Inspired by the possibility to create an artificial electronic band structure through the interplay of a molecular nanoporous network with the surface state electrons of a metallic substrate (recently reported by us), the utilization of this new concept for controlling the electronic surface properties of a material as well as establishing understanding of the underlying principles for the observed behavior is the overall aim of this project. The modification of the electronic surface properties also affects the material properties in general, such as conductivity, surface catalysis properties and reflectivity. Thus, the proposed concept has great potential for materials research and will ultimately result in the development of new materials with adjustable electronic properties. Such materials will find applications in e. g. (nano)electronic devices or sensors.

This proposal is devoted to the synthesis of ultra-pure semiconductor nanowire heterostructures for energy conversion applications in the photovoltaic domain. Nanowires are filamentary crystals with a very high ratio of length to diameter, the latter being in the nanometer range. Nanowires are of significant interest owing to their large surface-to-volume ratio and low-dimensional properties, as well as attractive building blocks of novel devices, including for novel energy conversion applications. The most widely employed nanowire growth method relies on the use of gold, which is known to be an impurity limiting mobility and carrier lifetime in semiconductors. It is generally realized that nanowires with higher purity could enable significant advances in both fundamental studies and technological applications. This proposal combines two complementary and essential aspects of semiconductor nanowires: (i) synthesis in extremely clean conditions and (ii) their application to new concepts of photovoltaic devices. The first part involves the use of Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) system for the synthesis of III-V semiconductor nanowires and heterostructures. Special emphasis will be given in the synthesis of new heterostructure designs, i.e. across the nanowire radius and along the growth axis. The fabrication of ordered arrays of nanowires on large areas and on silicon substrates will also be investigated. In the second part, nanowire based solar cells will be designed, fabricated and characterized. Particular emphasis will be given toward understanding the role of geometry and interfaces in the energy conversion efficiency of the novel nanowire-based solar cells. Here, the high cleanliness and precise heteroepitaxial growth of MBE nanowires will allow us to perform fundamental studies, generating ground-breaking knowledge on the microscopic processes in energy conversion. This project will foster the use of nanotechnology in the energy challenges of the XXI century.

It is now generally recognized that current electrical solutions will not suffice to fulfil all requirements for communication on-chip and between chips, which is expected to continue to grow exponentially during the coming years. Therefore we have to look for alternatives. Optical interconnect is a possibility, which is currently heavily investigated, including in my own on-going research. However, the requirements in terms of power consumption are very stringent and the current solutions being proposed are still off by an order of magnitude. Therefore, the objective of this project is to propose, design, fabricate and characterise photonic devices with fundamental lower power consumption through exploiting a large overlap between optical field, active material and electrical drive signals. For this purpose, we will build a completely new photonics integration platform consisting of self-assembled semiconductor materials as the active core element, embedded within strongly confined photonic cavities defined using the most advanced semiconductor fabrication technologies. Thereby we are combining rapidly maturing bottom-up techniques such as colloidal nanocrystal synthesis and semiconductor nanowire growth with traditional top-down technologies for realizing completely new types of photonic devices with an order of magnitude improvement in device performance. To reach this objective I will build a multidisciplinary team with experts in photonic device design, wet chemical synthesis, solid state physics, epitaxial nanowire growth and microelectronic fabrication technologies.

This project aims at investigating the building blocks of an emerging semiconductor technology for high-performance photonic devices operating in the near infrared (NIR). We will make use of nitride semiconductors [Ga(In)N/Al(Ga,In)N] and engineer the electronic quantum confinement at the nanometer scale to realize unipolar devices relying on intersubband (ISB) transitions. While the existing NIR optoelectronic technology is dominated by InGaAsP/InP or GaInAs/GaAsSb-based interband devices, nitride ISB devices will provide superior performance and novel functionalities like wavelength tunability, speed, high power and temperature handling capabilities, temperature insensitivity and material hardness. It is important to outline the novelty of the research in nitride ISB devices, a technology whose performance capabilities and intrinsic limits remain unknown. Our approach consists in applying novel design concepts and recently-acquired know-how on nitride molecular beam epitaxy to the realization of nitride ISB devices with unprecedented performance. The project includes the development of innovative devices which have not been investigated so far, such as electro-optical ISB phase modulators or nitride-based unipolar lasers. The ultimate deliverables are ultra-high-speed electro-optical modulators, photodetectors and lasers. Establishing a new state-of-the-art for design, growth and processing of nitride heterostructures, and developing an advanced know-how on nitride devices are major challenges. The consortium regroups four world-class academic experts on nitride technologies, ISB devices and NIR optoelectronics. The strategy has been designed based on a careful assessment of the risk associated to all tasks. This project is expected to generate strong impacts in terms of photonic applications and IPR issues.

The objective of this proposal is to combine different computational methods to study the physics of specific cellular components and processes which involve biological macromolecules. We will especially concentrate on the study of polyelectrolye DNA chains and analogous biopolymers and will investigate on their interaction with cellular structures and on the mechanisms of modifications of their physical properties. The understanding gained will allow us to explore different cellular processes related to gene delivery such as self-assembly of cationic lipid-DNA complexes and membrane fusion, relevant because of their fundamental properties as well as their applications in the biomedical sector. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to reach time and length scales in which macromolecules evolve, a regime that is out of reach of standard modelling approaches. To this end, we intend to adopt and refine a new chemically-aware coarse grained scheme and use complementary state of the art modelling techniques such as atomistic molecular dynamics and unspecific coarse graining. In addition, supercomputing techniques and resources will be exploited to provide unique scientific insights. The proposal will benefit from the expertise in biomolecular studies of scientists at the Barcelona Biomedical Park (PRBB), which will guarantee feedback and a cross-field perspective to the management of the project and to the production and interpretation of scientific results. This project is very relevant to the goals of the IEF activity of the people work programme because of its ingrained multidisciplinary character and because it directly targets key research areas indicated by the EU such as biotechnology and nanotechnology. The different training and research activities planned would increase and diversify the scientific competences of the fellow, leading him to a more independent and mature professional status on which to build his future career.

The overall aim of the NANOSENS project is to upgrade the research and innovation capacity of the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics (NIRDTP) to the highest European level in microsensors for medical applications and biosensors based on magnetic nanoparticles and nanowires. NIRDTP is a very promising European research organisation in the fields of nanoscience and microsystems. The Institute has a total staff of 73 persons (researchers and administrative). NIRDTP's existing scientific expertise and facilities will be further developed through a range of research and innovation capacity building activities derived from NIRDTP's SWOT analysis. The activities will increase NIRDTP's visibility, society/regional responsiveness and innovation potential for the most advanced topics of microsensors and biosensors: Research Topic A: Microsensors for Medical Applications A1. Acoustic microsensors based on nano- and microwires for medical applications; A2. Implantable magnetic microsensors based on nanostructured materials for medical applications; Research Topic B: Biosensors based on Nanoparticles and Barcode Nanowires B1. Sensors based on nanosized detection elements for applications in nanomedicine; B2. Biosensors based on multilayered nanowires for the detection of biomolecules. Central to the activities are twinning partnerships with six specialist research organisations: 1. Sheffield Centre for Advanced Magnetic Materials and Devices within the Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, UK (SCAMMD); 2. Department of Materials for Information Technologies in the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Spain (ICMM-CSIC); 3. Siemens Corporate Technology, Erlangen, Germany (SIEMENS); 4. Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group in the Institut Català de Nanotecnologia, Barcelona, Spain (ICN); 5. Solid State Physics group within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, UK (UGLA); 6. Materials Science Electron Microscopy Department at the University of Ulm, Germany (UULM). NIRDTP will increase its human potential by hiring seven experienced researchers, one IP manager and one Innovation Manager, as well as organising know-how exchanges and trainings for existing and new staff with twinning partners. NIRDTP will increase its technology potential by purchasing a scanning Auger nanoprobe equipment, upgrading its RF sputtering equipment with laser ablation capabilities, and purchasing a gel electrophoresis system. Finally, to ensure its research quality and innovation capability, NIRDTP will be ex-post evaluated by a team of international, independent experts nominated by the Commission.

Recent developments in the design, synthesis and fabrication of nanotechnology-based materials have the potential to revolutionise several emerging technology markets in sectors ranging from automotives to nanoelectronics. UVTECH addresses the urgent need for Europe to develop radically innovative processing techniques that will enable the sustainable and competitive manufacture of new high knowledge content nanocrystal-based smart materials that will be the drivers for new generations of products. The central project focus will be design, synthesis and processing of precursors and nanocrystal-based materials to enable robust photoprocessing-enabled co-deposition of embedded nanoparticles in a host matrix using a new UV Injection Liquid Source CVD system whereby nanocrystals and host matrix may be co-deposited at low temperatures in a single step. Novel methods for co-deposition of ligand-stabilized size-selected semiconductor or metal nanocrystals with host materials will be developed and applied to formation of functional nanocomposite layers. The originality of UVTECH is: Introduces a photochemical step for the first time allowing co-deposition of nano-particles in host matrices in a single step Makes available for the first time new low-temperature pathways enabling production of new materials systems Expands the range of available layer processing platforms by allowing use of temperature sensitive substrates Enables processing and monolithic integration of nanocrystals/composite materials for the first time, opening the possibility of radically new multilayer multifunctional materials UVTech will be an enabling technology for controlled integration of nanomaterials, opening significant opportunities for numerous long-term applications ranging from availability of bulk quantities of nanostructured materials for applications in catalysis, sensing, adaptive coatings and smart materials to provision of new equipment and processes for advanced products.

This proposal for a Marie Curie Fellowship focuses on the preparation of well-defined nanofibers from conjugated polymers and their use in photovoltaic devices. This project will be highly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, involving polymer synthesis, polymer self-assembly in the solution state, polymer crystallography, polymer physics, the physics of semiconducting materials, the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic devices, and nanoscience. Therefore, this research is expected to have a substantial multidisciplinary impact ranging from polymer chemistry to polymer physics, to materials science, and to expand our knowledge of photovoltaic devices. To achieve the project goals it will be vital to combine the expertise of the applicant, Xiaoyu Li, on nanofibers and polymer-based device fabrication, with that of the host, Prof. Ian Manners, on polymer synthesis and crystallization-driven self-assembly of block copolymers in solution. Mr. Li is completing his Ph.D. in Canada and after working with Prof. Manners in the UK he aims to find a faculty position in China, his country of origin.

Nanotechnology is expected to become a driver of sustainable energy development and energy storage. The possible photovoltaic (PV), thermoelectric, electrochemical application of various nanostructures including carbon nanotubes, C60, semi-conductor quantum dots has been intensively investigated. In the latter case, CdSe, CdTe and PbS nanocrystals have been successfully integrated in PV cells whereas transition metal oxides and phosphates nanocrystals have proven to be more efficient than their bulk counterparts as electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. This breakthrough has been made possible by the use of solution phase routes to tailor the size, shape, surface state and self-assembly of the nanoparticles We propose to explore the sonoelectrochemical and plasma assisted deposition methods to directly coat selected substrates by silicon nanocrystals. Glass and stainless steel substrates will respectively be used to measure the optical properties (absorption coefficient and photoluminescence) of the films and to test the electrochemical performance as an anode for Li-ion battery. This method will then be extended to polymers and fibers.