysis |
A.Vaseashta |
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12:00 |
Conductivity in phosphate- vanadate oxide materials |
D.Koshnicharova |
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12:30 Lunch |
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Afternoon Session Chair: D. Tonchev |
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15:30 Coffee refreshment |
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16:00 |
Application of Cerium Dioxide in Removal and Transformation of Harmful Gases |
G. Vayssilov |
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17:00 |
Multifunctional BioGlasses: Preparation, Structural, Electrical and Biological Properties |
M.Graca |
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17:30 |
Nanoscale Magnetic Resonance |
B.Naydenov |
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18:00 |
Break |
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18:15 |
Engineered Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials: Invisible Threats and Toxicology |
M.Apostolova |
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18:45 |
Carbon- free membrane electrode assemblies for electrolysis cells with anion exchange membrane |
G.Borisov |
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19:30 Dinner |
Day 5 (16.09.2019, Monday)
Morning Session Chair: Y.Dekhtyar |
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8:30 |
Integrated glassy chalcogenide based electrochemical microswitches for toxic gas signalizeres |
D.Tsiulyanu |
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9:30 |
Anti-counterfeit security documents, Part I |
D.Tonchev |
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10:30 Coffee break |
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11:00 |
Anti-counterfeit security documents, Part II |
D.Tonchev |
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12:00 |
Efficient nanostructured thin layers against CBRN threats: fabrication via Advanced Combinatorial Pulsed Laser Technologies |
C.Ristoscu |
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12:30 Lunch |
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Afternoon Session Chair: C. Popov |
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15:30 Coffee refreshment |
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16:00 |
Iron oxide nanoparticles: systematic improvement of particle properties and reduction of synthesis time |
L.Storozuk |
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16:30 |
Poster session II – Nonowires, Fibers, Nanoparticles, Nanocomposites, Glasses and Polymers (Session N) – poster-flash presentation |
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17:50 |
Break |
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18.00 |
Poster session II – Nonowires, Fibers, Nanoparticles, Nanocomposites, Glasses and Polymers (Session N) – poster-flash presentation |
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19:30 Dinner |
Day 6 (17.09.2019, Tuesday)
Morning Session Chair: A.Vaseashta |
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8:30 |
Weak electron spectroscopy towards characterization of nanostructures, Part I |
Y.Dekhtyar |
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9:30 |
Microstructural and spectroscopic characterization of barium titanate containing glass ceramics |
R.Harizanova |
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10:00 |
Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Chitosan Nanostructures for Cell Cultivation |
H.Sasmazel |
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10:30 Coffee break |
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11:00 |
Weak electron spectroscopy towards characterization of nanostructures, Part II |
Y.Dekhtyar |
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GROUP PHOTO |
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12:30 Lunch |
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Afternoon Session Chair: T. Kavetskyy |
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15:30 Coffee refreshment |
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16:00 |
Undesirable aspects of fatigue on stretchable elastomer sensors |
E.Harea |
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16:30 |
Next generation magnetic materials (multiferroics)- structural, magnetic and microwave characteristics and applications |
S.Kolev |
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17:00 |
Functional nanofibers as barrier clothing for protection against chemical and biological agents |
N.Bolgen |
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17:30 |
So-gel technique to design hybrid materials and their application in water purification |
I.Melnyk |
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18.00 |
Innovative nanocomposites towards sensing and detection of CBRN agents |
C.Ingrosso |
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19:30 Dinner – Bulgarian Evening |
Day 7 (18.09.2019, Wednesday)
Morning Session Chair: L.Costa |
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8:30 |
Influence of different carbon allotrope filler on electrical properties of polymer composites |
M.Achour |
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9:30 |
Advanced X-ray scattering methods for investigating the structure and morphology of nanostructured materials: Fundamental concepts and practical examples, Part I |
M. Al-Hussein |
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10:30 Coffee break |
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11:00 |
Advanced X-ray scattering methods for investigating the structure and morphology of nanostructured materials: Fundamental concepts and practical examples, Part II |
M. Al-Hussein |
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12:00 Lunch |
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Afternoon Session Chair: M.Achour |
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15:30 Coffee refreshment |
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16:00 |
Impedance spectroscopy: concepts and applications |
L.Costa |
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17:00 |
Poster session III – Sensors and Detectors, Water Treatment and Environment, Health (Session S) – poster-flash presentations |
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18:20 |
Break |
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18:30 |
Poster session III – Sensors and Detectors, Water Treatment and Environment, Health (Session S) – poster-flash presentations |
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20:00 Dinner |
Day 8 (19.09.2019, Thursday)
Morning Session Chair: J.Gonzalez |
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8:30 |
Microwave radiation: metrology and materials processing |
L.Costa |
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9:30 |
Application of ionizig irradiation for structure modification of nanomaterials: Carbon nanostructures (CNSs) |
P.Paunovic |
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10:30 Coffee break |
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11:00 |
Application of ionizig irradiation for structure modification of nanomaterials: Nano-scaled TiO2 |
P.Paunovic |
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12:00 |
Developing new materials to store energy |
S.Soreto |
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12:30 Lunch |
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Afternoon Session Chair: M. Al-Hussein |
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16:00 Coffee refreshment |
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16:30 |
Formation of heavy clusters in ion-irradiated polymers and complex compounds: A comparative analysis |
T.Kavetskyy |
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17:30 |
Closing remarks and conclusions |
L.Costa |
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18:00 |
Closing ceremony |
P. Petkov, M.Achour |
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19:30 Farewell party |
Day 9 (20.06.2019, Friday)
Departure
Publication
All lectures and seminars as well as selected participants’ contributions will be published in the NATO Science for Peace and Security Series by Springer Nature. The manuscripts (including Figures, Tables and References) should not exceed 10 pages for each lecture (or totally 20 pages per lecturer), 8 pages for the seminars and 6 pages for the ASI student contributions. The latter will be subjected to peer review and the best of them will be selected for publication.
The manuscripts are due till 31.10.2019. They should be prepared according to the guidelines for the manuscript preparation using T1-book template (DOT file).
The authors should use reference numbers in square brackets sequential by citation, i.e. [1], [2], etc., with the Springer Physics Style for the references.
All authors are requested to submit filled-in, signed and scanned Consent to Publish Form together with the manuscript.
Ensure all third-party permissions – permissions to use text or figures from other publications in your publication in the ASI Book.
Send the manuscript, separate figures and the form to Prof. Cyril Popov (cyril.popov.ina@googlemail.com).
Pictures
You can find the photo gallery with the pictures from the NATO ASI 2019 here