Project acronym NINA
Project Nitride-based nanostructured novel thermoelectric thin-film materials
Researcher (PI) Per Daniel Eklund
Host Institution (HI) LINKOPINGS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2013-StG
Summary My recent discovery of the anomalously high thermoelectric power factor of ScN thin films demonstrates that unexpected thermoelectric materials can be found among the early transition-metal and rare-earth nitrides. Corroborated by first-principles calculations, we have well-founded hypotheses that these properties stem from nitrogen vacancies, dopants, and alloying, which introduce controllable sharp features with a large slope at the Fermi level, causing a drastically increased Seebeck coefficient. In-depth fundamental studies are needed to enable property tuning and materials design in these systems, to timely exploit my discovery and break new ground.
The project concerns fundamental, primarily experimental, studies on scandium nitride-based and related single-phase and nanostructured films. The overall goal is to understand the complex correlations between electronic, thermal and thermoelectric properties and structural features such as layering, orientation, epitaxy, dopants and lattice defects. Ab initio calculations of band structures, mixing thermodynamics, and properties are integrated with the experimental activities. Novel mechanisms are proposed for drastic reduction of the thermal conductivity with retained high power factor. This will be realized by intentionally introduced secondary phases and artificial nanolaminates; the layering causing discontinuities in the phonon distribution and thus reducing thermal conductivity.
My expertise in thin-film processing and advanced materials characterization places me in a unique position to pursue this novel high-gain approach to thermoelectrics, and an ERC starting grant will be essential in achieving critical mass and consolidating an internationally leading research platform. The scientific impact and vision is in pioneering an understanding of a novel class of thermoelectric materials with potential for thermoelectric devices for widespread use in environmentally friendly energy applications.
Summary
My recent discovery of the anomalously high thermoelectric power factor of ScN thin films demonstrates that unexpected thermoelectric materials can be found among the early transition-metal and rare-earth nitrides. Corroborated by first-principles calculations, we have well-founded hypotheses that these properties stem from nitrogen vacancies, dopants, and alloying, which introduce controllable sharp features with a large slope at the Fermi level, causing a drastically increased Seebeck coefficient. In-depth fundamental studies are needed to enable property tuning and materials design in these systems, to timely exploit my discovery and break new ground.
The project concerns fundamental, primarily experimental, studies on scandium nitride-based and related single-phase and nanostructured films. The overall goal is to understand the complex correlations between electronic, thermal and thermoelectric properties and structural features such as layering, orientation, epitaxy, dopants and lattice defects. Ab initio calculations of band structures, mixing thermodynamics, and properties are integrated with the experimental activities. Novel mechanisms are proposed for drastic reduction of the thermal conductivity with retained high power factor. This will be realized by intentionally introduced secondary phases and artificial nanolaminates; the layering causing discontinuities in the phonon distribution and thus reducing thermal conductivity.
My expertise in thin-film processing and advanced materials characterization places me in a unique position to pursue this novel high-gain approach to thermoelectrics, and an ERC starting grant will be essential in achieving critical mass and consolidating an internationally leading research platform. The scientific impact and vision is in pioneering an understanding of a novel class of thermoelectric materials with potential for thermoelectric devices for widespread use in environmentally friendly energy applications.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 976 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-10-01, End date: 2018-09-30
Project acronym NOCO2
Project Novel combustion principle with inherent capture of CO2
using combined manganese oxides that release oxygen
Researcher (PI) Jan Anders Lyngfelt
Host Institution (HI) CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLA AB
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE8, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209
Summary Conventional CO2 capture processes have significant cost and energy penalties associated with gas separation. Chemical-looping combustion (CLC), an entirely new combustion principle avoids this difficulty by inherent CO2 capture, using metal oxides for oxygen transfer from air to fuel. The process has been demonstrated in small scale with gaseous fuels. However, with solid fuels it would be difficult to reach high fuel conversion, with the oxygen-carrier materials used so far. But a new type of combined oxides based on manganese has the ability not only to react with gaseous fuel, but also to release gaseous oxygen, which would fundamentally change the concept.
The programme would provide 1) new oxygen-carrier materials with unique properties that would make this low-cost/high-efficiency option of CO2 capture possible, 2) cold-flow model investigation of suitable reactor system configurations and components, 3) a demonstration of this new combustion technology at the pilot plant level, 4) a model of the process comprising a full understanding, including kinetics, equilibria, hydrodynamics of fluidized reactors, mass and heat balances.
The basis of this programme is the discovery of a number of oxygen-releasing combined manganese oxides, having properties that can make a CLC with solid fuels a break-through process for CO2 capture. The purpose of the programme is to perform a comprehensive study of these materials, to demonstrate that they work in real systems, to achieve a full understanding of how they work in interaction with solid fuels in fluidized beds and to assess how this process would work in the full scale.
Climate negotiations and agreements could be significantly facilitated by this low cost option for CO2 capture which, in principle, should be applicable to 25% of the global CO2 emissions, i.e. coal fired power plants. It would also provide a future means of removing CO2 from the atmosphere at low cost by burning biofuel and capture CO2.
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Summary
Conventional CO2 capture processes have significant cost and energy penalties associated with gas separation. Chemical-looping combustion (CLC), an entirely new combustion principle avoids this difficulty by inherent CO2 capture, using metal oxides for oxygen transfer from air to fuel. The process has been demonstrated in small scale with gaseous fuels. However, with solid fuels it would be difficult to reach high fuel conversion, with the oxygen-carrier materials used so far. But a new type of combined oxides based on manganese has the ability not only to react with gaseous fuel, but also to release gaseous oxygen, which would fundamentally change the concept.
The programme would provide 1) new oxygen-carrier materials with unique properties that would make this low-cost/high-efficiency option of CO2 capture possible, 2) cold-flow model investigation of suitable reactor system configurations and components, 3) a demonstration of this new combustion technology at the pilot plant level, 4) a model of the process comprising a full understanding, including kinetics, equilibria, hydrodynamics of fluidized reactors, mass and heat balances.
The basis of this programme is the discovery of a number of oxygen-releasing combined manganese oxides, having properties that can make a CLC with solid fuels a break-through process for CO2 capture. The purpose of the programme is to perform a comprehensive study of these materials, to demonstrate that they work in real systems, to achieve a full understanding of how they work in interaction with solid fuels in fluidized beds and to assess how this process would work in the full scale.
Climate negotiations and agreements could be significantly facilitated by this low cost option for CO2 capture which, in principle, should be applicable to 25% of the global CO2 emissions, i.e. coal fired power plants. It would also provide a future means of removing CO2 from the atmosphere at low cost by burning biofuel and capture CO2.
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Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-03-01, End date: 2017-02-28
Project acronym ODDSUPER
Project New mechanisms and materials for odd-frequency superconductivity
Researcher (PI) Annica BLACK-SCHAFFER
Host Institution (HI) UPPSALA UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2017-STG
Summary Odd-frequency superconductivity is a very unique superconducting state that is odd in time or, equivalently, frequency, which is opposite to the ordinary behavior of superconductivity. It has been realized to be the absolute key to understand the surprising physics of superconductor-ferromagnet (SF) structures and has also enabled the whole emerging field of superconducting spintronics. This project will discover and explore entirely new mechanisms and materials for odd-frequency superconductivity, to both generate a much deeper understanding of superconductivity and open for entirely new functionalities. Importantly, it will generalize and apply my initial discoveries of two new odd-frequency mechanisms, present in bulk multiband superconductors and in hybrid structures between topological insulators and conventional superconductors, respectively. In both cases odd-frequency superconductivity is generated without any need for ferromagnets or interfaces, completely different from the situation in SF structures. The result will be a significant expansion of the concept and importance of odd-frequency superconductivity to a very wide class of materials, ranging from multiband, bilayer, and nanoscale superconductors to topological superconductors. The project will also establish the connection between topology and odd-frequency pairing, which needs to be addressed in order to understand topological superconductors, as well as incorporate new materials and functionality into traditional SF structures. To achieve these goals the project will develop a novel methodological framework for large-scale and fully quantum mechanical studies with atomic level resolution, solving self-consistently for the superconducting state and incorporating quantum transport calculations.
Summary
Odd-frequency superconductivity is a very unique superconducting state that is odd in time or, equivalently, frequency, which is opposite to the ordinary behavior of superconductivity. It has been realized to be the absolute key to understand the surprising physics of superconductor-ferromagnet (SF) structures and has also enabled the whole emerging field of superconducting spintronics. This project will discover and explore entirely new mechanisms and materials for odd-frequency superconductivity, to both generate a much deeper understanding of superconductivity and open for entirely new functionalities. Importantly, it will generalize and apply my initial discoveries of two new odd-frequency mechanisms, present in bulk multiband superconductors and in hybrid structures between topological insulators and conventional superconductors, respectively. In both cases odd-frequency superconductivity is generated without any need for ferromagnets or interfaces, completely different from the situation in SF structures. The result will be a significant expansion of the concept and importance of odd-frequency superconductivity to a very wide class of materials, ranging from multiband, bilayer, and nanoscale superconductors to topological superconductors. The project will also establish the connection between topology and odd-frequency pairing, which needs to be addressed in order to understand topological superconductors, as well as incorporate new materials and functionality into traditional SF structures. To achieve these goals the project will develop a novel methodological framework for large-scale and fully quantum mechanical studies with atomic level resolution, solving self-consistently for the superconducting state and incorporating quantum transport calculations.
Max ERC Funding
1 121 660 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-02-01, End date: 2023-01-31
Project acronym OPUS
Project Optical Ultra-Sensor
Researcher (PI) Markus Pollnau
Host Institution (HI) KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary This project aims at pushing the limits of optical sensing on a microchip by orders of magnitude, thereby allowing for ultra-high sensitivity in optical detection and enabling first-time-ever demonstrations of several optical sensing principles on a microchip. My idea is based upon our distributed-feedback lasers in rare-earth-ion-doped aluminum oxide waveguides on a silicon chip with ultra-narrow linewidths of 1 kHz, corresponding to Q-factors exceeding 10^11, intra-cavity laser intensities of several watts over a waveguide cross-section of 2 micrometer, and light interaction lengths reaching 20 km. Optical read-out of the laser frequency and linewidth is achieved by frequency down-conversion via detection of the GHz beat signal of two such lasers positioned in the same waveguide or in parallel waveguides on the same microchip.
The sensitivity of optical detection is related to the laser linewidth, interaction length, and transverse mode overlap with the measurand; its potential of optically exciting ions or molecules and its optical trapping force are related to the laser intensity. By applying novel concepts, we will decrease the laser linewidth to 1 Hz (Q-factor > 10^14), thereby also significantly increasing the intra-cavity intensity and light interaction length, simplify the read-out by reducing the line-width separation between two lasers to the MHz regime, and increase the mode interaction with the environment by either increasing its evanescent field or perpendicularly intersecting a nanofluidic channel with the optical waveguide, thereby allowing for unprecedented sensitivity of optical detection on a microchip. We will exploit this dual-wavelength distributed-feedback laser sensor for the first-ever demonstrations of intra-laser-cavity (ILC) optical trapping and detection of nano-sized biological objects in an optofluidic chip, ILC trace-gas detection on a microchip, ILC Raman spectrometry on a microchip, and ILC spectroscopy of single rare-earth ions.
Summary
This project aims at pushing the limits of optical sensing on a microchip by orders of magnitude, thereby allowing for ultra-high sensitivity in optical detection and enabling first-time-ever demonstrations of several optical sensing principles on a microchip. My idea is based upon our distributed-feedback lasers in rare-earth-ion-doped aluminum oxide waveguides on a silicon chip with ultra-narrow linewidths of 1 kHz, corresponding to Q-factors exceeding 10^11, intra-cavity laser intensities of several watts over a waveguide cross-section of 2 micrometer, and light interaction lengths reaching 20 km. Optical read-out of the laser frequency and linewidth is achieved by frequency down-conversion via detection of the GHz beat signal of two such lasers positioned in the same waveguide or in parallel waveguides on the same microchip.
The sensitivity of optical detection is related to the laser linewidth, interaction length, and transverse mode overlap with the measurand; its potential of optically exciting ions or molecules and its optical trapping force are related to the laser intensity. By applying novel concepts, we will decrease the laser linewidth to 1 Hz (Q-factor > 10^14), thereby also significantly increasing the intra-cavity intensity and light interaction length, simplify the read-out by reducing the line-width separation between two lasers to the MHz regime, and increase the mode interaction with the environment by either increasing its evanescent field or perpendicularly intersecting a nanofluidic channel with the optical waveguide, thereby allowing for unprecedented sensitivity of optical detection on a microchip. We will exploit this dual-wavelength distributed-feedback laser sensor for the first-ever demonstrations of intra-laser-cavity (ILC) optical trapping and detection of nano-sized biological objects in an optofluidic chip, ILC trace-gas detection on a microchip, ILC Raman spectrometry on a microchip, and ILC spectroscopy of single rare-earth ions.
Max ERC Funding
2 499 958 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-11-01, End date: 2019-10-31
Project acronym OSIRIS
Project Open silicon based research platform for emerging devices
Researcher (PI) Lars Mikael Östling
Host Institution (HI) KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary The OSIRIS proposal will address the crucial and ultimately strategic area for the future emerging nanoelectronics, i.e. how structures and devices actually will be fabricated as physical dimensions approaches a few nanometer minimum feature size. The project title is Open silicon based research platform for emerging devices and indicates that many of the future emerging devices will be based on a silicon fabrication base platform but may not be fully based on silicon as the active semiconductor material. Over the past 10 years this research team has established a versatile fabrication technology platform in excellent condition to open up a variety of new technologies to explore nanometer minimum feature size in realizable electrical repeatable devices structures.
The proposed project has five different focus areas outlined. It covers a broad range of critical research issues that can be foreseen as groundbreaking topics for the period beyond 2015. the different topics addressed are;
1) Three dimensional FET nanostructures based on SiNW and GeNW with advanced configuration.
2) New applications of SiNW with build-in strain for fast silicon-base optoelectronic devices.
3) Low frequency noise in advanced nanoelectronic structures
4) THz devices for IR-detection
5) Bio-sensor nanoelectronics for extreme bio-molecule sensitivity and real time detection of DNA.
These areas are carefully chosen to assemble the right mix with predictable research success and with a few areas that can be called high gain/high risk. In particular we want to mention that focus area 2 and 4 have a great potential impact when successful but also at a certain higher risk for a more difficult implementation in future devices. There is in no cases any risk that the research will not generate high quality scientific results.
Summary
The OSIRIS proposal will address the crucial and ultimately strategic area for the future emerging nanoelectronics, i.e. how structures and devices actually will be fabricated as physical dimensions approaches a few nanometer minimum feature size. The project title is Open silicon based research platform for emerging devices and indicates that many of the future emerging devices will be based on a silicon fabrication base platform but may not be fully based on silicon as the active semiconductor material. Over the past 10 years this research team has established a versatile fabrication technology platform in excellent condition to open up a variety of new technologies to explore nanometer minimum feature size in realizable electrical repeatable devices structures.
The proposed project has five different focus areas outlined. It covers a broad range of critical research issues that can be foreseen as groundbreaking topics for the period beyond 2015. the different topics addressed are;
1) Three dimensional FET nanostructures based on SiNW and GeNW with advanced configuration.
2) New applications of SiNW with build-in strain for fast silicon-base optoelectronic devices.
3) Low frequency noise in advanced nanoelectronic structures
4) THz devices for IR-detection
5) Bio-sensor nanoelectronics for extreme bio-molecule sensitivity and real time detection of DNA.
These areas are carefully chosen to assemble the right mix with predictable research success and with a few areas that can be called high gain/high risk. In particular we want to mention that focus area 2 and 4 have a great potential impact when successful but also at a certain higher risk for a more difficult implementation in future devices. There is in no cases any risk that the research will not generate high quality scientific results.
Max ERC Funding
1 999 500 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-06-01, End date: 2014-05-31
Project acronym OTEGS
Project Organic Thermoelectric Generators
Researcher (PI) Xavier Dominique Etienne Crispin
Host Institution (HI) LINKOPINGS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2012-StG_20111012
Summary At the moment, there is no viable technology to produce electricity from natural heat sources (T<200°C) and from 50% of the waste heat (electricity production, industries, buildings and transports) stored in large volume of warm fluids (T<200°C). To extract heat from large volumes of fluids, the thermoelectric generators would need to cover large areas in new designed heat exchangers. To develop into a viable technology platform, thermoelectric devices must be fabricated on large areas via low-cost processes. But no thermoelectric material exists for this purpose.
Recently, the applicant has discovered that the low-cost conducting polymer poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) possesses a figure-of-merit ZT=0.25 at room temperature. Conducting polymers can be processed from solution, they are flexible and possess an intrinsic low thermal conductivity. This combination of unique properties motivate further investigations to reveal the true potential of organic materials for thermoelectric applications: this is the essence of this project.
My goal is to organize an interdisciplinary team of researchers focused on the characterization, understanding, design and fabrication of p- and n-doped organic-based thermoelectric materials; and the demonstration of those materials in organic thermoelectric generators (OTEGs). Firstly, we will create the first generation of efficient organic thermoelectric materials with ZT> 0.8 at room temperature: (i) by optimizing not only the power factor but also the thermal conductivity; (ii) by demonstrating that a large power factor is obtained in inorganic-organic nanocomposites. Secondly, we will optimize thermoelectrochemical cells by considering various types of electrolytes.
The research activities proposed are at the cutting edge in material sciences and involve chemical synthesis, interface studies, thermal physics, electrical, electrochemical and structural characterization, device physics. The project is held at Linköping University holding a world leading research in polymer electronics.
Summary
At the moment, there is no viable technology to produce electricity from natural heat sources (T<200°C) and from 50% of the waste heat (electricity production, industries, buildings and transports) stored in large volume of warm fluids (T<200°C). To extract heat from large volumes of fluids, the thermoelectric generators would need to cover large areas in new designed heat exchangers. To develop into a viable technology platform, thermoelectric devices must be fabricated on large areas via low-cost processes. But no thermoelectric material exists for this purpose.
Recently, the applicant has discovered that the low-cost conducting polymer poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) possesses a figure-of-merit ZT=0.25 at room temperature. Conducting polymers can be processed from solution, they are flexible and possess an intrinsic low thermal conductivity. This combination of unique properties motivate further investigations to reveal the true potential of organic materials for thermoelectric applications: this is the essence of this project.
My goal is to organize an interdisciplinary team of researchers focused on the characterization, understanding, design and fabrication of p- and n-doped organic-based thermoelectric materials; and the demonstration of those materials in organic thermoelectric generators (OTEGs). Firstly, we will create the first generation of efficient organic thermoelectric materials with ZT> 0.8 at room temperature: (i) by optimizing not only the power factor but also the thermal conductivity; (ii) by demonstrating that a large power factor is obtained in inorganic-organic nanocomposites. Secondly, we will optimize thermoelectrochemical cells by considering various types of electrolytes.
The research activities proposed are at the cutting edge in material sciences and involve chemical synthesis, interface studies, thermal physics, electrical, electrochemical and structural characterization, device physics. The project is held at Linköping University holding a world leading research in polymer electronics.
Max ERC Funding
1 453 690 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-04-01, End date: 2018-03-31
Project acronym OutflowMagn
Project Magnetic fields and the outflows during the formation and evolution of stars
Researcher (PI) Wouter Henricus Theodorus Vlemmings
Host Institution (HI) CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLA AB
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE9, ERC-2013-CoG
Summary The outflows of young and old stars play a crucial role in the cycle of matter in galaxies. Stars and planetary systems are formed through complex physical processes during the collapse of gas clouds with outflows a required ingredient. At the end of a stars life, stellar outflows are the main source of heavy elements that are essential for the formation of stars, planets and life. Magnetic fields are one of the key factors governing the in particular the often observed collimated outflow. They might also be a key ingredient in driving stellar mass loss and are potentially essential for stabilizing accretion disks of, in particular, massive proto-stars. Only polarization observations at different spatial scales are able to measure the strength and structure of magnetic fields during the launching of outflows from young and old stars. Because stars in these evolutionary phases are highly obscured by dusty envelopes, their magnetic fields are best probed through observations of molecules and dust at submillimeter and radio wavelengths. In addition to its role, the origin of the magnetic field in these stellar phases is also still unknown and to determine it multi-wavelength observations are essential. The proposed research group will use state of the art submillimeter and radio instruments, integrated with self-consistent radiative transfer and magneto-hydrodynamic models, to examine the role and origin of magnetic fields during star formation and in the outflows from evolved stars. The group will search for planets around evolved stars to answer the elusive question on the origin of their magnetic field and determine the connection between the galactic magnetic field and that responsible for the formation of jets and potentially disks around young proto-stars. This fundamental new work, for which a dedicated research group is essential, will reveal the importance of magnetism during star formation as well as in driving and shaping the mass loss of evolved stars.
Summary
The outflows of young and old stars play a crucial role in the cycle of matter in galaxies. Stars and planetary systems are formed through complex physical processes during the collapse of gas clouds with outflows a required ingredient. At the end of a stars life, stellar outflows are the main source of heavy elements that are essential for the formation of stars, planets and life. Magnetic fields are one of the key factors governing the in particular the often observed collimated outflow. They might also be a key ingredient in driving stellar mass loss and are potentially essential for stabilizing accretion disks of, in particular, massive proto-stars. Only polarization observations at different spatial scales are able to measure the strength and structure of magnetic fields during the launching of outflows from young and old stars. Because stars in these evolutionary phases are highly obscured by dusty envelopes, their magnetic fields are best probed through observations of molecules and dust at submillimeter and radio wavelengths. In addition to its role, the origin of the magnetic field in these stellar phases is also still unknown and to determine it multi-wavelength observations are essential. The proposed research group will use state of the art submillimeter and radio instruments, integrated with self-consistent radiative transfer and magneto-hydrodynamic models, to examine the role and origin of magnetic fields during star formation and in the outflows from evolved stars. The group will search for planets around evolved stars to answer the elusive question on the origin of their magnetic field and determine the connection between the galactic magnetic field and that responsible for the formation of jets and potentially disks around young proto-stars. This fundamental new work, for which a dedicated research group is essential, will reveal the importance of magnetism during star formation as well as in driving and shaping the mass loss of evolved stars.
Max ERC Funding
2 000 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-05-01, End date: 2019-04-30
Project acronym OXLEET
Project Oxidation via low-energy electron transfer. Development of green oxidation methodology via a biomimetic approach
Researcher (PI) Jan Erling Bäckvall
Host Institution (HI) STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE5, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary Oxidation reactions are of fundamental importance in Nature and are key transformation in organic synthesis. There is currently a need from society to replace waste-producing expensive oxidants by environmentally benign oxidants in industrial oxidation reactions. The aim with the proposed research is to develop novel green oxidation methodology that also involves hydrogen transfer reactions. In the oxidation reactions the goal is to use molecular oxygen (air) or hydrogen peroxide as the oxidants. In the present project new catalytic oxidations via low-energy electron transfer will be developed. The catalytic reactions obtained can be used for racemization of alcohols and amines and for oxygen- and hydrogen peroxide-driven oxidations of various substrates. Examples of some reactions that will be studied are oxidative palladium-catalyzed C-C bond formation and metal-catalyzed C-H oxidation including dehydrogenation reactions with iron and ruthenium. Coupled catalytic systems where electron transfer mediators (ETMs) facilitate electron transfer from the reduced catalyst to molecular oxygen (hydrogen peroxide) will be studied. Highly efficient reoxidation systems will be designed by covalently linking two electron transfer mediators (ETMs). The intramolecular electron transfer in these hybrid ETM catalysts will significantly increase the rate of oxidation reactions. The research will lead to development of more efficient reoxidation systems based on molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, as well as more versatile racemization catalysts for alcohols and amines.
Summary
Oxidation reactions are of fundamental importance in Nature and are key transformation in organic synthesis. There is currently a need from society to replace waste-producing expensive oxidants by environmentally benign oxidants in industrial oxidation reactions. The aim with the proposed research is to develop novel green oxidation methodology that also involves hydrogen transfer reactions. In the oxidation reactions the goal is to use molecular oxygen (air) or hydrogen peroxide as the oxidants. In the present project new catalytic oxidations via low-energy electron transfer will be developed. The catalytic reactions obtained can be used for racemization of alcohols and amines and for oxygen- and hydrogen peroxide-driven oxidations of various substrates. Examples of some reactions that will be studied are oxidative palladium-catalyzed C-C bond formation and metal-catalyzed C-H oxidation including dehydrogenation reactions with iron and ruthenium. Coupled catalytic systems where electron transfer mediators (ETMs) facilitate electron transfer from the reduced catalyst to molecular oxygen (hydrogen peroxide) will be studied. Highly efficient reoxidation systems will be designed by covalently linking two electron transfer mediators (ETMs). The intramolecular electron transfer in these hybrid ETM catalysts will significantly increase the rate of oxidation reactions. The research will lead to development of more efficient reoxidation systems based on molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, as well as more versatile racemization catalysts for alcohols and amines.
Max ERC Funding
1 722 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31
Project acronym P75NTR
Project Understanding death-receptor signaling and physiology in the nervous system: A roadmap for the development of new treatments to neurodegenerative diseases and neurotrauma
Researcher (PI) Carlos Fernando Ibañez Moliner
Host Institution (HI) KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS5, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary The aim of this proposal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and physiological relevance of death-receptor signaling in the nervous system and to harness this knowledge for the development of novel treatments to neurodegenerative diseases and neurotrauma. The main focus is on the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), which is predominantly expressed in the developing nervous system and is highly induced upon different types of adult neural injury. Additional studies on other death receptors, such as DR6, are also described. p75NTR signaling can induce neuronal death, reduce axonal growth and decrease synaptic function, hence there is a good rationale for inhibiting p75NTR in neural injury and neurodegeneration. Recent discoveries from my laboratory have clarified the mechanism of p75NTR activation and provided new insights into the underlying logic of p75NTR signaling, paving the way for a genetic dissection of p75NTR function and physiology. These discoveries have open new avenues to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying ligand-specific responses and downstream signal propagation by death-receptors, unravel the physiological relevance of death-receptor signaling pathways in health and disease, and develop new strategies to block death-receptor activity in neural injury and neurodegeneration.
To drive progress in this research area it is proposed to: i) Elucidate the mechanisms by which p75NTR and other death receptors become activated by different ligands and elicit distinct, ligand-specific cellular responses; ii) Elucidate the mechanisms underlying the specificity and diversity of p75NTR signaling and decipher their underlying logic; iii) Elucidate the physiological significance of distinct p75NTR signaling pathways through genetic dissection in knock-in mice; iv) Harness this knowledge to identify and characterize novel p75NTR inhibitors.
This is research of a high-gain/high-risk nature, posed to open unique opportunities in research & development.
Summary
The aim of this proposal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and physiological relevance of death-receptor signaling in the nervous system and to harness this knowledge for the development of novel treatments to neurodegenerative diseases and neurotrauma. The main focus is on the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), which is predominantly expressed in the developing nervous system and is highly induced upon different types of adult neural injury. Additional studies on other death receptors, such as DR6, are also described. p75NTR signaling can induce neuronal death, reduce axonal growth and decrease synaptic function, hence there is a good rationale for inhibiting p75NTR in neural injury and neurodegeneration. Recent discoveries from my laboratory have clarified the mechanism of p75NTR activation and provided new insights into the underlying logic of p75NTR signaling, paving the way for a genetic dissection of p75NTR function and physiology. These discoveries have open new avenues to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying ligand-specific responses and downstream signal propagation by death-receptors, unravel the physiological relevance of death-receptor signaling pathways in health and disease, and develop new strategies to block death-receptor activity in neural injury and neurodegeneration.
To drive progress in this research area it is proposed to: i) Elucidate the mechanisms by which p75NTR and other death receptors become activated by different ligands and elicit distinct, ligand-specific cellular responses; ii) Elucidate the mechanisms underlying the specificity and diversity of p75NTR signaling and decipher their underlying logic; iii) Elucidate the physiological significance of distinct p75NTR signaling pathways through genetic dissection in knock-in mice; iv) Harness this knowledge to identify and characterize novel p75NTR inhibitors.
This is research of a high-gain/high-risk nature, posed to open unique opportunities in research & development.
Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-06-01, End date: 2019-05-31
Project acronym PainCells
Project Decomposition of pain into celltypes
Researcher (PI) Johan Patrik Ernfors
Host Institution (HI) KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS5, ERC-2016-ADG
Summary Almost 20% of the population has an ongoing pain problem. Pain is caused by a complex recruitment of different types of sensory neurons with different response-profiles and hence, the integrated response of an assembly of different neuronal types results in pain. Due to technical limitations, a system-wide approach to resolve the complexity of cell types and their involvement in the development of pain has yet not been tried.
PainCells will first identify and classify sensory neuron types by single-cell RNA seq in rodent and non-human primate. Based on the new classification we will determine the cellular basis for transduction of somatic sensation by developing enabling technologies allowing an activity-based Cre-dependent permanent labeling and identification by RNA-seq the exact cell types and hence, also neuronal assemblies active during particular types of pain. These assemblies will thereafter be silenced, ablated or artificially activated to functionally determine the role of these circuits in pain disorders. This work will for the first time reveal the full complexity of different cell types engaged in particular types of pain and unravel by activity-based mouse genetics the role of that these play in pain disorders. Thus, PainCells will reveal system-wide principles of coding pain in the nervous system.
PainCells will also address the role of terminal glial cells in the skin. This ignored cell type has in preliminary results been shown to respond to and transmit painful stimuli to primary sensory neurons. We will ascertain the role of terminal glial cells in the skin as pain initiating cells and in pain disorders. The discovery that glial cells in addition to sensory neurons represent pain receptive cells should fundamentally change the pain field.
Overall, this proposal takes a new system-wide strategy in that will affect development of new pain managing drugs, a field that has made little clinical advance the past century.
Summary
Almost 20% of the population has an ongoing pain problem. Pain is caused by a complex recruitment of different types of sensory neurons with different response-profiles and hence, the integrated response of an assembly of different neuronal types results in pain. Due to technical limitations, a system-wide approach to resolve the complexity of cell types and their involvement in the development of pain has yet not been tried.
PainCells will first identify and classify sensory neuron types by single-cell RNA seq in rodent and non-human primate. Based on the new classification we will determine the cellular basis for transduction of somatic sensation by developing enabling technologies allowing an activity-based Cre-dependent permanent labeling and identification by RNA-seq the exact cell types and hence, also neuronal assemblies active during particular types of pain. These assemblies will thereafter be silenced, ablated or artificially activated to functionally determine the role of these circuits in pain disorders. This work will for the first time reveal the full complexity of different cell types engaged in particular types of pain and unravel by activity-based mouse genetics the role of that these play in pain disorders. Thus, PainCells will reveal system-wide principles of coding pain in the nervous system.
PainCells will also address the role of terminal glial cells in the skin. This ignored cell type has in preliminary results been shown to respond to and transmit painful stimuli to primary sensory neurons. We will ascertain the role of terminal glial cells in the skin as pain initiating cells and in pain disorders. The discovery that glial cells in addition to sensory neurons represent pain receptive cells should fundamentally change the pain field.
Overall, this proposal takes a new system-wide strategy in that will affect development of new pain managing drugs, a field that has made little clinical advance the past century.
Max ERC Funding
2 443 953 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-08-01, End date: 2022-07-31
