This project proposes the development of a technology capable of delivering, high speed, simultaneous elemental and molecular maps of biological targets. Specifically these targets will include plaques associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), tumours treated with Pt-based chemotherapy drugs, and cell populations derived from the FP7 project, the ONE Study. The dual-mode imaging system will enable the analysis of metallo-proteins and their binding sites, or where there is no native metal tag or its abundance is too small to detect, anti-body or specific reactive chemistry metal or nano-particle tags will be added to the target molecules. For the ONE Study, one of the key project aims is to develop cell labelling strategies that will enable therapeutically administered cells to be tracked at low abundance in the host cell populations without toxic impact on either the therapeutic cells or host organism. The technology will be based on employing a common pulsed laser platform for laser ablation, desorption, or matrix assisted sampling of the target material simultaneously coupled with inductively-coupled plasma elemental mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ion trap organic mass spectrometry. In the case of the molecular mass spectrometry, electro-spray or matrix assisted charging will be used. The sampling will employ a technology developed in the host laboratory that enables targets to be sampled at atmospheric pressure whilst excluding atmosphere from the sampling point. The technology will be optimised for high speed and high efficiency to enable rapid mapping of targets at very high sensitivity. This will require development of a new high efficiency torch design for ICP-MS and the novel use of micro-jet pumps to deliver samples to the mass spectrometers. The project will also take advantage of the Fellow's expertise in synchrotron X-ray techniques to obtain non-destructive and comparative analyses of the specimen materials.

The ambition of PhotoNvoltaics is to enable the development of a new and disruptive solar cell generation resulting from the marriage of crystalline-silicon photovoltaics (PV) with advanced light-trapping schemes from the field of nanophotonics. These two technologies will be allied through a third one, nanoimprint, an emerging lithography technique from the field of microelectronics. The outcome of this alliance will be a nano-textured thin-film crystalline silicon (c-Si) cell featuring a drastic reduction in silicon consumption and a greater cell and module process simplicity. It will thus ally the sustainability and efficiency of crystalline silicon PV with the simplicity and low cost of the current thin-film solar cells. The challenge behind PhotoNvoltaics lies behind the successful identification and integration of these nano-textures into thin c-Si-based cells, which aim is a record boost of the light-collection efficiency of these cells, without harming their charge-collection efficiency. The goals of this project are scientific and technological. The scientific goal is two-fold: (1) to demonstrate that the so-called Yablonovitch limit of light trapping can be overcome, with specific nanoscale surface structures, periodic, random or pseudo-periodic, and (2) to answer the old question whether random or periodic patterns are best. The technological goal is also two-fold: (1) to fabricate thin c-Si solar cells with the highest current enhancement ever reached and (2) to demonstrate the up-scalability of this concept by fabricating patterns over industrially relevant areas. To reach these goals, PhotoNvoltaics will gather seven partners, expert in all the required fields to model and identify the optimal structures, fabricate them with a large span of techniques, integrate them into solar cells and, finally, assess the conditions of transferability of these novel concepts, that bring nanophotonics into PV, further towards industry.

Space system vendors seek for solutions to deliver small size and cost-effective sensor systems to 'de-congest' satellite payloads, drastically reduce the equipment cost and open the possibility for new generation of micro-payload systems. MERMIG aims to provide this technology replacing current expensive, bulky, heavy and power-consuming fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs). To address these key challenges, MERMIG invests in the right mix of silicon photonic CMOS-compatible component fabrication and nano-imprint lithography laser fabrication. Both technologies are being adopted by the terrestrial telecom market and MERMIG will develop them for bringing their unique advantages into space sensor systems. MERMIG will squeeze the bulky FOG into a couple of cm2, integrating a racetrack cavity, pin junctions and a phase decoder into compact sub-micron waveguides. The MERMIG 'smart' packaging technique will allow power-efficient optical pumping and hermetic packaging of the gyro-photonic chip. MERMIG will develop the first 1550nm high-power laser with a fiber-coupled power of 150mW using an integrated laser MOPA, fabricated with advanced nano-imprint lithography (NIL). The 150mW delivered will enable a modular architecture, with pump sharing among 3 integrated silicon lasing cavities, for 3-axis sensing. The single-step NIL process enables fast wafer scale patterning and ensures low-cost and high-volume laser production. Finally, MERMIG will bring together photonics and electronics on a fully-functional opto-electronic gyroscope system prototype characterized according to ASTRIUM testplan procedures. MERMIG will deliver to ASTRIUM a new generation gyroscope that will weigh <1kg, consume <5W electrical power in a few cm3 footprint. The angle random walk range that will be feasible within MERMIG is 0.1 -0.01 deg/sqrt(hr) suitable for telecommunications and scientific satellites. The technology full potential can allow for future opto-electronic integration of photonic 'gyroscopes-on-a-chip'.

Micro- and nanometer structuring has proven to be an efficient method to functionalize surfaces, and is attractive to manufacturers of plastic products. Plastic components are volume manufactured by injection moulding. Compact Discs and Digital Video Discs are today manufactured with nanometer range lateral resolution but, only on planar surfaces. Free-form (double-curved) moulding tools today offer resolutions down to 100 μm, limited by the methods used for creating the injection moulding tools. The objective of the project is to upgrade existing injection moulding production technology for manufacture of plastic components by enhancing the lateral resolution on free-form surfaces down to micro- and nanometer length scales. This will be achieved through the development of a complete nanoimprint lithography solution for structuring the free-form surface of injection moulding tools and tool inserts. This will enable a cost effective and flexible nanoscale manufacturing process that can easily be integrated with conventional mass production lines. The proposed technology enables functionality of plastic surfaces by topography instead of chemistry. This will significantly simplify the introduction of new products to the market, safer to produce and use. The proposed technology allows production of plastic surfaces with several different functionalities using the same material. This simplifies recycling and supports a cradle-to-cradle production philosophy. The proposed technology will be developed to meet specific industry demands from partners representing the plastic industry including the automotive, lighting and toy industries. During the project the European Trade Organisation representing the European plastic industry will disseminate the PLAST4FUTURE technology towards inter-sectoral end-users. An OEM service, provided by participating SMEs and Large Enterprises, will be established to secure a lasting value supporting European competitive strength.

To extend beyond existing limits in nanodevice fabrication, new and unconventional lithographic technologies are necessary to reach Single Nanometer Manufacturing (SNM) for novel ‘Beyond CMOS devices’. Two approaches are considered: scanning probe lithography (SPL) and focused electron beam induced processing (FEBIP). Our project tackles this challenge by employing SPL and FEBIP with novel small molecule resist materials. The goal is to work from slow direct-write methods to high speed step-and-repeat manufacturing by Nano Imprint Lithography (NIL), developing methods for precise generation, placement, metrology and integration of functional features at 3 - 5 nm by direct write and sub-10nm into a NIL-template. The project will first produce a SPL-tool prototype and will then develop and demonstrate an integrated process flow to establish proof-of-concept ‘Beyond CMOS devices’ employing developments in industrial manufacturing processes (NIL, plasma etching) and new materials (Graphene, MoS2). By the end of the project: (a) SNM technology will be used to demonstrate novel room temperature single electron and quantum effect devices; (b) a SNM technology platform will be demonstrated, showing an integrated process flow, based on SPL prototype tools, electron beam induced processing, and finally pattern transfer at industrial partner sites. An interdisciplinary team (7 Industry and 8 Research/University partners) from experienced scientists will be established to cover specific fields of expertise: chemical synthesis, scanning probe lithography, FEBIP-Litho, sub-3nm design and device fabrication, single nanometer etching, and Step-and-Repeat NIL- and novel alignment system design. The project coordinator is a University with great experience in nanostructuring and European project management where the executive board includes European industry leaders such as IBM, IMEC, EVG, and Oxford Instruments.

We plan to chase new goals by exploring the limits of gold chemistry and organic synthesis. A major goal is to promote copper to the level of gold as the catalyst of choice for the activation of alkynes under homogeneous conditions. Another major goal is to develop enantioselective reactions based on a new chiral catalyst design to overcome the inherent limitations of the linear coordination of d10 M(I) coinage metals. We whish to contribute to bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous gold catalysis discovering new reactions for C-C bond formation via cross-coupling and C-H activation. We will apply new methods based on Au catalysis to fill the gap that exists between chemical synthesis and physical methods such as graphite exfoliation or laser ablation for the synthesis of nanographenes and other large acenes.

The EAgLE project aims at establishing at the Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IFPAN) a leading multiprofile research Centre for designing and fabricating new materials, their characterization and testing under extreme experimental conditions. The Centre will identify and select novel materials, structures, phenomena, and computational protocols for functional new-concept nanodevices.

Shape memory alloys (SMA) exhibit unique and useful effects, such as a capacity to cycle a component between two different macroscopic shapes by cycling the temperature. In the recent years MEMS components made of shape memory alloys have attracted considerable interest in the research field as they offer a high output work density and exhibit specific desirable thermomechanical effects. As a consequence, many research studies have been focused on the development of shape memory thin films which could be integrated into the planar technology of microsystems. However, there are few works in the literature where the effects of the grain size (d)/sample size (D) ratio are studied, and those that do exist are insufficient to draw general conclusions.

The Project aims to develop novel approaches for detection and characterization of particles in the critical nanometer – micrometer size range. An improved knowledge of the make-up and origin of such particles that are present in the atmosphere and working environments is crucial for understanding their role in atmospheric pollution and human health. The role of atmospheric particles in influencing climate behavior is also poorly understood and requires more sophisticated analysis techniques. The detection of neutral isolated nanoparticles is an extremely challenging problem. The compositions and structures of particles present in the atmosphere are largely unknown owing to limited measurement capabilities. Recently it has been shown that femtosecond laser ablation is a promising technique for nanoscale depth-resolved chemical analysis while graphene nanoresonators offer much promise as ultrasensitive mass detectors. This multidisciplinary Project includes two key areas that could revolutionize particle monitoring: (1) depth-resolution analysis of micro- and nanoparticles using fs laser ablation mass spectrometry and (2) the combination of nanoelectromechanical mass sensing and fs laser ablation mass spectrometry for the detection and elemental analysis of neutral nanoparticles. A dual time-of-flight mass spectrometer will be constructed for analysis of individual aerosol particles. The potential of fs-laser ablation mass spectrometry for providing a particle depth profile will be explored and tested on well-defined core-shell micro-/nanoparticles. In addition, the elemental analysis potential of fs laser ablation mass spectrometry will be coupled with sensitive neutral particle detection, using a graphene-based mass sensor that will be developed in the host group. The outcome of the Project will be in making an important step from fundamental concepts of particle detection and characterization to laboratory proof-of-principle studies and prototype development.

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.