ULTRASMOOTH is a Marie Curie Research Training Network that aims to i) achieve breakthroughs

in the quality of metallic thin film morphology through the use of advanced ion-beam irradiation and

other techniques and ii) to provide high quality training in the techniques for growth, processing and

characterisation of ultrasmooth magnetic layers to at least 12 researchers. Many applications of ultra-

thin magnetic films rely on the provision of high quality layers with very low roughness. Some of the

applications which need smooth magnetic layers to function include: sensors which depend on control

of the coupling of constituent magnetic layers, magnetic memories, which function by electron

tunnelling through oxide barriers, hard disc read heads and sensors.

This network brings together eight leading academic laboratories and three industrial partners from

across Europe whose expertise lies in the areas of growth, modification and characterisation of ultra-

thin magnetic films. The postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers hired as part of the network team

will significantly advance their knowledge and skills through research, dissemination and training.

Guided by the industrial partners, experiments designed to improve the growth, crystallinity and surface

quality, characterisation and prototype devices will be performed at university laboratories, research

centres, industrial research laboratories and European large-scale facilities such as ILL and ESRF.

The objectives of this network are to:

-Provide a minimum of 324 months of comprehensive researcher training (l/3rd Early Stage and

2/3rd Experienced Researchers) over 4 years.

-Integrate leading expertise in Europe around challenging technical goals and provide holistic

training based on state-of-the-art research, secondments and exchanges and complementary

training in management skills.

-Improve the growth of ultrasmooth layers by understanding the underlying physics

#

The project explores a superior property in nanoscale magnetic thin film devices - the spin dependent ballistic electronic transport, which is a size-dependent phenomenon that may only occur in nanoscale materials and devices due to quantum mechanics effect. The subject area and the objectives of the project have a close relevance to the NMP priority area 3.4.1.1 for 2003, which calls for long term, ambitious interdisciplinary research addressing, theoretically (incl. modelling) and experimentally, size-dependent phenomena, including quantum and/or mesoscopic scale phenomena. The nanotechnology and nanoscience explored in the project represent a new approach to materials science and engineering, as well as for design of new devices and processes for future data storage, spintronic devices and computers. The consortium consists of European leading experimentalists (P1) in BMR of wire nanocontacts, leading BMR theorists (P5), laboratories with the state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques (P3) and magnetotransport thin films and devices (P2 and P6), and leading researchers in spin injection and spin transport studies (P4), aiming to integrate the complementary knowledge, infrastructure and expertise for the exploration of the spin dependent ballistic transport properties in thin film nanocontacts. Our overall rrare to employ the state-of-the-art nanofabrication technology for the fabrication of thin film nanoconstrictions with diameter of 50 ~ 5 nm, and to carry out a concerted experimental and theoretical study of the spin transport properties in relation to physical sizes, micromagnetic structures, interfacial and ferromagnetic/semiconductor electrode materials, and polarization in the vicinity of the nanocontacts, aiming to explore high ballistic magnetoresistance (BMR), we will study the magnetoelastic deformations of the contacts that can contribute to the transport process. As well as the contribution by pulsed laser illumination.

The major abjective of the proposal is to develop a new generation of sensors that will create a break-through in the diagnostic quality of X-ray images in health, industry and security. The new sensors will incorporate technology that will enable adaptive imaging. Thes will lead to optimisation of the recorded information at the same time as minimising the radiation dose or duration of examination; in practice the ideal imaging system. These objectives closely match those stated in the Call FP62002-NMP-1 'to provide a new generation of sensors and systems for health, safety and security of people and the environment'. To develop this new I-ImaS technology the project is dicided into three phases. Firstly an analysis of the important cues to diagnostic information in an image and how these might be monitored by an inteligent sensor. Secondly, a phase where a new generation of CMOS sensors, the I-ImaS sensors, are designed and manufactures that incorporate the appropriate level of intelligence. Finally a quantitative evaluation of the success of I-ImaS technology when incorporated into an adaptive imaging system. The project will concentrate on two diverse and challenging medical imaging areas as a proof of principle. The consortium consists of an impressive team of scientists, end users and industrialists. Nine groups from five member states provide the critical mass and the necessary degree of complementarity in the key areas of sensors technology and applications. Each participant plays a vital role in bringing unique skills to the project. The strategic impact of the I-ImaS intelligent imaging approach is planned to be: * improved patient management and lower radiation burden for the population, and for the future * higher quality control in manufacturing industry with invreased throughput leading to less component failures and greater customer satifaction, and * total threat detection in security scanning with improved throught leading to a safer #

Objective is to bring a major breackthrough in ultrasound transducers design and manufacturing processes with performances well beyond the standard technology of piezoelectrical transducers. Based on MEMS manufacturing process, these new devices will replace existing arrays and sensors used in Ultrasound Medical Imaging and NOT, offering bandwidth over 100% with reduced losses and lower manufacturing cost. Furthermore sensors and transducers operating above 10 MHz will be achievable in a collective way resulting in a high level of yield and reliability. Benefit for EU will be in Medical diagnosis improvment, manufacturing control with performant miniaturized sensors, and will create employements for transducers manufacturing in EU MEMS foundries instead of actual subcontracting labor in non EU countries. The work plan is using main outputs from tha growth Parmenide and the UMIC Eureka projects

Superhydrophobic or hydrophobia coatings have been used in the recent years for several applications, such as easy-to-clean surfaces. Since 2001, photocatalytic self-cleaning glazing have been launched on the European market. These latter products are based on the photocatalytic property of a thin layer of TiU2 deposited at the surface of the glass. When exposed to UVA radiations, TÌ02 reacts with the oxygen and water molecules present in the atmosphere to produce free radicals leading to oxidative species. These species are able to degrade organic stains adsorbed on the surface into volatile molecules. Both technologies gather products designated by the general term of 'self-cleaning'. At the moment, self-cleaning glazing are only tested according to existing appropriate national or international standards to qualify optical and energetic properties. In building applications for example, these new glazing must pass the EN-1096 standard. But there are no certified nor normalized tests to evaluate the self-cleaning performances of these products. hi order to define appropriate tests for the self-cleaning properties of nano-structured surfaces, the project will be based on three main achievements. - The acquisition of a thorough understanding of the real soiling mechanisms at microscale level on glass and self cleaning coated glass. - The enhancement of fundamental knowledge on the interactions between self cleaning coating ability and pollutants, occurring at a nano scale level. The development of measurement methods for self cleaning ability and the carrying out of a prenormative study on glass soiling and self cleaning glass. A certification test definition for self-cleaning properties, based on the benefits they bring to customers will be provided.

Microsensor and microactuator technologies are of strategic importance for the EU. In particular, the association of silicon micromachining with integrated optics (IO) have the advantage of small scale, easy integration and appropriate size to control or manipulate optical radiations. It can result in the production of miniaturised, low cost and smart optical microsensors with moving parts. This technology is therefore suitable to fabricate precision-defined optical components and offers a relative easy alignment procedures of optical with mechanical parts. With the support of GROWTH programme (proposal "OCMMM", G1RD-ct-2000-00261, Jan. 2001) we proposed the development of an innovative on-chip testing technology for in situ metrology of MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS). This is based on in-situ optical interrogation of mechanical parameters by incorporating a sensing arm of an integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer into actuated MEMS structures. In this case the microinterferometer cannot be reused for other systems. The alternative is the combination of previously developed opto-mechanical technology with fiber-optic and microactuator technology. Optical microsensors, based on phase-modulated detection, can provide high resolution measuring. Thus, the present proposal is an accompanying measure for OCMMM proposal aiming the realisation of a low-cost ex-situ optical vibrometer, based on an integrated Michelson interferometer with two reference arms and one sensing arm. each of them connected to an optical fiber. Electrostatically driven mirror creates a phase modulation between both the reference arms of the interferometer. The research project couples the distributed potential of both Applicant and Host Organisations. Applicant task will be the design, realisation and testing of proposed electrostatically heterodyned optical vibrometer. By strong contacts with SMEs, the project offers the opportunity to make research in the context of industry requi

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 #

This conference deals with a new and exciting method to deposit silicon and carbon based materials, Catalytic Chemical Vapour Deposition, or Hot Wire CVD. It is an inherently cheap, and an amazingly fast and gentle method for the deposition of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon, diamond like carbon, and carbon nanotubes. The interest in this method is currently exploding worldwide. Bringing together in Europe experienced and young scientists from all over the world to interact in this exciting area will be beneficial to the thin film scientific community as a whole. Europe has the largest number of research groups that are active in this field, but advanced expertise is available overseas, in the USA and Japan. This conference will therefore be very effective, by bringing in overseas experts as well as many young researchers from Europe, including the Associated States. The conference will address the chemical deposition chemistry (including catalytic filament issues) and chemical and electronic passivation techniques, the thin films that can be obtained consisting of silicon possessing various nanostructures, epitaxial films, insulating films, and carbon-related films. In addition it will deal with the industrial implementation that is currently under study also in Europe, by demonstrating large area and economically interesting capabilities of the technique. The high deposition rate is of interest to the solar cell industry and the display industry. Also carbon nanotubes can be produced at high rate and conformai coverage by thin polymer layers, e.g. on biomédical applications, has been achieved. The lack of ion bombardment translates into superior surface passivation and significant noise reduction in electronic devices. The properties of many advanced materials are based on functional layers. It is the goal of this conference to understand why Cat-CVD can deposit high quality films at comparatively high rates, for #

The research of the proposed network is aimed at the study of the super-molecular organization in amphiphilic macromolecular systems of complex architectures. In particular, our efforts will focus on the study the hierarchical self-assembly of amphiphilic macromolecules differing in their molecular architecture, driven by multiple types of interactions, both in aqueous solution and at interfaces. The spectrum of molecular architectures will range from simple linear structures (e.g.,block copolymers) over branched structures (e.g. graft copolymers) and more complex nanoparticles (spherical and cylindrical core-shell and Janus-type structures). We aim to understand how self-organization, the resulting structures and interfacial patterns are controlled by the interplay of macromolecular architecture of building blocks with different types and ranges of competing interactions, particularly hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. We aim at the design of highly responsive (intelligent) systems capable for switching of the aggregation state and supermolecular organization upon variation of the external conditions. Our ultimate goal is to create and understand systems that can self-assemble in a hierarchical way. The present project aims at exploring possible approaches and should be seen as the first step in this challenging direction.The strongly complementary expertise of the participating groups (advanced synthetic techniques, a wide range of experimental characterization methods, the combination of analytical and computational theoretical modeling, as well as competence in industrial applications) and their coordinated efforts will guarantee the success of the proposed interdisciplinary research by bringing us to a qualitatively new level of understanding of self-organization of amphiphilic macromolecular systemsThis network, spanning six countries with 13 teams, is aimed to provide excellent training for the early-stage researchers in an inspiring, #

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.