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.

The core concept of the ThermoMag project revolves around developing and delivering new energy-harvesting thermoelectric materials and proof-of-concept modules, based on nanostructured bulk Mg2Si solid solutions. This class of TE material would have the following attractive characteristics: (i) ZT value >1.5 for both n-type and p-type doped material, (ii) operational in the temperature range 300-550ºC, (iii) very low density of 2 g/cm3, especially suitable for transportation applications, (iv) high melting point of >1000ºC, and good thermal stability up to 600ºC, (v) good oxidation and corrosion resistance and mechanical strength, (vi) isotropic thermoelectric properties, (vii) non-toxicity of elements, (viii) widely-available pure materials with very large EU supply chains and (ix) low raw material cost <15 Euros/kg, combined with low manufacturing costs. A number of methods will be looked at to achieve 3D bulk nanocrystalline Mg2Si including low-cost combustion synthesis, mechanical alloying and high-temperature solid-state synthesis in inert crucibles. Various ball milling approaches will be used to produce doped Mg2Si nanoparticle constituents that can then be compressed via rapid spark plasma sintering or hot pressing in vacuum. 3D nanocomposite material will also be produced with the addition or in-situ production of inert nanoparticles, as well as thin films using multilayer approaches. Doping using various elements will be predicted by ab-initio density-functional theory modelling. These methods will lead to the safe production of nanostructured n- and p-type legs for further thermoelectric and materials testing. In order to prove the concept works, demonstrator modules will be assembled that integrate the new energy-harvesting nanostructured material. Such modules have widespread applications in automotive, aerospace and manufacturing sectors, where waste heat can be usefully recovered, with clear environmental benefits.

Molecular scale interactions at artificial and naturally occurring responsive surfaces, e.g. the cell membrane, play a crucial role in many biological and biomedical processes. Responsive surfaces with molecular level control are considered as key to many crucial problems in nanobiotechnology. We aim at contributing to the development of such surfaces starting from a fundamental understanding of structure-property relationships in advanced nanomaterials and processes from the molecular scale. Specifically we propose to investigate the translation of external stimuli into forces in single macromolecules by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements for two classes of stimuli-responsive polymers, i.e. unique redox-active organometallic poly(ferrocenylsilanes) and elastin-based biopolymers. The communication with single molecules occurs via conformational/dimensional changes of these polymers under stress via changes in chain torsional potential energy landscape and thus variations in the corresponding macromolecular characteristic ratio. These occur upon redox stimulation or upon changes in e.g. temperature or pH. The challenging project will be tackled in a rational manner (control instead of trial and error) by depositing molecules individually at precisely defined positions using scanning probe lithography. Subsequently, the nanomechanical properties of an ensemble of individually addressable molecules will be probed molecule for molecule by single molecule force spectroscopy, hence avoiding a convolution of data of many molecules. This approach will also be utilized to selectively pick up individual macromolecules by chemically functionalized tips, followed by AFM measurements that aim at unraveling the effects of several external stimuli on the macromolecules response. Based on the results, responsive surfaces with molecular level control can be designed for applications in the areas of (bio)sensors, drug delivery, nano/microfluidics, and smart coatings.

Molecular scale interactions at artificial and naturally occurring responsive surfaces, e.g. the cell membrane, play a crucial rolein many biological and biomedical processes. Responsive surfaces with molecular level control are considered as key to manycrucial problems in nanobiotechnology. We aim at contributing to the development of such surfaces starting from afundamental understanding of structure-property relationships in advanced nanomaterials and processes from the molecularscale. Specifically we propose to investigate the translation of external stimuli into forces in single macromolecules by meansof atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements for two classes of stimuli-responsive polymers, i.e. unique redox-activeorganometallic poly(ferrocenylsilanes) and elastin-based biopolymers. The communication with single molecules occurs viaconformational/dimensional changes of these polymers under stress via changes in chain torsional potential energy landscapeand thus variations in the corresponding macromolecular characteristic ratio. These occur upon redox stimulation or uponchanges in e.g. temperature or pH. The challenging project will be tackled in a rational manner (control instead of trial anderror) by depositing molecules individually at precisely defined positions using scanning probe lithography. Subsequently, thenanomechanical properties of an ensemble of individually addressable molecules will be probed molecule for molecule bysingle molecule force spectroscopy, hence avoiding a convolution of data of many molecules. This approach will also beutilized to selectively pick up individual macromolecules by chemically functionalized tips, followed by AFM measurements thataim at unraveling the effects of several external stimuli on the macromolecules response. Based on the results, responsivesurfaces with molecular level control can be designed for applications in the areas of (bio)sensors, drug delivery,nano/microfluidics, and smart coatings.

Recently, a new ceramic material, i.e. calcium copper titanate, CaCu3Ti4O12, (CCTO) showed a radically new property, i.e. an impressive dielectric constant k=105 at 1 MHz, which is nearly constant over a wide temperature range (100-400K). We propose to fabricate high capacity density condensers (>500 nF/mm2) for development of a new integrated electronics. It has a huge economic impact (the potential market is billions US$). Many attempts beyond the state of the art are proposed. A nanodescription of the material will be achieved by developing nanocharacterization for a knowledge based activity oriented to material improvement. Pure CCTO bulk properties will be firstly optimized by strongly reducing impurities and anomalies, and then they will be improved beyond the state of the art investigating doped CCTO. We expected that a certain kind of phase composite Ca1+xCu3-xTi4O12 (x=0-3) could decrease the dissipation factor. This activity will produce targets of pure CCTO (first) and then doped CCTO for physical deposition such as laser ablation and sputtering that will be further developed during the project by using novel approaches based on multicomponent deposition. Metal organic chemical vapor deposition development activity guarantees the required high step coverage for use in 3D structures. As a breakthrough, new equipment will be developed within the project for laser assisted Chemical Beam Epitaxy (CBE), which uses a laser to change in situ during the deposition the CCTO composition. The advantage of this approach is the easily scalability to large surfaces for industrial processes. A specific silicon processing (high temperature resistant metal gates, etching,...) will be developed to integrate CCTO deposition in the silicon technology and produce high density planar (2D) capacitive condensers (>500 nF/mm2) working up to 4 GHz. The implementation of 3D structures will allow achieving results that are even more ambitious.

Control of matter via light has always fascinated humankind; not surprisingly, laser patterning of materials is as old as the history of the laser. However, this approach has suffered to date from a stubborn lack of long-range order. We have recently discovered a method for regulating self-organised formation of metal-oxide nanostructures at high speed via non-local feedback, thereby achieving unprecedented levels of uniformity over indefinitely large areas by simply scanning the laser beam over the surface.

This research program aims at pioneering and developing new nanofabrication techniques for carbon-nanoelectronics using a so-called 'bottom-up' approach. Individual building blocks for carbon-based nanodevices, such as catalyst nanoparticles, horizontally aligned carbon-nanotubes and ultra-scaled contacts and dielectrics will be precisely placed directly on the chip, without the use of lithography. This will be accomplished by using unique combinations of electron-beam induced deposition (EBID), atomic layer deposition (ALD) and oblique ion beam treatments. The process development will go hand-in-hand with atomic level understanding of the developed processes using in-situ and ex-situ analysis techniques to ensure process reproducibility and selectivity.

Nano-templates fabricated from chemically stable, resistant materials provide a flexible basis for a range of fabrication technologies including forming, moulding, imprinting and hot embossing. The purpose of this proposal is to establish large-area novel nano-forming technologies based on patterning porous anodised alumina (Al2O3) and their application to the fabrication of organic solar cell devices, quantum dot based photonic LEDs/Lasers and photonic crystal structure elements. The specific aims are 1. To research and develop technologies compatible with semiconductor microfabrication technologies for nano-patterning using porous anodised alumina or titania thin films, to form arrays of ultra-small structures; 2. To apply porous anodised alumina nano-masking and nano-imprinting to selective area epitaxial growth, to produce GaN quantum dots of unparalleled size uniformity for enhanced light emitting devices and lasers; 3. To apply anodised nano-templates to the fabrication of novel high-aspect ratio photonic devices by nano-imprint lithography; 4. To apply self-ordered porous alumina nano-templates to the mass market fabrication of two-dimensional and three-dimensional photonic crystal structure devices in semiconductors, dielectrics and polymers. Meeting each aim will involve a detailed, multi-disciplinary programme of microfabrication and materials and device characterisation.

Phosphorus (P) is a key and often limiting nutrient for phytoplankton in the ocean. A strong positive feedback exists between marine P availability, primary production and ocean anoxia: increased production leads to ocean anoxia, which, in turn, decreases the burial efficiency of P in sediments and therefore increases the availability of P and production in the ocean. This feedback likely plays an important role in the present-day expansion of low-oxygen waters (“dead zones”) in coastal systems worldwide. Moreover, it contributed to the development of global scale anoxia in ancient oceans. Critically, however, the responsible mechanisms for the changes in P burial in anoxic sediments are poorly understood because of the lack of chemical tools to directly characterize sediment P. I propose to develop new methods to quantify and reconstruct P dynamics in low-oxygen marine systems and the link with carbon cycling in Earth’s present and past. These methods are based on the novel application of state-of-the-art geochemical analysis techniques to determine the burial forms of mineral-P within their spatial context in modern sediments. The new analysis techniques include nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS), synchotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). I will use the knowledge obtained for modern sediments to interpret sediment records of P for periods of rapid and extreme climate change in Earth’s history. Using various biogeochemical models developed in my research group, I will elucidate and quantify the role of variations in the marine P cycle in the development of low-oxygen conditions and climate change. This information is crucial for our ability to predict the consequences of anthropogenically-enhanced inputs of nutrients to the oceans combined with global warming.

Dramatic progress has recently been made in the development and convergence of communication and computing technologies. Increasing numbers of networked consumer goods and remote electronic services requiring instant bandwidth are adding a huge burden to existing electronic infrastructure. While optical technologies are being deployed in increasingly diverse information systems, making a major impact on the use of ethernet networks, switching and routing functions remain in the electronic domain. This results in major bottlenecks, and while photonic integrated circuits have the promise to process ultrahigh speed data, stringent cost, power and space constraints have so far prevented deployment.TERABIT CHIPS provides a route map to high capacity active integrated photonic circuits using cutting edge fabrication solutions, advanced photonic design concepts, and sub-system architectures by exploiting parallel processing concepts. While the size of photonic circuits may be constrained by the wavelength of light, interaction lengths for electrooptic phenomena and limits to lithography, exploiting parallelism through wavelength multiplexing within the photonic circuit is identified as a highly efficient way to unleash a potential multiterabit capacity without prohibitive space, management or power overheads. This work proposes the multiwavelength components to realise such circuits.This proposal targets fast nanosecond reconfigurable routers for data traffic as the demonstration technology for prototyping high functionality high capacity integrated circuits. The designs will be deployed to ensure near digital operation with minimal signal impairment. Prototypes will be fabricated and demonstrated for broadband loss-free transmission, and nanosecond scale network reconfiguration times. The technology will exploit cutting edge fabrication, being compatible with off the shelf hardware, linking in to existing physical layer standards.