The NaPANIL project aims to develop processes, materials and tools, both for manufacturing and for control, for truly 3-dimensional nanosurfaces with feature dimensions ranging from 50 nm to several m. The nanosurfaces will be realised using various variants of nanoimprinting lithography. The dedicated application is to control light at nanostructured surfaces and a few potential high impact products have been identified by the end-user partners in the consortium. Design, demonstration and prototyping these applications will act as test-bench for the new manufacturing paradigm. The manufacturing processes possess generic aspects for production of any kind of topographically 3-dimensional nanostructured surfaces. In the R&D of nanoimprinting Europe has a leading position. The NaPANIL consortium combines the best expertise and know how in field to reach the goals in the project.

ACAPOLY is a partnership between micro resist technology GmbH and EPFL-LMIS1 whose main objective is the development of a new set of polymer materials for MEMS/NEMS technologies with an associated process library. The materials that the partnership has planned to develop are Ormocer and SU-8. The objective is to modify both materials in a way that they can be processed using Electron Beam Lithography, Direct Laser Writing, UV-Nano Imprint Lithography and Ink-Jet printing. The developed materials and process libraries will be used to fabricate UV-NIL stamps, large arrays of LEDs for automobiles and large arrays of optical waveguides.

Recent developments in the design and synthesis of nanoscale building blocks as active elements in opto- or bio-electronic devices with tailored electronic functionality have the potential to open up new horizons in nanoscience and also revolutionise multi-billion dollar markets across multiple technology sectors including healthcare, printable electronics, and security. Ligand-stabilised inorganic nanocrystals (~2-30 nm core diameters) and functional organic molecules are attractive building blocks due to their size dependent opto-electronic properties, the availability of low-cost synthesis processes and the potential for formation of ordered structures via (bio) molecular recognition and self-assembly. Harnessing the complementary properties of both nanocrystals and functional molecules thus represents a unique opportunity for generation of new knowledge and development of new classes of high knowledge-content materials with specific functionality tailored for key applications, e.g., printable electronics, biosensing or energy conversion in the medium term, and radically new information and signal processing paradigms in the long term. Self-assembly and self-organisation processes offer the potential to achieve dimensional control of novel multifunctional materials at length scales not accessible to conventional “top-down” technologies based on lithography. It is critical for European industry to develop new knowledge and low-cost, scaleable processes for assembly and electrical interfacing of these multifunctional materials with conventional contact electrodes in order to produce into tailored devices and products, in particular on low-cost substrates. The FUNMOL consortium will deliver substantial innovation to European industry via development of cost-effective, scaleable processes for directed assembly of high-knowledge content nanocrystal-molecule materials into electrically-interfaced devices at silicon oxide, glass and plastic substrates.

Today, markets demand smaller, cheaper, energy friendly and more different consumer products. Last decades micro technology has opened possibilities for mobile communication, safety and health science products. To meet these demands, the industry is encountering technological barriers that prevent the industry from evolving from the micro to a nanotechnology era. To resolve these barriers, the industry and research institutes need to initiate research programmes, and need to structure and integrate its research programmes and transfer the knowledge that as been acquired in these programmes. “New” researchers have to be trained with excellent research skills, knowledge on the specific technology, and understanding of market demands, application development, and so on. For this purpose 4 industrial, 5 academic and 3 research institutes have defined the 4 year SPAM research and training program; “a Supra-disciplinary approach to research and training in surface Physics for Advanced Manufacturing - SPAM”. Research objectives are: • identify and develop crucial knowledge in the field of surface physics, • enable the manufacturing of smaller semi-conductors and hence technology to print under 32 nm; extreme positional accuracy (< 4 nm); at competitive cost, • use this knowledge to further develop lithography technologies/tools needed for cost efficient development of nano-electronic devices, including manufacturing processes. Training objectives are: • provide personalised individual training, in particular for 16 ESR but also for 6 ER, to prepare and optimise their research in SRTs, with the help of 9 VS. • provide a network-wide training, fully exploiting the network potential and complementarities, leading to 12 network events. • transfer existing knowledge between partners through the SRTs and to transfer newly gained knowledge. Meeting the objectives are the responsibility of 4 Supra-disciplinary Research Teams (SRT) and 5 interlinking Training Exchange Pools.

Inorganic nanotubes (INT) and particularly inorganic fullerene-like materials (IF) from 2-D layered compounds, which were discovered in the PI laboratory 16 years ago, are now in commercial use as solid lubricants (www.apnano.com) with prospects for numerous applications, also as part of nanocomposites, optical coatings, etc. The present research proposal capitalizes on the leadership role of the PI and recent developments in his laboratory, much of them not yet published. New synthetic approaches will be developed, in particular using the WS2 nanotubes as a template for the growth of new nanotubes. This include, for example PbI2@WS2 or WS2@NbSe2 core-shell nanotubes, which could not be hitherto synthesized. Other physical synthetic approaches like ablation with solar-light, or pulsed laser ablation will be used as well. Nanooctahedra of MoS2 (NbS2), which are probably the smallest IF (hollow cage) structures, will be synthesized, isolated and studied. Extensive ab-initio calculations will be used to predict the structure and properties of the new INT and IF nanoparticles. Cs-corrected transmission electron microscopy will be used to characterize the nanoparticles. In particular, atomic resolution bright field electron tomography will be developed during this study and applied to the characterization of the INT and IF nanoparticles. The optical, electrical and mechanical properties of the newly sythesized INT and IF materials will be investigated in great detail. Devices based on individual nanotubes will be (nano)fabricated and studied for variety of applications, including mechanical and gas sensors, radiation detectors, etc. Low temperature measurements of the transport properties of individual INT and IF will be performed.

New techniques in far-field fluorescence microscopy have improved optical resolution down to several times the diffraction limit. The resolution currently achieved with these techniques is 28 nm. Recently it was proposed that fluorescent reversible molecular compounds ('photoswitches') could be utilized in fluorescence microscopy, allowing, in principle, to improve the resolution up to molecular dimensions, i.e. 1-5 nm. The use of these photochromic compounds should enable the utilization of very low light intensities, thus making the technique particularly suitable for biological applications.It is proposed to investigate the feasibility and performance of photochromic fluorescent compounds in modern far-field fluorescent microscopy techniques, as well as explore its different potential uses and applications. The aim of this project is to improve resolution to a few nanometers and, in particular, apply the technique to live-cell imaging as well as to memory storage and lithography.Undertaking this scientific project in a field’s leader's laboratory will give me the opportunity to learn advanced microscopy techniques, and acquire a significant experience and expertise in the field. After having completed my training in Germany, I will be prepared to set up a research team and start an independent research career in my home country, Argentina.

New techniques in far-field fluorescence microscopy have improved optical resolution down to several times the diffraction limit. The resolution currently achieved with these techniques is 28 nm. Recently it was proposed that fluorescent reversible molecular compounds ('photoswitches') could be utilized in fluorescence microscopy, allowing, in principle, to improve the resolution up to molecular dimensions, i.e. 1-5 nm. The use of these photochromic compounds should enable the utilization of very low light intensities, thus making the technique particularly suitable for biological applications.It is proposed to investigate the feasibility and performance of photochromic fluorescent compounds in modern far-field fluorescent microscopy techniques, as well as explore its different potential uses and applications. The aim of this project is to improve resolution to a few nanometers and, in particular, apply the technique to live-cell imaging as well as to memory storage and lithography.Undertaking this scientific project in a field’s leader's laboratory will give me the opportunity to learn advanced microscopy techniques, and acquire a significant experience and expertise in the field. After having completed my training in Germany, I will be prepared to set up a research team and start an independent research career in my home country, Argentina.

Lab-on-chips (LOCs) are microsystems capable of manipulating small (micro to nanoliters) amounts of fluids in microfluidic channels with dimensions of tens to hundreds of micrometers: they have a huge application potential in many diverse fields, ranging from basic science (genomics and proteomics), to chemical synthesis and drug development, point-of-care medical analysis and environmental monitoring. Polymers are rapidly emerging as the material of choice for LOC production, due to the low substrate cost and ease of processing. Notwithstanding their potential, LOC commercial exploitation has been slow so far. Two breakthroughs that could promote LOC diffusion are: (i) a microfabrication technology with low-cost rapid prototyping capabilities; (ii) an integrated on-chip optical detection system. In this project we propose the use of femtosecond lasers as a novel highly flexible microfabrication platform for polymeric LOCs with integrated optical detection, for the realization of low-cost and truly portable biophotonic microsystems. Femtosecond laser processing is a direct, maskless fabrication technique enabling spatially selective three-dimensional material modification. It will be employed in different steps of the LOC production cycle: (i) rapid prototyping of the microfluidic chip using laser ablation or two-photon polymerization; (ii) direct fabrication of optical waveguides and integrated photonic components on the LOC for in situ optical sensing; (iii) master tool fabrication for mass production by replication techniques. The laser fabrication technology will enable to implement a variety of microfluidic LOCs with integrated photonic functionalities. In this project we concentrate on two prototypical applications in the fields of food quality and environmental sensing: LOCs for detection of mycotoxins in animal feeds and LOCs for water screening to detect bacteria and heavy ions contamination.

The purpose of the restructured SURPASS project is to develop key technologies to achieve super-resolution beyond the diffraction limit in air at visible wavelength. The application fields covered by the project are optical data storage, wafer inspection, maskless optical lithography and confocal microscopy. The first super-resolution technology is based on so-called super-RENS materials (Super-Resolution Enhanced Near-Field Systems). These materials, such as the semiconductor InSb, undergo a local modification of their refractive index properties above a certain power threshold of a focused laser spot. As a consequence they produce a reduction of the effective size of the laser spot. Super-RENS materials are developed mainly for optical ROM discs to allow the readout of recorded marks smaller than the resolution limit of the optical readout system. The maximum capacity of single-level Super-RENS discs will be studied theoretically and experimentally. In parallel, semi-transparent Super-RENS levels will be developed and the industrial potential of this technology for multi-level discs will be evaluated. The purpose is to propose a technological solution for the extension of the Blu-Ray format from 25 GB to 75-100 GB for high-definition video content distribution. The second super-resolution technology is based on micro-solid immersion lenses (µ-SILs) which enable to reduce a focused laser spot by a factor equal to the refractive index of the µ-SIL. A low-cost manufacturing process will be developed on 200 mm silicon wafers. The resolution of µ-SIL should be further enhanced by using engineered polarization, high index material, plasmonic nanostructures at focus or functionalization with a Super-RENS layer. The performances of high-resolution optical heads including a µ-SIL will be studied in various application fields such as wafer inspection, optical lithography and confocal microscopy.

Deficiency of natural energy resources on Earth makes advanced energy management a challenge. Efforts are taken to harness cheap, inexhaustible, eco-friendly renewable sources of energy. Among these, thermoelectric (TE) conversion is a promising principle. Best materials for TE application are non-conventional heavily doped semiconductors. In particular, high temperature stable silicides (higher manganese silicides = HMS, CrSi2 and others) represent suitable candidates for demanded TE applications operable at high temperature. A main aim of TE materials development is to improve the figure of merit ZT, which essentially depends on the energy band structure and scattering of carriers and phonons in the material. It is planned to investigate qualitatively the transport behaviour of HMS compacted from nano-sized powders, to optimize its properties by chemical synthesis, and to reach a reduction of the thermal conductivity in nano-crystalline material. Starting from the synthesis of nano-powders by melting and ball milling, forming of a nano-structure with suitable scaling will be optimized by a rapid hot pressing technology. CrSi2 and other high temperature silicides will be optimized in a similar way for high electrical and thermal conductivity. They shall be applied as contacting materials and interlayers, ending up to advanced materials and technology procedures for high temperature thermogenerators. Materials will be characterized by XRD, SEAD (structure), TEM, SEM (morphology), EDAX (analysis). Having achieved the targeted nano-structure, the TE properties will be measured in dependence on temperature for optimising the application-relevant material parameters. The performance of thermogenerator devices based on the new solutions will be tested by unique measuring techniques of the host. The fellow will deepen his knowledge and experience on TE materials and thermogenerator technology for high temperature and is expected to develop superior contacting methods.