The objective of the METACHEM collaborative project is to use the extreme versatility of nano-chemistry to design and manufacture bulk meta-materials exhibiting non-conventional electromagnetic properties in the range of visible light. This spectral domain requires nano-scale patterns, typically around 50 nm in size or less. Our strategy consists in designing and synthesizing ad-hoc nano particles as optical plasmonic nano-resonators and organising them through self-assembly methods in 2 or 3 dimensional networks in order to produce dense highly ordered structures at a nano-scale level. Several subprojects corresponding to different routes are proposed, all of them based on existing state-of-the-art chemical and self assembly methods. In addition, the important issue of losses inherent to the plasmonic response of the nano-objects is addressed in an original way by the adjunction of loss-compensating active gain media. A special effort is made on the difficult measurement of the non conventional meta-properties as they constitute the first demonstration of the validity of the concept. A technological and an industrial point are added towards the search of efficient, cost-effective and industrially feasible metamaterials. The key point of the METACHEM project joining 9 partners from 7 European states is that it brings together for the first time European experts of three complementary fields namely nanochemistry, self-assembly methods and metamaterials science. The majority of the partners are members of FP7 virtual institutes related to these fields i.e. respectively EMMI, SOFTCOMP and METAMORPHOSE II. Main goals: Design and synthesize optically isotropic meta-materials with exotic and extreme properties realized by simple and cheap chemical methods. Target properties: artificial optical magnetic and dielectric properties, optical left-handed materials, near-zero permittivity/permeability; negative index materials, low-loss plasmonic structures.

SMART-EC aims at the development of self powered (energy harvesting and storage) EC device integrating EC thin film transistor component on a flexible substrate for energy saving, comfort and security in automotive, e-cards and smart packaging sectors. The objective is to overcome the current limitations related to low switching time and manufacturing costs; the switching time can be reduced (<1s) by introducing nanostructured EC materials, innovative EC transistors and high ionic conductive solid electrolytes. Radical innovative cheap manufacturing technologies on large area PVD, inkjet and roll-to-roll processes on low cost plastic will be developed. These processes are fully compatible with heterogeneous integration of several functions to produce a completely autonomous device (thin film battery, PV cell, sensors and communication) with great added value respect to traditional solutions. The optimization of co-integrated (separated building blocks laminated together) and convergence (using same materials for different building blocks) approaches will allow to fabricate a fully autonomous system. The first step will be the optimization of deposition and patterning technologies in terms of processes parameters and in-situ monitoring to allow the high control of film growth; the second step will be the heterogeneous integration of the different building blocks to produce the self-powered systems for the targeted applications. Four academic and research institutes guarantee a high level interdisciplinary research on solid-state physics, material chemistry and integration; this will assures the proper technology transfer to industrial partners at all product chain levels (materials, devices and end users) for a successful exploitation of results. SMART-EC materials and technologies are original and will pave the way for future generation smart surfaces with great potential impact at medium and long term (flexible and transparent electronics) applications.

To meet short term European 20-20-20 objectives and long term targets of European Energy Roadmap 2050, an energy paradigm shift is needed for which biomass conversion into advanced biofuels is essential. This new deal has challenges in catalyst development which so far hinders implementation at industrial level: Firstly, biomass is much more complex and reactive than conventional feedstock; secondly development of such catalysts is traditionally done by lengthy empirical approaches. FASTCARD aims at: -Developing a novel 'rational design' of nano-catalysts for better control; optimised based on advanced characterisation methods and systematic capture of knowledge by scalable mathematical and physical models, allowing prediction of performance in the context of bio-feedstocks; -Developing industrially relevant, insightful Downscaling methodologies to allow evaluation of the impact of diverse and variable bio-feedstocks on catalyst performance; -Addressing major challenges impacting on the efficiency and implementation of 4 key catalytic steps in biobased processes: • Hydrotreating (HT) and co-Fluid Catalytic Cracking forming the pyrolysis liquid value chain for near term implementation in existing refining units as a timely achievement of the 20-20-20 objectives: addressing challenges of selectivity and stability in HT; increased bio-oil content in co-FCC. • Hydrocarbon (HC) reforming and CO2 tolerant Fischer Tropsch (FT) forming the gasification value chain for longer term implementation in new European relevant infrastructure, representing 100% green sustainable route for Energy Roadmap 2050: addressing challenges of stability and resistance in HC reforming; stability and selectivity for FT. Advances in rational design of nano-catalysts will establish a fundamental platform that can be applied to other energy applications. The project will thus speed-up industrialisation of safer, greener, atom efficient, and stable catalysts, while improving the process efficiency.

Medical diagnosis is currently undergoing a major revolution due to the fast discovery of molecular biomarkers, and the development of multimodal 'metabiomarker' signatures. Progress, however, is hindered by low abundance of many biomarkers of interest in body fluids, in absolute concentration and with regard to other biomolecules. The aim of the present project is to apply these progresses in biotechnology, nanoparticle synthesis, and nano-instrumentation to the development of fully integrated lab-on chip instruments able to perform elaborate multimodal biomarker analysis on a routine basis and at the ultrasensitive level required to allow minimally invasive tests. In particular, we aim at overcoming a major bottleneck on the path to this objective, which was identified in a previous project in the 'HEALTH' priority: no satisfactory solution currently exists to bridge the several orders of magnitude between the nanoscale volumes at which ultrasensitive new generation sensors operate, and the often millilitre volumes of samples in which the molecules of interest must be found. For this, we shall combine innovations in pre-concentration, micro and nanofluidics, self-assembly, micro-nanofabrication, and nanodetection. The project will develop a generic, multipurpose, platform of compatible enabling technologies, and integrate them into devices. In order to maximize impact and societal benefit, the project will be validated on an application of major interest for health, namely the early detection of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer), with special emphasis on subtyping of these diseases for improved treatment strategies. The consortium includes a multidisciplinary group of technology developers, three leading biomedical groups in clinical neuroscience for definition of specifications and end-user pre-clinical validation, and three research-oriented SMEs in biotechnology, nanosensing and microfluidics.

Graphene has some unique properties resulting from its linear dispersion band structure, its high carrier mobility, and its low dimensionality. However, its use is presently limited by its synthesis and mass production. The project aims to develop the first roll-based chemical vapour deposition (CVD) machine for the mass production of few-layer graphene for transparent electrodes for LED and display applications, and adapts the process conditions of a wafer-scale carbon nanotube growth system to provide a low-cost batch process for graphene growth on silicon. The project focuses on applications such as transparent electrodes for OLEDs and GaN LEDs, optical switches, plasmonic waveguides, VLSI interconnects, sensors and RF NEMs.

In this proposed integrating project we will develop innovative in-line high throughput manufacturing technologies which are all based on atmospheric pressure (AP) vapour phase surface and on AP plasma processing technologies. Both approaches have significant potential for the precise synthesis of nano-structures with tailored properties, but their effective simultaneous combination is particularly promising. We propose to merge the unique potential of atmospheric pressure atomic layer deposition (AP-ALD), with nucleation and growth chemical vapour deposition (AP-CVD) with atmospheric pressure based plasma technologies e.g. for surface nano-structuring by growth control or chemical etching and, sub-nanoscale nucleation (seed) layers. The potential for cost advantages of such an approach, combined with the targeted innovation, make the technology capable of step changes in nano-manufacturing. Compatible with high volume and flexible multi-functionalisation, scale-up to pilot-lines will be a major objective. Pilot lines will establish equipment platforms which will be targeted for identified, and substantial potential applications, in three strategically significant industrial areas: (i) energy storage by high capacity batteries and hybridcapacitors with enhanced energy density, (ii) solar energy production and, (iii) energy efficient (lightweight) airplanes. A further aim is to develop process control concepts based on in-situ monitoring methods allowing direct correlation of synthesis parameters with nanomaterial structure and composition. Demonstration of the developed on-line monitoring tools in pilot lines is targeted. The integrating project targets a strategic contribution to establishing a European high value added nano-manufacturing industry. New, cost efficient production methods will improve quality of products in high market value segments in industries such as renewable energy production, energy storage, aeronautics, and space. DoW adaptations being made responding on requests from Phase-2 Evaluation Report In Phase-2 of the evaluation process, a number of points were noted by the evaluators where the project had insufficient information or could benefit from 'upgrading' or justification. Our response and actions against each point raised has been summarized and send to the project officer, Dr. Rene Martins, in a separate document.

Due to its specific stiffness and strength, as compared to its low weight, Gamma-TiAl alloy is a promising material for automotive, energy and aerospace applications. However, its wider use is limited by its low sustainability to severe environmental attack in oxidising, sulphidising, hot corrosion as well as insufficient wear and erosion resistance at elevated temperature. Based on similar requirements in the machining industry, the INNOVATIAL consortium is tackling the demand for innovative coatings that can withstand attack up to 1000 C by complex environments, providing long term immunity against damage due to wear and erosion. This IP has the ambition to synthesise ultra-performance nanoscale-structured PVD coatings, which can provide environmental protection of Gamma-TiAl in order to boost the application of Gamma-TiAl to high service temperatures and long dwell times, and investigate application on hard metals thanks to: - Scientific understanding of thin films for Ti-Al materials. - Development of new coatings: interface engineering, nanocomposites, superlattice coatings, intermetallic coatings, top coats (Me-oxy-nitride glazes, thermal barrier coatings) - Upgrade High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering for thin film production - Use of new characterisation techniques for a complete microstructural characterisation at the sub-nanometre scale. Through horizontal and vertical integration, covering fundamental research, to demonstration and validation, the multidisciplinary consortium is integrating 10 renowned research centres, academics, 15 representative industrials (producers of Gamma-TiAl alloys, technology providers and end-users) among which 6 high-tech SMEs. Strong impacts are expected, both economic (European leadership of job-coating industry , of Gamma-TiAl components, sustain machining industry) and societal (lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in vehicles, improve lifetime of components, withdraw cooling fluids in industry.

The DIADEMS project aims at exploiting the unique physical properties of NV color centres in ultrapure single-crystal CVD-grown diamond to develop innovative devices with unprecedented performances for ICT applications. By exploiting the atom-like structure of the NV that exhibits spin dependent optical transitions, DIADEMS will make optics-based magnetometry possible. The objectives of DIADEMS are to develop - Wide field magnetic imagers with 1 nT sensivities, - Scanning probe magnetometer with sensitivity 10 nT and spatial resolution 10 nm, - Sensor heads with resolution 1 pT. To reach such performances, DIADEMS will: - Use new theoretical protocols for sensing, - Develop ultrahigh purity diamond material with controlled single nitrogen implantation with a precision better than 5 nm, - Process scanning probe tips with diametre in the 20 nm range, - Transfer them to AFM cantilever, improve the emission properties of NV by coupling them with photonic cavities and photonic waveguides. DIADEMS outputs will demonstrate new ICT functionalities that will boost applications with high impact on society: - Calibration and optimization of write/read magnetic heads for future high capacity (3 Tbit per square inch) storage disk required for intense computing, - Imaging of electron-spin in graphene and carbon nanotubes for next generation of electronic components based on spintronics, - Non-invasive investigation of living neuronal networks to understand brain function, - Demonstration of magnetic resonance imaging of single spins allowing single protein imaging for medical research. DIADEMS aims at integrating the efforts of the European Community on NV centres to push further the limits of this promising technology and to keep Europe's prominent position.

The growing importance of nanotechnology for the European Research Area is reflected in the FP6 Thematic Priorities. It is foreseen that most of the projects submitted to the Priority Area 3 (NMP) will need and develop nanopatterning techniques in one way or another. The Emerging Nanopatterning Methods (NaPa) consortium integrates the new patterning methods into one project, both anticipating and responding to the increasing need for technologies, standards and metrology required to harness the new application-relevant properties of engineered structures with nm-scale features. The NaPa consortium complements the deep UV technology by providing low-cost scalable processes and tools to cover the needs of nanopatterning from CMOS back-end processes through photonics to biotechnology. To achieve this, research in three technology strands is proposed: nanoimprint lithography, soft lithography & self-assembly and MEMS-based nanopatterning. While the former is at a crucial embryonic stage, requiring prompt consolidation to yield its first products in one or two years, the other two will result in applications towards the end of the project. Research in three overarching themes required by all strands: Materials, Tools and Simulation will be undertaken. NaPa brings together 35 leading academic and industrial European institutions with a vast amount of recent know-how on nanofabrication, partly developed within FP5. In total, 3500 person months will be contributed by the partners to the project. Complementing R&D, the consortium will design exciting nanoscience and nanoengineering courses to advance the training of the next generation of scientists and engineers and to create a positive attitude towards science among young people. Dissemination activities towards the lay public and sectors underrepresented in nanotechnology form an integral part in NaPa. Thus, NaPa offers a unique opportunity to unleash the potentials of #