Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) form the basis of most current nanotechnology research due to their unique and extreme properties including ballistic electron transport at room temperature, structure-dependent metallic/semiconductor behaviour, electromechanical properties and extremely high Young mudulus. Several important achievements have been realised in nanotubes electronics. However, a major hindrance for the emergence of real applications is the lack of control in fabricating these nanoscale devices. This project will develop new rational design methods for CNTs based electronic nanodevices. Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) will be employed to grow CNTs at the desired location by placing the catalyst dots where required by focused ion beam and e-beam lithography. We will combine Ni and Co colloids chemistry and e-beam lithography to obtain small catalyst dots suitable for the growth of single wall CNTs. The recently discovered mechanism of sequential catalytic growth will be used to control the direct insertion of CNTs with spin-polarised particles during their growth. Plasma enhanced CVD will be employed for growing CNTs on thermal-sensitive substrates. Nanotubes will be oriented by the application of an electric field and by lateral growth using growth barriers. The ballistic transport of nanotubes is presently accompanied by a large contact resistance, so that the overall conductance is much lower in practice than the expected theoretical conductance. In situ growth will enable direct connecting of the nanotubes and prevent damage and pollution induced by the usual suspension/deposition process. Individual CNT structure will be characterised by in situ AFM/Raman analyses to correlate growth conditions, structural and transport properties. By using these tools, we intend to develop direct and controlled design of CNT based interconnects, field emission transistors and spin-valve devices.

PHOSPHOR: PHOtophysics and SPectroscopy of Hydrides, ions and Organic Radicals Processes that convert electronic excitation into nuclear kinetic energy largely determine the photophysics of polyatomic molecules in excited electronic states. Such processes are ubiquitous - in scientific areas ranging from atmospheric chemistry to photobiology, and from molecular electronics to nanoscience. In the language of chemical physics, such processes represent a breakdown of the so-called Born-Oppenheimer approximation that underpins almost all of our thinking in the areas of molecular structure, spectroscopy and dynamics. Central to such thinking is the concept of the potential energy surface, on which reactants evolve to products. Recently evidence has been accumulating from both experimental and theoretical studies that the atoms and molecules can switch between electronic states during bond breakage and formation processes. Such processes are described as non-adiabatic and are driven by couplings between the ground and higher lying adiabatic PESs that are neglected within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. This proposal seeks to apply cutting-edge laser based experimental techniques, particularly velocity map ion imaging methods and H (Rydberg) photofragment translational spectroscopy, to investigate details of the primary photophysics and photofragmentation physics of a carefully chosen range of molecules, organic free radical species, and state selected molecular ions. Each family of experiments involves innovative state-of-the- art experimentation, and will be backed up by detailed theoretical interpretation. In this way, we expect to accumulate detailed insights into the role of non-adiabatic effects in the fragmentation of different classes of molecular system (both closed-shell, and open-shell), thereby building towards a much fuller understanding of non-adiabatic couplings and their influence on molecular reactivity.

The scientific aim of this Fellowship is to investigate a novel class of complex fluids in which high concentrations of electrons are present as stable solvated species: so-called \andquot;electronic liquids\andquot;. These liquids are typically formed when a metal, such as sodium, is dissolved in ammonia. Such solutions contain a fascinating variety of solvated ionic and electronic species, including isolated polarons, spin-paired bipolarons, excitonic atoms, metal anions, and truly delocalised (itinerant) electrons. These species in turn give rise to remarkable bulk properties. For example; the time-honoured metal-nonmetal (M-NM) transition, liquid-liquid phase separation, very low density, deep pseudoeutectic (giving the lowest temperature liquid metals), high electrical conductivity, and highly aggressive redox reactivity. Technologically, the solutions are promoted as a reducing agent for toxic waste and chemical weapon disposal, as a catalyst for forming high-Tc fulleride superconductors, and as an advanced electrolyte for battery systems. The Host Institution has recently led great progress in our understanding of bulk electronic liquids. The primary aim of this Fellowship is to investigate the detailed structure and dynamics of these solutions in confined geometries, for example intercalated into graphite, and as a solvent for carbon nanostructures, such as fullerides and nanotubes. The project will be multidisciplinary, and will provide the Fellow with training in a variety of techniques and materials that are complementary to her current expertise. Neutron and X-ray scattering will be used to measure the atomic structure and dynamics, while the electronic properties will be probed via conductivity and magnetic resonance. Complementary computer simulation will be used to lead and interpret the experimental programme. The Fellow will be part of an Internationally leading Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Group, which occupies purpose #

Project Summary and Research Objectives: Dictyostatin is a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation at the nanomolar level, causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and inducing apoptosis. By sharing the same microtubule-stabilising mechanism as the anticancer drug Taxol, and retaining activity against Taxol-resistant cancer cells, the marine macrolide dictyostatin is a potential new chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of solid tumours. Due to the extremely low isolation yield from the natural sponge source, total synthesis is essential for generating useful quantities of dictyostatin and determining the full structure. The main objective is to develop a flexible and modular synthesis of the 22-membered macrolide dictyostatin, using methodology developed in the host group, enabling the determination of the configuration at the 11 stereogenic centres and providing material for further biological evaluation. A secondary objective is the synthesis of novel macrolide analogues and hybrid structures, which would be tested for tubulin bundling and cytotoxicity. Expected Benefits: The researcher will benefit by improving her research training and by expanding her knowledge and experience in the synthesis of biologically active molecules that may have therapeutic potential, a field that she wishes to pursue after postdoctoral work. Not only will there be opportunities to learn and develop new synthetic methodologies, but also to participate in multidisciplinary research at the interface of chemistry, biology and medicine. The Chemistry Department of Cambridge University is a world renowned institution and the scientist in charge has exceptional experience in the total synthesis of biologically important compounds, particularly anticancer agents, and the development of new synthetic methods, and has extensive international collaborations.

The framework of this project is the research on nanostructures for magnetoelectronic devices. For the development of semiconductor spin-electronics (spintronics), it is important to find out materials exhibiting ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, high spin polarization at the Fermi level, and which are structurally compatible with the semiconductor platforms used in the electronic industry. Heusler intermetallic alloys represent a promising set of compounds because most of them are ferromagnetic, with attractively high Curie temperatures, exhibit high spin polarization, and offer tailoring possibilities as magnetic materials similar to the tailoring possibilities of compound semiconductors as electronic materials. Diluted ferromagnetic semiconductors are also materials of high interest in spintronics because of their optimal compatibility with semiconductor platforms, such that they are ideal candidates as sources for spin injection. The project focuses on the MBE synthesis and analysis of thin films of these two types of materials.Thin films of full Heusler alloys of the type X2YZ with X=Co, Fe, Y=Mn, and Z=Si, Ge will be deposited on Si substrates. Major challenges are achieving good film quality despite the lattice mismatch, controlling the composition, atomic ordering, and defects, both in the film itself and at interfaces. The structural, electronic, magnetic, and transport properties of the films will be investigated, and compared with theoretical predictions.Si (Ge) layers incorporating transition metal elements (Mn, Cr, Co, Fe) at high concentrations will be epitaxially grown on Si (Ge) substrates. Specific growth conditions will be searched to avoid phase separation. The intrinsic properties of the layers will be analyzed in order to determine the applicability in spintronic devices, and for a general understanding of the mechanism of ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors.

'AREA Science Weeks' is a project organized by AREA Science Park, Italy's most important science park, located in Trieste on the border with Slovenia. The specific ASW objectives are: 1. higher percentage of secondary school students that decide to take up technical and scientific university studies; 2. higher percentage of female secondary school students that decide to take up technical and scientific university studies; 3. more awareness by the public at large of the role and impact of the work of researchers in society. The project will be scheduled in four science weeks, each one dedicated to a specific topic: 1. new materials and nanotechnologies; 2. recycling and reuse of waste products; 3. biomolecular medicine; 4. astrophysics. Each science week will include a series of interactive training activities for schools as well as popular conference for the public at large involving at least one internationally-renown expert and several local researchers. A convenient number of female speakers will be present to provide reference models to future female researchers and to eradicate society's deeply-rooted preconception whereby scientific research is a typically male activity. Other local and Slovenian institutions and representatives from the business world (especially SMEs) will be involved in organizing the event, so as to encourage young researchers not to confine their career expectations to the academic world alone. The project output could be subsequently integrated in similar activities, setting the grounds for the creation of a permanent network for the promotion of the researcher's role and the dissemination of scientific culture. The project outcome could easily be transferred also to other contexts.

The objective of the project is the elaboration of new magnetic nanostructures and the investigation of their magnetic properties. These magnetic nanostructures will be elaborated in the 'bottom-up" approach. Once developed the original nanostructures, we will perform in-situ the investigation of their magnetic properties (reversal of magnetization, superparamagnetism an interactions). The control of the epitaxial growth under ultra-high vacuum conditions will allow the fabrication of new kinds of nanostructures. Two methods will be used to achieve this goal: self organisation and co-adsorption of two immiscible metals in volume. In the self-organisation approach, the host group has the experience of previous work during the last ten years. Nanostructures with macroscopic order architecture will be created. Current systems wil te Co and Fe nanostructures grown on templates such as Au(l 11) vicinais or Pt(l 11) vicinais. We wil explore the combination of step arrays with dislocations networks since the pioneering system of Co/Au(788) has already revealed promising results. The second approach to develop nanostructures will be the co-adsorption of two immiscible metals in volume under surface stresses induced by the substrate. This happens when the adsorbed metals have a bulk lattice parameter respectively smaller and larger than the one of the substrate. Systems such as Co and Ag on Ru or Rh substrates will be studied. This will also provide supported dilute magnetic systems interesting for nanomagnetism. After the development of the nanostructures, we will focus on their magnetic properties. We will study the energetic barrier for magnetisation reversal of one particle versus the size of the particle, which is still a challenging question in such small magnetic nanostructures. We will also study other magnetic properties that are essential in information storage and/or in spin electronics, like magnetic anisotropy, and magnetisation flipping processes.

Precise control of magnetization reversal in patterned magnetic nanostructures is a key parameter for future application in random access memories, hard disk media and, more recently, in magnetic logic devices. In the latter case, it has been demonstrated that magnetic elements could perform logic operations analogously to current microelectronic devices and a very promising scheme based on magnetic domain wall (DW) propagation in magnetic nanostructures has been proposed. However, the relationship between DW dynamics and the structural and magnetic properties is not well understood. The aim of this project is both to understand and optimize the dynamics of domain wall propagation in magnetic nanostructures. Thus, new epitaxial magnetic multilayers, based on binary alloys (FePt, FePd?) will be used to understand better the relationship between the microstructure and the magnetic properties. The influence of the microstructure (grains, chemical order?), defects (intrinsic or induced by patterning), geometry of the nanostructure, magnetic features (anisotropy, DW width, DW type, exchange biased DW?) on DW dynamics will be studied by time resolved magnetotransport measurements. Single artificial defects will further be incorporated by nanolithography techniques in order to study the DW-single defect interaction. The final objective is to optimize the DW velocity and to drive it precisely in a nanocircuit between given positions, which is of great interest for the development of novel devices based on DW propagation capable of storing information or performing logical operations. The applicant and apos;s contrasted experience on the fabrication of magnetic epitaxial nanostructures and on the magnetic domain wall propagation and his collaborations with national and international laboratories, as well as the quality and experience on magnetism of the laboratory members that has accepted the applicant are highly suitable to successfully develop this project.

This Fellowship will seek to create a new generation of 'single molecule magnets' (SMMs), i.e. molecules that retain magnetisation in the absence of a magnetic field. SMMs may have long term applications in information storage of quantum computing. The key target is to raise the energy barrier to reorientation of magnetisation. It is believed the best method for so doing is to raise the anisotropic ions. Previous SMMs have involved Mn(III), Fe(III) and Ni(II); other ions present greater single ion anisotropy, and this Fellowship will target these ions. Specifically, V(III) and Fe(II) have useful characteristics for preparing high temperature SMMs. To use such ions requires careful exclusion of air in preparations, as they are highly sensitive to oxidation. Dr Przybylak (SWP) has great experience of handling air- and moisture-sensitive complexes, and he will bring his expertise to bear on this new field. The scientific goals are to prepare SMMs with higher blocking temperatures than those previously reported. In addition to the scientific goals, there are three training goals. Firstly, to provide SWP with training in X-ray single crystal diffraction methods. Secondly, to provide SWP with training in multi-frequency EPR spectroscopy, as applied to high spin cage complexes and SMMs. Thirdly, to provide training in key skills, including presentation of work in English, time management and career development. The third goal is to establish a working relationship between a leading UK research group, and a promising young Polish scientist.

"Microelectronics Technology Matches"- the complexity level of today's computers could not have been achieved without miniaturisation and integration. This has not been a drive in itself, rather, integration has boosted reliability, such that 4 million transistors integrated on a chip can function for years non-stop, whereas 4 million separate transistors could only function fora split second. This stage in microelectronics development is the "System-on-a-Chip" era. The next stage is "Solution-on-a-Chip" where the sensing, signal-conditioning, data processing and delivery functionalities are all integrated on one silicon-module. The concept stems as neces¬ sary from the fact that the sheer number of connections between sub-systems makes it impossible to build complex non-contiguous devices, as an example 150 million Pixel Detectors in MCM-D technology. Some ideas and devices simply cannot be built unless the concept of "Solution-on-a- Chip" matures reliably industrially. The "System-on-a-Chip" concept integrated components in the same, or similar technology. On the other hand the "Solution-on-a-Chip" concept will have to integrate radically different technologies on the same chip, as the sensing and delivery functionalities are often developed in technologies totally incompatible with those of the signal-conditioning and data processing sub-systems. Mana¬ ging this aspect is key to the "Solution-on-a-Chip" concept, hence the interest for "Microelectronics Technology Ma tches ". Another marked difference between the "Solution-on-a-Chip" revolution (today) and the "System-on-a-Chip" revolution (1980-2000) is that the current concept addresses less so the world IT-microelectronics, but more the diverse worlds of bio/chemistry, medicine, and intelligent- environment - i.e. integrating MCM-D connectivity with sensing capabilities of porous silico