Over the past years, carbon nanomaterial such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted the interest of scientists, because some of their properties are unlike any other engineering material. Individual graphene sheets and CNTs have shown a Youngs Modulus of 1 TPa and a tensile strength of 100 GPa, hereby exceeding steel at only a fraction of its weight. Further, they offer high currents carrying capacities of 10^9 A/cm², and thermal conductivities up to 3500 W/mK, exceeding diamond. Importantly, these off-the-chart properties are only valid for high quality individualized nanotubes or sheets. However, most engineering applications require the assembly of tens to millions of these nanoparticles into one device. Unfortunately, the mechanical and electronic figures of merit of such assembled materials typically drop by at least an order of magnitude in comparison to the constituent nanoparticles. In this ERC project, we aim at the development of new techniques to create structured assemblies of carbon nanoparticles. Herein we emphasize the importance of controlling hierarchical arrangement at different length scales in order to engineer the properties of the final device. The project will follow a methodical approach, bringing together different fields of expertise ranging from macro- and microscale manufacturing, to nanoscale material synthesis and mesoscale chemical surface modification. For instance, we will pursue combined top-down microfabrication and bottom-up self-assembly, accompanied with surface modification through hydrothermal processing. This research will impact scientific understanding of how nanotubes and nanosheets interact, and will create new hierarchical assembly techniques for nanomaterials. Further, this ERC project pursues applications with high societal impact, including energy storage and water filtration. Finally, HIENA will tie relations with EU's rich CNT industry to disseminate its technologic achievements.

The mission of HIERARCHY is to train and educate young scientist in the rapidly developing field of nanosciences, in particular hierarchical self-assembly. The training programme educates early stage and experienced researches in many aspects of this highly interdisciplinary field, such as theory, materials chemistry and biochemistry, advanced characterisation techniques, physics and commercial device development. In addition, the training programme will address non-scientific issues, important for the career development of young scientists, e.g. communication and presentation skills, IPR and entrepreneurial skills, ethical issues, language enhancement and cultural awareness. The training takes place on a Network level and also locally at the host institutions. HIERARCHY’s training programme will deliver versatile individuals with a broad scientific knowledge, ready to pursue a successful career in the European industry or academia. The interdisciplinary research training is centralised around the novel concept of hierarchical assembly in controllable matrices. This concept exploits liquid crystalline media as controllable matrices for programmed self-organisation, which goes far beyond the possibilities of currently employed techniques. A liquid crystal matrix in combination with a variety of simultaneously or sequentially applied external stimuli will yield a unique toolbox to build functional macroscopic structures with nanometer control. Leading European laboratories in soft condensed matter and solid state matter will work towards new paradigms in nanosciences. HIERARCHY’s intention towards application of the designed structures, illustrated by the presence of three industrial partners in the consortium, is an important step towards commercialisation of nanosciences in Europe. With Europe’s desire to become the major player in the area of nanosciences, valorisation of developed technology is a key lesson for Europe’s new generation of nanoscientists.

Goal: to significantly extend our ability to manipulate the Self Assembly (SA) of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) into complex 1D/2D/3D architectures (regular clusters, (composite)strings/rods, sheets, submicron colloidal crystals/liquid crystal phases of the NPs) over multiple length scales going from nano to that of granular matter. In the nano-regime quantum size effects cause materials properties to become strongly size dependent and thus highly tunable. Moreover, the synthesis of many NPs (metals, semiconductors, magnetic materials) is advanced enough that they can be made to crystallize into regular 3D lattices with new exciting functionality caused by collective effects. By performing SA in several independent stages, materials properties can be further tailored in new ways because of both access to different length scales and different NP combinations. In order to make systematic progress we will determine inter-NP potentials using 3D imaging. Both using subdiffractive confocal microscopy and cryogenic tomographic transmission electron microscopy. We will also use external fields (optical tweezers, electric/magnetic fields, shear) both to realize the complex architectures, but also to change particle properties dynamically. E.g., in monodisperse droplets of nematic phases of luminescent rodlike NPs an electric field can dramatically affect the scattering and emission of individual droplets. The droplets can subsequently be ordered in strings, sheets or crystals. Repeating the SA again delivers supra structures on the granular scale to tune e.g. heat or reagent flows. These projects combined will not only deliver new fundamental knowledge on SA, but the results are also expected to be directly useful for realizing applications based on the new meta-materials realized such as in displays, lighting, (optical) storage, (bio)sensing, catalysis, spintronics, photonic crystals, and the opto-electronics field in general.

This conference deals with a new and exciting method to deposit silicon and carbon based materials, Catalytic Chemical Vapour Deposition, or Hot Wire CVD. It is an inherently cheap, and an amazingly fast and gentle method for the deposition of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon, diamond like carbon, and carbon nanotubes. The interest in this method is currently exploding worldwide. Bringing together in Europe experienced and young scientists from all over the world to interact in this exciting area will be beneficial to the thin film scientific community as a whole. Europe has the largest number of research groups that are active in this field, but advanced expertise is available overseas, in the USA and Japan. This conference will therefore be very effective, by bringing in overseas experts as well as many young researchers from Europe, including the Associated States. The conference will address the chemical deposition chemistry (including catalytic filament issues) and chemical and electronic passivation techniques, the thin films that can be obtained consisting of silicon possessing various nanostructures, epitaxial films, insulating films, and carbon-related films. In addition it will deal with the industrial implementation that is currently under study also in Europe, by demonstrating large area and economically interesting capabilities of the technique. The high deposition rate is of interest to the solar cell industry and the display industry. Also carbon nanotubes can be produced at high rate and conformai coverage by thin polymer layers, e.g. on biomédical applications, has been achieved. The lack of ion bombardment translates into superior surface passivation and significant noise reduction in electronic devices. The properties of many advanced materials are based on functional layers. It is the goal of this conference to understand why Cat-CVD can deposit high quality films at comparatively high rates, for #

The plan proposed for the two-year Marie-Curie fellowship aims at providing the applicant with the hands on experience and theoretical knowledge required to undertake an independent simulation activity in soft condensed matter physics. This is intended to complement the experimental activity on the same subject already carried out by the applicant Dr. Antonio Benedetto. Experimental and computational work will continue in parallel after the completion of the fellowship, providing a privileged basis for acquiring a leadership role in bio-physics soft-matter research. Training in computational methods will take place at Queen's University of Belfast, supervised by Prof. Pietro Ballone. The acquisition of modelling and simulation experience will be driven by the development of three different but related sub-projects, concerning: (i) the role of water in the equilibrium polymerisation of actin and tubulin; (ii) the interaction of room-temperature ionic liquids with lipid bilayers; (iii) the role of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobicity in the stabilisation of amyloid fibrils, with insulin as a prototype system. In all these problems, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobicity/hidrophilicity, and the dynamics of water molecules play the central role. Neutron scattering and simulation both represent powerful tools to investigate these properties, and their combination will provide a direct and microscopic view of the systems under investigation. Besides providing a comprehensive training in atomistic simulation to Dr. A. Benedetto, the three subprojects are expected to provide a wealth of important new results, with important implications for pharmacology, toxicology, environmental sciences, nanotechnology and medicine. The training and scientific work will be complemented by a series of outreach activities that are discussed in the application.

Tomorrows micro-electronic devices will have to show more functionality and performance at smaller form factor, lower cost and lower energy consumption in order to be competitive on this multi-billion dollar market. Advanced system integration is thus inevitable, a trend bound to joining dissimilar materials with new packaging technologies. These processes must enable lower thermal resistances and higher interconnect density and device reliability under thermomechanical loading.

It is the aim of the project to enforce the technological position of European jewellery manufacturing industry and thereby improve competitiveness by developing innovative, low cost nickel-free undercoats for hypoallergenic gold plated jewellery by electroplating of nanostructured materials.The need to eliminate nickel emission from metal parts that are in prolonged contact with human skin for reasons of allergy is challenging the jewellery, eyeglasses, fashion accessories and watchmaking industry. To protect customers, the European Union has set out European Directive 76/769/EEC-12th Amendment (94/27/EC), effective from January 2000, which requires minimal nickel release from finished products over prolonged time periods. This has far-reaching consequences since nickel is traditionally used extensively both as an undercoat for gold plated articles and as an alloying element in casted gold. For the latter case, the nickel emission problem is solved by selecting alloys free of nickel. However, the nickel release problem has not been solved for gold plated articles. Jewellery manufacturers cannot fulfil customer demands by using technological alternatives offered present-day, since these have their distinct economic and/or technical drawbacks. Development of a real technological solution requires research work that jewellery manufacturing SMEs cannot afford due to size, lack of skill and high costs. The proposed technical solution to nickel replacement is created by combination of advancements in nanostructuring of electroplated films and jewellery electroplating technology. The innovative work focuses on two routes: synthesis of nanostructured base coatings that eliminate the need for additional barrier coatings; synthesis of nickel-free barrier coatings that can be applied on conventional base materials. Nanoparticle codeposition, pulse (reverse) technology and electrodeposition of alloying elements will be used to induce nanostructured under.

There have been major advances in the efficiency and efficacy of flexible electronic devices such as Organic Photovoltaics (OPV's) and Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDS). Premature failure of the devices will occur through ingress of moisture and oxygen. Today there is however no simple, low cost process to create a 'barrier' to such ingress and extend device lifetimes. This project will investigate the structure–barrier property relationships in inorganic-organic hybrid coatings. The structures will be formed through the controlled self-assembly of nano-scale inorganic building-blocks synthesized through adaption of sol-gel chemistry. A variety of characterization methodologies including NMR, GPC, LC-MASS, DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), WAXD (wide-angle X-ray diffraction), SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering) will be used to assess the structures formed. Focus will be directed toward regimes of hybrid composition where the inorganic self-assembles as lamellae. Such structures offer the prospects of coatings which give both the high 'barrier' and the high optical transparency required in targeted applications. Cytec Surface Specialties, a chemical company, is the world leader in the supply of radiation curing resins for coatings and has the capabilities to formulate, apply, cure and test these hybrid coatings. The prospective fellow, Dr D Kogelnig, will have ample potential to expand his chemical skills from his previous work on the P/O/C based inorganic chemistry of ionic liquids to Si/O/C based chemistry required here and broaden his technical competences in polymer chemistry. His geographic transfer (Austria to Belgium) and from academia to industry is an example of genuine mobility. The training available would help him establish a career in Industry, but should he return to academia his experience will make his potential contribution from an academic environment all the more valued by industrial partners.

Semiconducting nanowires are a promising materials system for quantum information processing applications. Presently, there is much interest in using nanowires to support both spin qubits and, when contacted by a superconductor, Majorana fermions. The overall aim of the proposed research will be to develop the next generation of hybrid superconductor semiconductor nanowire quantum devices using ultra-clean InSb nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy. We will develop new device assembly techniques and sensitive charge detection schemes to explore and control single spin quantum coherence. Nanowire devices will be coupled to superconducting microwave resonators in order to demonstrate coherent spin-photon coupling and probe Majorana bound states.

Apart from the never–ending miniaturization of higher–performance semiconductor devices, two major routes will be required to significantly push the Si semiconductor technology of today beyond its limits: the integration of low–cost Si technology with other high–performance materials and the use of new nanoscale device structures, where photonic and electronic units can exploit new functionalities via quantum physical effects. This project will merge these two important routes, aiming at the integration of III–V compound semiconductor nanostructures on Si for next–generation device applications. We will employ the gallium–arsenide (GaAs) compounds as highly efficient III–V materials due to their ultra–high carrier mobilities, superior optoelectronic properties and band gap engineering potentials. For nanoscale model systems we will incorporate these materials in the form of one–dimensional nanowires (NWs), which benefit from dimensions smaller than the emission wavelength, but also from their nearly defect–free singlecrystalline quality achieved via self–assembled growth. We will employ sophisticated molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth techniques to synthesize high–quality arsenide–based NWs on Si (111) via catalyst–free nucleation. The growth kinetics effects and selective area epitaxy will be directly correlated with extended materials characterization for optimization of structural, optical and electronic performance. Basic NW structures will then be extended toward advanced core–shell NW heterostructures for two complementary topics, (i) near–IR nanophotonic emitters with tunable–bandgap emission, and (ii) ultra–high electron mobility NW device structures, in particular field effect transistors (FETs). With detailed physical investigations and proof–of–principle demonstrations of such state–of–the–art device structures, we will provide significant insights toward the integration of nanoscale III–V heterostructures with Si.