ERC FUNDED PROJECTS

Mechanical resonators based on carbon nanotubes are truly exceptional sensors of mass and force. In the last years, my group revealed these outstanding figures of merit of nanotube resonators. Here, the project NaTuRe will take advantage of these sensing capabilities to study physical phenomena in fascinating regimes that have not been explored thus far. Specifically, I will address three directions with major scientific interests: 1- I propose to perform electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements on single molecules using nanotube resonators. The goal is to see whether nature can provide molecular electronic spins endowed with long dephasing time. For this, we will measure molecular spins in a regime where the magnetic noise of the environment is reduced to an unprecedented level. In case of success, this work could open avenues in quantum science by allowing experiments not possible with the electronic spins of nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond. 2- My team will carry out nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on single nuclear spins. We will also perform magnetic-resonance force microscopy in order to image these individual nuclear spins. Achieving the objectives proposed here will be an unprecedented success in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 3- NaTuRe proposes a completely new experimental approach to investigate superfluidity. We will use a nanotube mechanical resonator to probe the superfluidity properties of helium-4 layers adsorbed onto the suspended nanotube. Our experimental approach will allow us to study various quantum phenomena in superfluidity of considerable interest and from a radically new perspective. NaTuRe is a highly-interdisciplinary project with possible implications in quantum science, opto-mechanics, nano-science, structural biology, and low-temperature physics.

2 503 459 €

Start date: 2017-01-01, End date: 2021-12-31

Photovoltaic conversion has the extraordinary property of transforming the solar energy directly into electric power. However, the available electrical power is known to be severely limited by the so-called Shockley-Queisser (SQ) photoconversion limit. The maximum efficiency for a single absorber is limited as photons with energy lower than the bandgap (BG) cannot be absorbed, and just an energy equivalent to the BG can be used for photons with higher energy than the BG, due to thermalization. Tandem cells have overcome this SQ limit upon exploiting complex and expensive configurations. Alternative approaches, even with higher potentiality, as Intermediate Bandgap Solar Cells (IBSCs) have not reached the expected performance mainly due to the limitations introduced by the monocrystalline matrix. The incorporation of quantum dots (QD) to create the IB produces layer strain and defects that limit the cell performance. No-LIMIT proposes to revamp IBSCs concept, using polycrystalline halide perovskites (HP) host matrix in order to take benefit from the strain relaxation at polycrystalline materials and from HP benign defect physics. HPs show an outstanding performance even when they are grown in a porous structure, indicating that their excellent transport and recombination properties are preserved with embedded materials. No-LIMIT will exploit this potentiality by using the states of embedded QD as IB in IBSC with HP matrix. The project will focus on the preparation of HPs-QD systems with enhanced light collection efficiency preserving charge transport, recombination and stability. No-LIMIT will study the properties and interactions of the HP and QD materials developed, as well as injection, recombination and transport properties in the coupled system. The combination of these strategies will build a ground-breaking synergistic system able to break the SQ limit. The achievements of IBSC, together with the intermediate steps, will have a colossal impact on photovoltaics

1 999 072 €

Start date: 2017-09-01, End date: 2022-08-31

The proposed research seeks to redefine the synthetic potential of a fundamental organic transformation: the functionalisation of carbonyl compounds. Today, synthetic chemists can address even the most daunting of challenges connected with the asymmetric catalytic functionalisation of carbonyl compounds at their alpha and beta positions. In contrast, there are no known general strategies for the corresponding direct, catalytic and enantioselective transformation to a carbonyl group at the gamma position. By developing innovative methodologies to effectively address this issue, I will provide a novel reactivity framework for exploring unprecedented transformations. This would strengthen the chemistry toolbox to better face the challenges of modern organic chemistry. I will proceed by combining asymmetric aminocatalysis (a versatile chemical strategy whose potential has not yet been fully explored) with photoredox catalysis driven by visible light. This will provide access to open-shell radical species, which participate in bond constructions that are unavailable using amine organocatalysis alone. Since electron-deficient radicals are known to rapidly react with pi-rich olefins to forge even the most elusive C-C bonds, mild and catalytic approaches to accessing these reaction manifolds offer desirable opportunities for designing new gamma-functionalisations of carbonyl compounds. Developing an innovative system based on a chiral organic catalyst that efficiently harnesses the energy of solar radiation is in line with the European approach to attaining Sustainable Chemistry, one of the central scientific goals of the 21st Century. This proposal challenges the current paradigms for stereoselective functionalisation by providing a template for directly functionalising unmodified carbonyl compounds at their gamma positions, expanding the way chemists think about making chiral molecules

1 500 000 €

Start date: 2011-11-01, End date: 2016-10-31

This proposal aims at the development of novel nanostructured materials based on crystalline assemblies of anisotropic plasmonic (gold/silver) nanoparticles, to be used for the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules, and to the demonstration of applications of such materials to monitor population kinetics in bacterial colonies and the determination of the interaction mechanisms between mixed colonies and their manipulation through external parameters. This will involve a first stage related to the careful design of the most appropriate nanoparticle morphology and composition, as well as an understanding of their specific assembly processes (both on substrates and in solution), so that the collective plasmonic response will be optimized towards the enhancement of the Raman signal of the probe molecular codes. Coating of the nanoparticle supercrystals with a mesoporous layer will be required to protect them against contact with bacteria and cells, while permitting contact with the QS signaling molecules. Ultimately, when the sensing system has been optimized and its performance demonstrated for monitoring of QS signals and colony growth, two final and important goals will be pursued. First, the interaction between mixed colonies (bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-eukaryotic cell) will be monitored in order to get information about synergic or antagonist (toxicity) QS mechanisms during the growth and proliferation of different bacteria and interspecies. This goal will permit the design of in vitro experiments where a bacterial strain may be manipulated by means of external introduction of the appropriate QS signaling molecules. Finally, the major challenge will be the practical demonstration of the ability of these new materials in this particular configuration for understanding and manipulating the growth and communication of different types of prokaryotic and peukaryotic cells.

2 247 630 €

Start date: 2011-03-01, End date: 2017-02-28