One-atom thin two-dimensional nanomaterials possess unique properties different from their bulk counterparts. Initiated by the discovery of graphene, many stable one atom-thick layers such as boron nitride, molybdenum disulphide, tungsten disulphide etc., have been isolated and characterized. However, the individual properties of such 2D-atomic crystals (except graphene) were modest. The combination of isolated single atomic layers into designer structures, named as 2D-heterostrcutures, is predicted to give synergetic properties. In order to harness the interesting properties the combination of various 2D-atomic crystals have to offer, a method to assemble them in a simple and scalable way is required. Currently, the only method known is manual placing of the 2D-atomic crystal layers sequentially which limits the scope of the study of such structures. The objective of the proposal is to assemble layered (each layer is one atom thick) stacks of graphene superlattices and heterostructures with other 2D-atomic crystals such as BN, MoS2, WS2 etc., by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-mediated assembly. DNA mediated assembly is highly programmable by chemically specific interaction between nucleotides, length of the DNA, strength of the interactions in addition to the symmetry control of the assembled structures. Top-down lithography will be combined with bottom-up DNA assembly to fabricate seed layers of DNA for the guided assembly which lead to patterned heterostructures. This approach is targeted toward combinatorial screening of exotic properties of varied architectures of heterostructures with control over the composition of 2D-atomic crystals and spacing between the layers (controlled by DNA). The anticipated structures would be vertical atomic scale Legos of 2D-atomic crystal layers with DNA spacers.

Nanotechnology is expected to have a big impact on most of our life. Nanostructred materials become more and more important in various fields such as nanoelectronics, information storage technology etc. At the nanometer scale, i.e. 1-100 nm, material properties are clearly size dependent and new properties are expected. Among functional materials nanoscale ferroelectrics can have a major role because they can be applied in different fields such as sensors, actuators, memory devices and optics. However they cannot be applied to nanometer scale devices before the influence of the lateral size on physical properties will be clarified.In order to find answer for the problems there is a need to have good quality nanoscale structures. It is a challenge to fabricate such structures in this range using both lithography (¿top¿down¿ approach) and self-assembling and self-patterning methods (¿bottom¿up¿ approach). Whereas conventional lithographic systems work usually with a resolution of about 100 nm the bottom-up approaches allow the inexpensive fabrication of structures with size of 10-20 nm. The main goal of the work is preparation of nanosized ferroelectric crystals by self-assembling methods. Successful strategies and routes have been developed to synthesize nanoscale materials of numerous simple systems such as semiconductors or metals. Complex systems such as ferroelectric oxides are not yet systematically addressed, despite of the possibility of discovering new materials with unique properties. Physical route based on the concept of microstructural instability of ultrathin films and chemical routes will be applied to obtain different perovskite crystals. A good quality of nanostructures that lateral dimension can be tuned in nanometer range is expected to fabricate and in future this will allow investigating structure-property relations (e.g. by transmission electron microscopy and piezoresponse force microscopy) and solve ¿size effects¿ problem.

The objective of this project is to support the participation of outstanding young European researchers in the 7th

International Conference on Laser Ablation (COLA'03) and provide high-level training in a scientific area of

high current interest fostering the interaction between young scientists and internationally known experts in the

field.

COLA'03, to be held in Hersonissos, Crete, Greece (October 2003) is a major conference in the field of laser-

matter interactions, that focuses on fundamental studies and technological applications of laser ablation,

attracting scientidsts form both academia and industry. Laser ablation is a highly interdisciplinary field drawing

science and engineering. It plays a key role in current frontier topics, which are among the priority research

themes for the new European Research Area, such as nanoscience and technology, materials processing and

biomedical applications.

Researches in Europe have a leading role in the field of laser ablation promoting European scientific excellence.

The organisation of COLA'03 in Europe offers a great opportunty for advancing the European state-of-the-art

in the field by providing:

- a stimulating environment for fruitful interaction between scientists

- efficient exchange of views between research and industry communities

- a high-quality training to young researchers, essential for their studies and future career.

A high level and dynamic training component in COLA'03 is implemented through:

- the selection of conference topics representing areas of intense current scientific and technological interest

- the invitation of world-known experts to lecture on "hot" topics

- a programme structure with brainstorming lecture-discussion sessions, to allow selected project presentations by

young scientists with leading experts in the field

- the organization of poster sessions, followed by discussion sessions, to allow selected project presentations by<

Carbon nanotubes grown by chemical vapour deposition or carbon arc method are fairly cheap but contain a considerable amount of defects and therefore the electrical and mechanical properties are far below their theoretical limits. In the laser ablation technique, nanotubes are produced under much better control of carrier gas flow and thermal gradients, but throughput is low and lasers are expensive. In channel spark ablation thermal gradients and gas flow are similar, but the process is much cheaper. The Arc-Jet method improves the flow conditions in the carbon arc (Kraetschmer) generator by injecting the carrier gas through a nozzle into the electric arc. The consortium will set up generators for channel spark ablation (Bologna), laser ablation (Stuttgart), and Arc-Jet production (Shanghai) and compare the products from these methods. To this end procedures for quality control and quality standardisation will be developed. These methods are based on optical and Raman spectroscopy, X- ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, as well as on mechanical investigations and electrical and thermal transport measurements (on pressed pellets, entangled films, and composites). The Austrian company AT&S Austria Systemtechnik AG is one of the largest producers of printed circuit boards. There is a general tendency to make these boards 'smarter' and to transfer passive electronic elements (resistors and capacitors) from the chips to the boards. AT&S envisages to use the nanotubes produced in this project for electronic elements integrated into their boards. AT&S has just started a subsidiary in China so that both the Chinese daughter and the European mother are likely to benefit from this project. The present project will produce high quality nanotubes at much larger quantities than presently available and at prices which are more than two orders of magnitude lower. We expect this to lead to a considerable breakthrough in #

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 #

The main objective of the Ultra-ID Project is to study the fundamental size limits, when the electron transport in one-dimensional (1D) systems can be considered qualitatively similar to macroscopic regime, and to explore qualitatively new phenomena appearing below the certain scale. Project will focus on fabrication, theoretical and experimental study of electron transport in the state-of-the-art narrow 1D objects: normal metals, superconductors, semiconducting heterojunctions and carbon nanotubes. Principal technological objective of the Project is to elaborate old and develop new methods of microfabrication, pushing the reproducible limit of 1D object fabrication down to ~ 10 nm scale. Three independent, but complimentary methods will be used for fabrication of metallic systems: high- resolution e-beam lithography, electrochemical growth of ultra thin nanowires, and progressive reduction of the effective diameter of pre-fabricated 1D objects by plasma etching. Principal technological objective related to activity with 1D semiconductors is the fabrication of high-quality systems enabling application of external potential. Main technological objective related to electron properties of carbon nanotubes is the fabrication of structures suspended on top of a terraced plane or a cleaved edge of superlattice. Research activity with normal electron transport will be concentrated at three main topics: metal- insulator transition in ultra-thin wires, electron decoherence in 1D limit, peculiarities of electron transport in 1D systems with controlled external periodic potential. Study of superconductors will be focused on the problem of quantum phase slips in ultra-thin 1D systems (wires and rings). Experimental part of the scientific activity will include state-of-the-art low noise transport and magnetic measurements at ultra-low temperatures. Theoretical investigation will use modern methods of quantum solid state physics.

The objective of this project is to provide access funding for scientists from European institutes who wish to perform part of their research at the Braun Center for Sub Micron Research (WISSMC) at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Under this project European scientists the will have the opportunity to visit the Braun Center, which is among the very few laboratories in the world, and particularly in Europe, which are self-sufficient in terms of the integration of 'state of the art' growth-fabrication facilities and measurement-evaluation equipment. The visitors under this program will be exposed to the very high quality research carried out at the WISSMC in the fields of mesoscopic physics and nano-physics. The transnational access will be provided as specified in section 6 of this Annex. The visiting scientists will be able to study complex semiconductor structures and devices. This will include high purity III-V semiconductor structures grown by molecular beam Epitaxy, miniaturization by optical lithography or electron beam writing and other processing and evaluation tools. The visiting scientists will interact strongly with two groups: excellent theoreticians and experimentalists, all working in strong collaboration under one roof and in this rather focused areas of research. The project will provide new opportunities for EU students to broaden their experience and knowledge in state of the art mesoscopic physics. It will allow graduate students to pursue new opportunities such as post doc positions in the field of mesoscopic physics. EU senior scientists will be able to strengthen their scientific ties with leading scientists at the Weizmann Institute. The project will enhance an extended flow of scientists between Europe and the Weizmann Institute and will thus induce fruitful scientific collaborations. It will help establish new research/technology collaborations with scientists across Europe.

The Low Temperature Laboratory (LTL) of Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) offers expertise, facilities, and equipment for outside users to undertake measurments at temperatures from 4 K down to the lowest attainable to date. ULTI is expected to contribute to scientific progress and technical development in ultra low temperature physics, to serve as a first-rate educational center for young physicists and, because of its long-standing connections with the low temperature research in Russia, to act as a node for scientific collaboration between Russia and EU countries.

The in-house research includes experimental programs on refrigeration, cryogenics and nanofabricated cryosensors, experiemental and theoretical studies of quantum fluids and solids, nuclear magnetism, and electrical transport in nanostructures. The local low temperature research staff consists of 35 persons of whom 6 are professors, 4 senior scientists, 5 post-doctorals, 5 technicians and 2 secretarial employees; the rest are graduate andundergraduate students. The refrigeration equipment includes three nuclear cooling cryostats capable of reaching sub-mK temperatures and five 20-mK cryostats. As a new addition to our facility, we offer for the users full access to our 55 m2 semi clean room with electron beam lithography line as well as limited access to a 2600 m2 clean room, jointly operated by HUT and VTT, the neighboring State Research Center. The staff of the HUT/VTT clean room has expertise on design and manufacturing of nanofabricated cryosensors both electrical and micromechanical.

Of the total research activity at the ULT installation, at most 18% will be allocated to the ULTI visitors. On average at any given time 1.5 EU-sponsored Users would work in the LTL, and about 40 persons participating in 35 different projects could benefit from the ULTI in four years.

Superhigh energy ball milling with the help of novel laboratory and industrial planetary mills will be applied for the development of new materials and technologies based on particle size reduction and mechanical activation of particles. Fundamental aspects of mechanical activation of materials will be studied. Improved performance of new materials will be achieved by means of finding an optimal balance between the size effects and effects of mechanical activation of particles. The specific feature of the project is the use of the planetary mills characterized by dramatically higher energy density than conventional milling equipment. The main groups of materials studied in this project would be hard alloys, intermetallics and composites, sialons and multicomponent ceramic oxides. Processing studies will be carried out for developing technologies and materials for applications in various industrial fields. Optimisation studies of the processing procedures and materials performance evaluation in the industrial environment will follow. The aims of the project include development of technologies providing high-volume production of nanoscale materials at low cost and technologies of recycling of solid materials in a fast, efficient and environmentally friendly process. Technological developments will exploit novel industrial planetary mills of continuous mode. Applications of the approach in various fields of industry including manufacturing of cutting tools, production of special refractories, production of advanced ceramics, development of hard thin coatings, development of improved thermal spray coatings, will be investigated.

Nanostructured functional materials constitute one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding fields in scienceand technology, which include their use in such diverse areas as materials technology, biotechnonology, energyand environmental technology, electronics, catalytic applications etc. From other side, the increasingly importantrole in biophysics and in life sciences is played by laser spectroscopie methods. The present project challengesone of the most exciting and phenomena rich sub-fields of nano-science and nano-technology (N&N): theinteraction of visible and near visible light with nanostructured materials. It is aimed at fabrication of optically-active synthetic nanostructures for the exploration of sensing mechanisms with biological matter.In the framework of the present project research activity is planned to be concentrated on, firstly, deliberatefabrication of optically-active substrate by means of state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques (e-beamlithography, colloidal lithography etc.) and, secondly, exploration of obtained optically-active substrates forbiosensing applications. Utilizing shaped metallic nanostructures or arrays of metallic nanostrctures to influencethe fluorescence of biomolecules in close proximity to the surface is planned by tuning surface plasmonresonance energy of formed nanoarchitectures. Controlled positioning of macromolecular species on the pre-fomed nobel metal nanostructures to probe enhanced fluorescence or enhanced quenching, necessary for ultra-sensitive detection scheme, will be performed. Later goal constitutes a demostration of sensitivity of builtarchitectures to the binding events between preformed sensing platform and biomolecular species,complementary to those available in the fabricated synthetic bio-nanoarchitectures.Overall, the results of research activity are expected to contribute substantially in fundamental understanding ofsurface enhancement#