Project acronym 2DNANOPTICA
Project Nano-optics on flatland: from quantum nanotechnology to nano-bio-photonics
Researcher (PI) Pablo Alonso-González
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2016-STG
Summary Ubiquitous in nature, light-matter interactions are of fundamental importance in science and all optical technologies. Understanding and controlling them has been a long-pursued objective in modern physics. However, so far, related experiments have relied on traditional optical schemes where, owing to the classical diffraction limit, control of optical fields to length scales below the wavelength of light is prevented. Importantly, this limitation impedes to exploit the extraordinary fundamental and scaling potentials of nanoscience and nanotechnology. A solution to concentrate optical fields into sub-diffracting volumes is the excitation of surface polaritons –coupled excitations of photons and mobile/bound charges in metals/polar materials (plasmons/phonons)-. However, their initial promises have been hindered by either strong optical losses or lack of electrical control in metals, and difficulties to fabricate high optical quality nanostructures in polar materials.
With the advent of two-dimensional (2D) materials and their extraordinary optical properties, during the last 2-3 years the visualization of both low-loss and electrically tunable (active) plasmons in graphene and high optical quality phonons in monolayer and multilayer h-BN nanostructures have been demonstrated in the mid-infrared spectral range, thus introducing a very encouraging arena for scientifically ground-breaking discoveries in nano-optics. Inspired by these extraordinary prospects, this ERC project aims to make use of our knowledge and unique expertise in 2D nanoplasmonics, and the recent advances in nanophononics, to establish a technological platform that, including coherent sources, waveguides, routers, and efficient detectors, permits an unprecedented active control and manipulation (at room temperature) of light and light-matter interactions on the nanoscale, thus laying experimentally the foundations of a 2D nano-optics field.
Summary
Ubiquitous in nature, light-matter interactions are of fundamental importance in science and all optical technologies. Understanding and controlling them has been a long-pursued objective in modern physics. However, so far, related experiments have relied on traditional optical schemes where, owing to the classical diffraction limit, control of optical fields to length scales below the wavelength of light is prevented. Importantly, this limitation impedes to exploit the extraordinary fundamental and scaling potentials of nanoscience and nanotechnology. A solution to concentrate optical fields into sub-diffracting volumes is the excitation of surface polaritons –coupled excitations of photons and mobile/bound charges in metals/polar materials (plasmons/phonons)-. However, their initial promises have been hindered by either strong optical losses or lack of electrical control in metals, and difficulties to fabricate high optical quality nanostructures in polar materials.
With the advent of two-dimensional (2D) materials and their extraordinary optical properties, during the last 2-3 years the visualization of both low-loss and electrically tunable (active) plasmons in graphene and high optical quality phonons in monolayer and multilayer h-BN nanostructures have been demonstrated in the mid-infrared spectral range, thus introducing a very encouraging arena for scientifically ground-breaking discoveries in nano-optics. Inspired by these extraordinary prospects, this ERC project aims to make use of our knowledge and unique expertise in 2D nanoplasmonics, and the recent advances in nanophononics, to establish a technological platform that, including coherent sources, waveguides, routers, and efficient detectors, permits an unprecedented active control and manipulation (at room temperature) of light and light-matter interactions on the nanoscale, thus laying experimentally the foundations of a 2D nano-optics field.
Max ERC Funding
1 459 219 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-01-01, End date: 2021-12-31
Project acronym 2DTHERMS
Project Design of new thermoelectric devices based on layered and field modulated nanostructures of strongly correlated electron systems
Researcher (PI) Jose Francisco Rivadulla Fernandez
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Design of new thermoelectric devices based on layered and field modulated nanostructures of strongly correlated electron systems
Summary
Design of new thermoelectric devices based on layered and field modulated nanostructures of strongly correlated electron systems
Max ERC Funding
1 427 190 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-11-01, End date: 2015-10-31
Project acronym 3DNANOMECH
Project Three-dimensional molecular resolution mapping of soft matter-liquid interfaces
Researcher (PI) Ricardo Garcia
Host Institution (HI) AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DEINVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE4, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary Optical, electron and probe microscopes are enabling tools for discoveries and knowledge generation in nanoscale sicence and technology. High resolution –nanoscale or molecular-, noninvasive and label-free imaging of three-dimensional soft matter-liquid interfaces has not been achieved by any microscopy method.
Force microscopy (AFM) is considered the second most relevant advance in materials science since 1960. Despite its impressive range of applications, the technique has some key limitations. Force microscopy has not three dimensional depth. What lies above or in the subsurface is not readily characterized.
3DNanoMech proposes to design, build and operate a high speed force-based method for the three-dimensional characterization soft matter-liquid interfaces (3D AFM). The microscope will combine a detection method based on force perturbations, adaptive algorithms, high speed piezo actuators and quantitative-oriented multifrequency approaches. The development of the microscope cannot be separated from its applications: imaging the error-free DNA repair and to understand the relationship existing between the nanomechanical properties and the malignancy of cancer cells. Those problems encompass the different spatial –molecular-nano-mesoscopic- and time –milli to seconds- scales of the instrument.
In short, 3DNanoMech aims to image, map and measure with picoNewton, millisecond and angstrom resolution soft matter surfaces and interfaces in liquid. The long-term vision of 3DNanoMech is to replace models or computer animations of bimolecular-liquid interfaces by real time, molecular resolution maps of properties and processes.
Summary
Optical, electron and probe microscopes are enabling tools for discoveries and knowledge generation in nanoscale sicence and technology. High resolution –nanoscale or molecular-, noninvasive and label-free imaging of three-dimensional soft matter-liquid interfaces has not been achieved by any microscopy method.
Force microscopy (AFM) is considered the second most relevant advance in materials science since 1960. Despite its impressive range of applications, the technique has some key limitations. Force microscopy has not three dimensional depth. What lies above or in the subsurface is not readily characterized.
3DNanoMech proposes to design, build and operate a high speed force-based method for the three-dimensional characterization soft matter-liquid interfaces (3D AFM). The microscope will combine a detection method based on force perturbations, adaptive algorithms, high speed piezo actuators and quantitative-oriented multifrequency approaches. The development of the microscope cannot be separated from its applications: imaging the error-free DNA repair and to understand the relationship existing between the nanomechanical properties and the malignancy of cancer cells. Those problems encompass the different spatial –molecular-nano-mesoscopic- and time –milli to seconds- scales of the instrument.
In short, 3DNanoMech aims to image, map and measure with picoNewton, millisecond and angstrom resolution soft matter surfaces and interfaces in liquid. The long-term vision of 3DNanoMech is to replace models or computer animations of bimolecular-liquid interfaces by real time, molecular resolution maps of properties and processes.
Max ERC Funding
2 499 928 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-02-01, End date: 2019-01-31
Project acronym 4DBIOSERS
Project Four-Dimensional Monitoring of Tumour Growth by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering
Researcher (PI) Luis LIZ-MARZAN
Host Institution (HI) ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN BIOMATERIALES- CIC biomaGUNE
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE5, ERC-2017-ADG
Summary Optical bioimaging is limited by visible light penetration depth and stability of fluorescent dyes over extended periods of time. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offers the possibility to overcome these drawbacks, through SERS-encoded nanoparticle tags, which can be excited with near-IR light (within the biological transparency window), providing high intensity, stable, multiplexed signals. SERS can also be used to monitor relevant bioanalytes within cells and tissues, during the development of diseases, such as tumours. In 4DBIOSERS we shall combine both capabilities of SERS, to go well beyond the current state of the art, by building three-dimensional scaffolds that support tissue (tumour) growth within a controlled environment, so that not only the fate of each (SERS-labelled) cell within the tumour can be monitored in real time (thus adding a fourth dimension to SERS bioimaging), but also recording the release of tumour metabolites and other indicators of cellular activity. Although 4DBIOSERS can be applied to a variety of diseases, we shall focus on cancer, melanoma and breast cancer in particular, as these are readily accessible by optical methods. We aim at acquiring a better understanding of tumour growth and dynamics, while avoiding animal experimentation. 3D printing will be used to generate hybrid scaffolds where tumour and healthy cells will be co-incubated to simulate a more realistic environment, thus going well beyond the potential of 2D cell cultures. Each cell type will be encoded with ultra-bright SERS tags, so that real-time monitoring can be achieved by confocal SERS microscopy. Tumour development will be correlated with simultaneous detection of various cancer biomarkers, during standard conditions and upon addition of selected drugs. The scope of 4DBIOSERS is multidisciplinary, as it involves the design of high-end nanocomposites, development of 3D cell culture models and optimization of emerging SERS tomography methods.
Summary
Optical bioimaging is limited by visible light penetration depth and stability of fluorescent dyes over extended periods of time. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offers the possibility to overcome these drawbacks, through SERS-encoded nanoparticle tags, which can be excited with near-IR light (within the biological transparency window), providing high intensity, stable, multiplexed signals. SERS can also be used to monitor relevant bioanalytes within cells and tissues, during the development of diseases, such as tumours. In 4DBIOSERS we shall combine both capabilities of SERS, to go well beyond the current state of the art, by building three-dimensional scaffolds that support tissue (tumour) growth within a controlled environment, so that not only the fate of each (SERS-labelled) cell within the tumour can be monitored in real time (thus adding a fourth dimension to SERS bioimaging), but also recording the release of tumour metabolites and other indicators of cellular activity. Although 4DBIOSERS can be applied to a variety of diseases, we shall focus on cancer, melanoma and breast cancer in particular, as these are readily accessible by optical methods. We aim at acquiring a better understanding of tumour growth and dynamics, while avoiding animal experimentation. 3D printing will be used to generate hybrid scaffolds where tumour and healthy cells will be co-incubated to simulate a more realistic environment, thus going well beyond the potential of 2D cell cultures. Each cell type will be encoded with ultra-bright SERS tags, so that real-time monitoring can be achieved by confocal SERS microscopy. Tumour development will be correlated with simultaneous detection of various cancer biomarkers, during standard conditions and upon addition of selected drugs. The scope of 4DBIOSERS is multidisciplinary, as it involves the design of high-end nanocomposites, development of 3D cell culture models and optimization of emerging SERS tomography methods.
Max ERC Funding
2 410 771 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-10-01, End date: 2023-09-30
Project acronym ADJUV-ANT VACCINES
Project Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Synthetic Saponin Adjuvants and Development of Novel Self-Adjuvanting Vaccines
Researcher (PI) Alberto FERNANDEZ TEJADA
Host Institution (HI) ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN BIOCIENCIAS
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2016-STG
Summary The clinical success of anticancer and antiviral vaccines often requires the use of an adjuvant, a substance that helps stimulate the body’s immune response to the vaccine, making it work better. However, few adjuvants are sufficiently potent and non-toxic for clinical use; moreover, it is not really known how they work. Current vaccine approaches based on weak carbohydrate and glycopeptide antigens are not being particularly effective to induce the human immune system to mount an effective fight against cancer. Despite intensive research and several clinical trials, no such carbohydrate-based antitumor vaccine has yet been approved for public use. In this context, the proposed project has a double, ultimate goal based on applying chemistry to address the above clear gaps in the adjuvant-vaccine field. First, I will develop new improved adjuvants and novel chemical strategies towards more effective, self-adjuvanting synthetic vaccines. Second, I will probe deeply into the molecular mechanisms of the synthetic constructs by combining extensive immunological evaluations with molecular target identification and detailed conformational studies. Thus, the singularity of this multidisciplinary proposal stems from the integration of its main objectives and approaches connecting chemical synthesis and chemical/structural biology with cellular and molecular immunology. This ground-breaking project at the chemistry-biology frontier will allow me to establish my own independent research group and explore key unresolved mechanistic questions in the adjuvant/vaccine arena with extraordinary chemical precision. Therefore, with this transformative and timely research program I aim to (a) develop novel synthetic antitumor and antiviral vaccines with improved properties and efficacy for their prospective translation into the clinic and (b) gain new critical insights into the molecular basis and three-dimensional structure underlying the biological activity of these constructs.
Summary
The clinical success of anticancer and antiviral vaccines often requires the use of an adjuvant, a substance that helps stimulate the body’s immune response to the vaccine, making it work better. However, few adjuvants are sufficiently potent and non-toxic for clinical use; moreover, it is not really known how they work. Current vaccine approaches based on weak carbohydrate and glycopeptide antigens are not being particularly effective to induce the human immune system to mount an effective fight against cancer. Despite intensive research and several clinical trials, no such carbohydrate-based antitumor vaccine has yet been approved for public use. In this context, the proposed project has a double, ultimate goal based on applying chemistry to address the above clear gaps in the adjuvant-vaccine field. First, I will develop new improved adjuvants and novel chemical strategies towards more effective, self-adjuvanting synthetic vaccines. Second, I will probe deeply into the molecular mechanisms of the synthetic constructs by combining extensive immunological evaluations with molecular target identification and detailed conformational studies. Thus, the singularity of this multidisciplinary proposal stems from the integration of its main objectives and approaches connecting chemical synthesis and chemical/structural biology with cellular and molecular immunology. This ground-breaking project at the chemistry-biology frontier will allow me to establish my own independent research group and explore key unresolved mechanistic questions in the adjuvant/vaccine arena with extraordinary chemical precision. Therefore, with this transformative and timely research program I aim to (a) develop novel synthetic antitumor and antiviral vaccines with improved properties and efficacy for their prospective translation into the clinic and (b) gain new critical insights into the molecular basis and three-dimensional structure underlying the biological activity of these constructs.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 219 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-03-01, End date: 2022-02-28
Project acronym BIDECASEOX
Project Bio-inspired Design of Catalysts for Selective Oxidations of C-H and C=C Bonds
Researcher (PI) Miguel Costas Salgueiro
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAT DE GIRONA
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The selective functionalization of C-H and C=C bonds remains a formidable unsolved problem, owing to their inert nature. Novel alkane and alkene oxidation reactions exhibiting good and/or unprecedented selectivities will have a big impact on bulk and fine chemistry by opening novel methodologies that will allow removal of protection-deprotection sequences, thus streamlining synthetic strategies. These goals are targeted in this project via design of iron and manganese catalysts inspired by structural elements of the active site of non-heme enzymes of the Rieske Dioxygenase family. Selectivity is pursued via rational design of catalysts that will exploit substrate recognition-exclusion phenomena, and control over proton and electron affinity of the active species. Moreover, these catalysts will employ H2O2 as oxidant, and will operate under mild conditions (pressure and temperature). The fundamental mechanistic aspects of the catalytic reactions, and the species implicated in C-H and C=C oxidation events will also be studied with the aim of building on the necessary knowledge to design future generations of catalysts, and provide models to understand the chemistry taking place in non-heme iron and manganese-dependent oxygenases.
Summary
The selective functionalization of C-H and C=C bonds remains a formidable unsolved problem, owing to their inert nature. Novel alkane and alkene oxidation reactions exhibiting good and/or unprecedented selectivities will have a big impact on bulk and fine chemistry by opening novel methodologies that will allow removal of protection-deprotection sequences, thus streamlining synthetic strategies. These goals are targeted in this project via design of iron and manganese catalysts inspired by structural elements of the active site of non-heme enzymes of the Rieske Dioxygenase family. Selectivity is pursued via rational design of catalysts that will exploit substrate recognition-exclusion phenomena, and control over proton and electron affinity of the active species. Moreover, these catalysts will employ H2O2 as oxidant, and will operate under mild conditions (pressure and temperature). The fundamental mechanistic aspects of the catalytic reactions, and the species implicated in C-H and C=C oxidation events will also be studied with the aim of building on the necessary knowledge to design future generations of catalysts, and provide models to understand the chemistry taking place in non-heme iron and manganese-dependent oxygenases.
Max ERC Funding
1 299 998 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-11-01, End date: 2015-10-31
Project acronym BIGSEA
Project Biogeochemical and ecosystem interactions with socio-economic activity in the global ocean
Researcher (PI) Eric Douglas Galbraith
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONA
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE10, ERC-2015-CoG
Summary The global marine ecosystem is being deeply altered by human activity. On the one hand, rising concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases are changing the physical and chemical state of the ocean, exerting pressure from the bottom up. Meanwhile, the global fishery has provided large economic benefits, but in so doing has restructured ecosystems by removing most of the large animal biomass, a major top-down change. Although there has been a tremendous amount of research into isolated aspects of these impacts, the development of a holistic understanding of the full interactions between physics, chemistry, ecology and economic activity might appear impossible, given the myriad complexities. This proposal lays out a strategy to assemble a team of trans-disciplinary expertise, that will develop a unified, data-constrained, grid-based modeling framework to represent the most important interactions of the global human-ocean system. Building this framework requires solving a series of fundamental problems that currently hinder the development of the full model. If these problems can be solved, the resulting model will reveal novel emergent properties and open the doors to a range of previously unexplored questions of high impact across a range of disciplines. Key questions include the ways in which animals interact with oxygen minimum zones with implications for fisheries, the impacts fish harvesting may have on nutrient recycling, spatio-temporal interactions between managed and unmanaged fisheries, and fundamental questions about the relationships between fish price, fishing cost, and multiple markets in a changing world. Just as the first coupled ocean-atmosphere models revealed a wealth of new behaviours, the coupled human-ocean model proposed here has the potential to launch multiple new fields of enquiry. It is hoped that the novel approach will contribute to a paradigm shift that treats human activity as one component within the framework of the Earth System.
Summary
The global marine ecosystem is being deeply altered by human activity. On the one hand, rising concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases are changing the physical and chemical state of the ocean, exerting pressure from the bottom up. Meanwhile, the global fishery has provided large economic benefits, but in so doing has restructured ecosystems by removing most of the large animal biomass, a major top-down change. Although there has been a tremendous amount of research into isolated aspects of these impacts, the development of a holistic understanding of the full interactions between physics, chemistry, ecology and economic activity might appear impossible, given the myriad complexities. This proposal lays out a strategy to assemble a team of trans-disciplinary expertise, that will develop a unified, data-constrained, grid-based modeling framework to represent the most important interactions of the global human-ocean system. Building this framework requires solving a series of fundamental problems that currently hinder the development of the full model. If these problems can be solved, the resulting model will reveal novel emergent properties and open the doors to a range of previously unexplored questions of high impact across a range of disciplines. Key questions include the ways in which animals interact with oxygen minimum zones with implications for fisheries, the impacts fish harvesting may have on nutrient recycling, spatio-temporal interactions between managed and unmanaged fisheries, and fundamental questions about the relationships between fish price, fishing cost, and multiple markets in a changing world. Just as the first coupled ocean-atmosphere models revealed a wealth of new behaviours, the coupled human-ocean model proposed here has the potential to launch multiple new fields of enquiry. It is hoped that the novel approach will contribute to a paradigm shift that treats human activity as one component within the framework of the Earth System.
Max ERC Funding
1 600 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-07-01, End date: 2021-06-30
Project acronym BIO2CHEM-D
Project Biomass to chemicals: Catalysis design from first principles for a sustainable chemical industry
Researcher (PI) Nuria Lopez
Host Institution (HI) FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICA
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE4, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary The use of renewable feedstocks by the chemical industry is fundamental due to both the depletion of fossil
resources and the increasing pressure of environmental concerns. Biomass can act as a sustainable source of
organic industrial chemicals; however, the establishment of a renewable chemical industry that is
economically competitive with the present oil-based one requires the development of new processes to
convert biomass-derived compounds into useful industrial materials following the principles of green
chemistry. To achieve these goals, developments in several fields including heterogeneous catalysis are
needed. One of the ways to accelerate the discovery of new potentially active, selective and stable catalysts is
the massive use of computational chemistry. Recent advances have demonstrated that Density Functional
Theory coupled to ab initio thermodynamics, transition state theory and microkinetic analysis can provide a
full view of the catalytic phenomena.
The aim of the present project is thus to employ these well-tested computational techniques to the
development of a theoretical framework that can accelerate the identification of new catalysts for the
conversion of biomass derived target compounds into useful chemicals. Since compared to petroleum-based
materials-biomass derived ones are multifuncionalized, the search for new catalytic materials and processes
has a strong requirement in the selectivity of the chemical transformations. The main challenges in the
project are related to the high functionalization of the molecules, their liquid nature and the large number of
potentially competitive reaction paths. The requirements of specificity and selectivity in the chemical
transformations while keeping a reasonably flexible framework constitute a major objective. The work will
be divided in three main work packages, one devoted to the properties of small molecules or fragments
containing a single functional group; the second addresses competition in multiple functionalized molecules;
and third is dedicated to the specific transformations of two molecules that have already been identified as
potential platform generators. The goal is to identify suitable candidates that could be synthetized and tested
in the Institute facilities.
Summary
The use of renewable feedstocks by the chemical industry is fundamental due to both the depletion of fossil
resources and the increasing pressure of environmental concerns. Biomass can act as a sustainable source of
organic industrial chemicals; however, the establishment of a renewable chemical industry that is
economically competitive with the present oil-based one requires the development of new processes to
convert biomass-derived compounds into useful industrial materials following the principles of green
chemistry. To achieve these goals, developments in several fields including heterogeneous catalysis are
needed. One of the ways to accelerate the discovery of new potentially active, selective and stable catalysts is
the massive use of computational chemistry. Recent advances have demonstrated that Density Functional
Theory coupled to ab initio thermodynamics, transition state theory and microkinetic analysis can provide a
full view of the catalytic phenomena.
The aim of the present project is thus to employ these well-tested computational techniques to the
development of a theoretical framework that can accelerate the identification of new catalysts for the
conversion of biomass derived target compounds into useful chemicals. Since compared to petroleum-based
materials-biomass derived ones are multifuncionalized, the search for new catalytic materials and processes
has a strong requirement in the selectivity of the chemical transformations. The main challenges in the
project are related to the high functionalization of the molecules, their liquid nature and the large number of
potentially competitive reaction paths. The requirements of specificity and selectivity in the chemical
transformations while keeping a reasonably flexible framework constitute a major objective. The work will
be divided in three main work packages, one devoted to the properties of small molecules or fragments
containing a single functional group; the second addresses competition in multiple functionalized molecules;
and third is dedicated to the specific transformations of two molecules that have already been identified as
potential platform generators. The goal is to identify suitable candidates that could be synthetized and tested
in the Institute facilities.
Max ERC Funding
1 496 200 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-10-01, End date: 2015-09-30
Project acronym CARBONLIGHT
Project Tunable light tightly bound to a single sheet of carbon atoms:
graphene as a novel platform for nano-optoelectronics
Researcher (PI) Frank Henricus Louis Koppens
Host Institution (HI) FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2012-StG_20111012
Summary Graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of carbon, has attracted enormous attention in diverse areas of applied and fundamental physics. Due to its unique crystal structure, charge carriers have an effective mass of zero and a very high mobility, even at room temperature. While graphene-based devices have an enormous potential for high-speed electronics, graphene has recently been recognized as a photonic material for novel optoelectronic applications.
Interestingly, graphene is also a promising host material for light that is confined to nanoscale dimensions, more than 100 times below the diffraction limit. Due to its ultra-small thickness and extremely high purity, graphene can support strongly confined propagating light fields coupled to the charge carriers in the material: surface plasmons. The properties of these plasmons are controllable by electrostatic gates, holding promise for in-situ tunability of light-matter interactions at a length scale far below the wavelength.
This project will experimentally investigate the new and virtually unexplored field of graphene surface plasmonics, and combine this with other appealing properties of graphene to demonstrate the unique potential of carbon-based nano-optoelectronics. The aim is to explore the limits of unprecedented light concentration, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale, to dramatically intensify nonlinear interactions between photons towards the quantum regime, and to reveal the subtle effects of cavity quantum electrodynamics on graphene-emitter systems. This research will reveal the far-reaching potential of a single sheet of carbon atoms as a host for light and electrons at the nanoscale, with prospects for novel nanoscale optical circuits and detectors, nano-optomechanical systems and tunable artificial quantum emitters.
Summary
Graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of carbon, has attracted enormous attention in diverse areas of applied and fundamental physics. Due to its unique crystal structure, charge carriers have an effective mass of zero and a very high mobility, even at room temperature. While graphene-based devices have an enormous potential for high-speed electronics, graphene has recently been recognized as a photonic material for novel optoelectronic applications.
Interestingly, graphene is also a promising host material for light that is confined to nanoscale dimensions, more than 100 times below the diffraction limit. Due to its ultra-small thickness and extremely high purity, graphene can support strongly confined propagating light fields coupled to the charge carriers in the material: surface plasmons. The properties of these plasmons are controllable by electrostatic gates, holding promise for in-situ tunability of light-matter interactions at a length scale far below the wavelength.
This project will experimentally investigate the new and virtually unexplored field of graphene surface plasmonics, and combine this with other appealing properties of graphene to demonstrate the unique potential of carbon-based nano-optoelectronics. The aim is to explore the limits of unprecedented light concentration, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale, to dramatically intensify nonlinear interactions between photons towards the quantum regime, and to reveal the subtle effects of cavity quantum electrodynamics on graphene-emitter systems. This research will reveal the far-reaching potential of a single sheet of carbon atoms as a host for light and electrons at the nanoscale, with prospects for novel nanoscale optical circuits and detectors, nano-optomechanical systems and tunable artificial quantum emitters.
Max ERC Funding
1 466 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-11-01, End date: 2017-10-31
Project acronym CARBONNEMS
Project NanoElectroMechanical Systems based on Carbon Nanotube and Graphene
Researcher (PI) Adrian Bachtold
Host Institution (HI) FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2011-StG_20101014
Summary Carbon nanotubes and graphene form a class of nanoscale objects with exceptional electrical, mechanical and structural properties. I propose to exploit these unique properties to fabricate and study various nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) based on graphene and nanotubes. Specifically, I will address two directions with major scientific interests:
1- I propose to study electromechanical resonators based on an individual nanotube or on a single layer of graphene. My group has a leading position in this recent research field and the idea is to take advantage of our expertise for two sets of experiments, one on inertial mass sensing and one on the exploration of quantum motion. These two topics are generating at present an intense activity in the NEMS community. Experiments are usually carried out using microfabricated silicon resonators but the ultra low mass of nanotubes and graphene has here an enormous asset. It drastically improves the sensitivity of mass sensing and it dramatically enhances the amplitude of the motion in the quantum regime.
2- My team will fabricate and exploit nanomotors based on nanotube and graphene. Only few man-made nanomotors have been demonstrated so far. Reasons are multiple. For instance, the fabrication of nanomotors is technically challenging. In addition, friction forces are often so strong that they hinder motion. Because of their unique properties, nanotubes and graphene represent a material of choice for the development of new nanomotors. We will construct nanomotors with different layouts and address how electrical, thermal or chemical energy can be transformed into mechanical energy in order to drive motion at the nanoscale.
Summary
Carbon nanotubes and graphene form a class of nanoscale objects with exceptional electrical, mechanical and structural properties. I propose to exploit these unique properties to fabricate and study various nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) based on graphene and nanotubes. Specifically, I will address two directions with major scientific interests:
1- I propose to study electromechanical resonators based on an individual nanotube or on a single layer of graphene. My group has a leading position in this recent research field and the idea is to take advantage of our expertise for two sets of experiments, one on inertial mass sensing and one on the exploration of quantum motion. These two topics are generating at present an intense activity in the NEMS community. Experiments are usually carried out using microfabricated silicon resonators but the ultra low mass of nanotubes and graphene has here an enormous asset. It drastically improves the sensitivity of mass sensing and it dramatically enhances the amplitude of the motion in the quantum regime.
2- My team will fabricate and exploit nanomotors based on nanotube and graphene. Only few man-made nanomotors have been demonstrated so far. Reasons are multiple. For instance, the fabrication of nanomotors is technically challenging. In addition, friction forces are often so strong that they hinder motion. Because of their unique properties, nanotubes and graphene represent a material of choice for the development of new nanomotors. We will construct nanomotors with different layouts and address how electrical, thermal or chemical energy can be transformed into mechanical energy in order to drive motion at the nanoscale.
Max ERC Funding
1 996 789 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-01-01, End date: 2016-12-31
