Project acronym Actanthrope
Project Computational Foundations of Anthropomorphic Action
Researcher (PI) Jean Paul Laumond
Host Institution (HI) CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary Actanthrope intends to promote a neuro-robotics perspective to explore original models of anthropomorphic action. The project targets contributions to humanoid robot autonomy (for rescue and service robotics), to advanced human body simulation (for applications in ergonomics), and to a new theory of embodied intelligence (by promoting a motion-based semiotics of the human action).
Actions take place in the physical space while they originate in the –robot or human– sensory-motor space. Geometry is the core abstraction that makes the link between these spaces. Considering that the structure of actions inherits from that of the body, the underlying intuition is that actions can be segmented within discrete sub-spaces lying in the entire continuous posture space. Such sub-spaces are viewed as symbols bridging deliberative reasoning and reactive control. Actanthrope argues that geometric approaches to motion segmentation and generation as promising and innovative routes to explore embodied intelligence:
- Motion segmentation: what are the sub-manifolds that define the structure of a given action?
- Motion generation: among all the solution paths within a given sub-manifold, what is the underlying law that makes the selection?
In Robotics these questions are related to the competition between abstract symbol manipulation and physical signal processing. In Computational Neuroscience the questions refer to the quest of motion invariants. The ambition of the project is to promote a dual perspective: exploring the computational foundations of human action to make better robots, while simultaneously doing better robotics to better understand human action.
A unique “Anthropomorphic Action Factory” supports the methodology. It aims at attracting to a single lab, researchers with complementary know-how and solid mathematical background. All of them will benefit from unique equipments, while being stimulated by four challenges dealing with locomotion and manipulation actions.
Summary
Actanthrope intends to promote a neuro-robotics perspective to explore original models of anthropomorphic action. The project targets contributions to humanoid robot autonomy (for rescue and service robotics), to advanced human body simulation (for applications in ergonomics), and to a new theory of embodied intelligence (by promoting a motion-based semiotics of the human action).
Actions take place in the physical space while they originate in the –robot or human– sensory-motor space. Geometry is the core abstraction that makes the link between these spaces. Considering that the structure of actions inherits from that of the body, the underlying intuition is that actions can be segmented within discrete sub-spaces lying in the entire continuous posture space. Such sub-spaces are viewed as symbols bridging deliberative reasoning and reactive control. Actanthrope argues that geometric approaches to motion segmentation and generation as promising and innovative routes to explore embodied intelligence:
- Motion segmentation: what are the sub-manifolds that define the structure of a given action?
- Motion generation: among all the solution paths within a given sub-manifold, what is the underlying law that makes the selection?
In Robotics these questions are related to the competition between abstract symbol manipulation and physical signal processing. In Computational Neuroscience the questions refer to the quest of motion invariants. The ambition of the project is to promote a dual perspective: exploring the computational foundations of human action to make better robots, while simultaneously doing better robotics to better understand human action.
A unique “Anthropomorphic Action Factory” supports the methodology. It aims at attracting to a single lab, researchers with complementary know-how and solid mathematical background. All of them will benefit from unique equipments, while being stimulated by four challenges dealing with locomotion and manipulation actions.
Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-01-01, End date: 2018-12-31
Project acronym COXINEL
Project COherent Xray source INferred from Electrons accelerated by Laser
Researcher (PI) Marie-Emmanuelle Couprie
Host Institution (HI) SYNCHROTRON SOLEIL SOCIETE CIVILE
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary "Since the first laser discovery in 1960 and the first Free Electron Laser (FEL) in 1977, Linac based fourth generation light sources provide intense coherent fs pulses in the X-ray range for multidisciplinary investigations of matter. In parallel, Laser Wakefield Accelerator (LWFA) by using intense laser beams interacting with cm long plasmas can now provide high quality electron beams of very short bunches (few fs) with high peak currents (few kA). The so-called 5th generation light source aims at reducing the size and the cost of these FELs by replacing the linac by LWFA. Indeed, spontaneous emission from LWFA has already been observed, but the presently still rather large energy spread (1 %) and divergence (mrad) prevent from the FEL amplification. In 2012, two novel schemes in the transport proposed in the community, including my SOLEIL group, predict a laser gain increase by 3 or 4 orders of magnitudes. COXINEL aims at demonstrating the first lasing of an LWFA FEL and its detailed study in close interaction with future potential users. The key concept relies on an innovative electron beam longitudinal and transverse manipulation in the transport towards an undulator: a ""demixing"" chicane sorts the electrons in energy and reduces the spread from 1 % to a slice one of 0.1%, and the transverse density is maintained constant all along the undulator (supermatching). Simulations based on the performance of the 60 TW laser of the Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée and existing undulators from SOLEIL suggest that the conditions for lasing are fulfilled. The SOLEIL environment also possesses the engineering fabrication capability for the actual realization of these theoretical ideas, with original undulators and innovative variable permanent compact magnets for the transport. COXINEL will enable to master in Europe advanced schemes scalable to shorter wavelengths and pulses, paving the way towards FEL light sources on laboratory size, for fs time resolved experiments."
Summary
"Since the first laser discovery in 1960 and the first Free Electron Laser (FEL) in 1977, Linac based fourth generation light sources provide intense coherent fs pulses in the X-ray range for multidisciplinary investigations of matter. In parallel, Laser Wakefield Accelerator (LWFA) by using intense laser beams interacting with cm long plasmas can now provide high quality electron beams of very short bunches (few fs) with high peak currents (few kA). The so-called 5th generation light source aims at reducing the size and the cost of these FELs by replacing the linac by LWFA. Indeed, spontaneous emission from LWFA has already been observed, but the presently still rather large energy spread (1 %) and divergence (mrad) prevent from the FEL amplification. In 2012, two novel schemes in the transport proposed in the community, including my SOLEIL group, predict a laser gain increase by 3 or 4 orders of magnitudes. COXINEL aims at demonstrating the first lasing of an LWFA FEL and its detailed study in close interaction with future potential users. The key concept relies on an innovative electron beam longitudinal and transverse manipulation in the transport towards an undulator: a ""demixing"" chicane sorts the electrons in energy and reduces the spread from 1 % to a slice one of 0.1%, and the transverse density is maintained constant all along the undulator (supermatching). Simulations based on the performance of the 60 TW laser of the Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée and existing undulators from SOLEIL suggest that the conditions for lasing are fulfilled. The SOLEIL environment also possesses the engineering fabrication capability for the actual realization of these theoretical ideas, with original undulators and innovative variable permanent compact magnets for the transport. COXINEL will enable to master in Europe advanced schemes scalable to shorter wavelengths and pulses, paving the way towards FEL light sources on laboratory size, for fs time resolved experiments."
Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-01-01, End date: 2018-12-31
Project acronym DANCER
Project DAtacommunications based on NanophotoniC Resonators
Researcher (PI) John William Whelan-Curtin
Host Institution (HI) CORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2013-StG
Summary A key challenge for the 21st century is, therefore to provide billions of people with the means to access, move and manipulate, what has become, huge volumes of information. The environmental and economic implications becoming serious, making energy efficient data communications key to the operation of today’s society.
In this project, the Principal Investigator will develop a new framework for optical interconnects and provide a common platform that spans Fibre-to-the-home to chip-to-chip links, even as far as global on-chip interconnects. The project is based on the efficient coupling of the Photonic Crystal resonators with the outside world. These provide the ultimate confinement of light in both space and time allowing orders of magnitude improvements in performance relative to the state of the art, yet in a simpler simple system- the innovator’s dream. New versions of the key components of optical links- light sources, modulators and photo-detectors- will be realised in this new framework providing a new paradigm for energy efficient communication.
Summary
A key challenge for the 21st century is, therefore to provide billions of people with the means to access, move and manipulate, what has become, huge volumes of information. The environmental and economic implications becoming serious, making energy efficient data communications key to the operation of today’s society.
In this project, the Principal Investigator will develop a new framework for optical interconnects and provide a common platform that spans Fibre-to-the-home to chip-to-chip links, even as far as global on-chip interconnects. The project is based on the efficient coupling of the Photonic Crystal resonators with the outside world. These provide the ultimate confinement of light in both space and time allowing orders of magnitude improvements in performance relative to the state of the art, yet in a simpler simple system- the innovator’s dream. New versions of the key components of optical links- light sources, modulators and photo-detectors- will be realised in this new framework providing a new paradigm for energy efficient communication.
Max ERC Funding
1 495 450 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-12-01, End date: 2019-05-31
Project acronym ENLIGHTENED
Project Nanophotonic Nanomechanical Mass Spectrometry for Biology and Health
Researcher (PI) Sébastien Claude Hentz
Host Institution (HI) COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE7, ERC-2013-CoG
Summary « Mass Spectrometry has become a routine analytical tool in modern biological research, and has gained in recent years a foothold in the realm of clinical diagnostic and screening. However, it is still costly, complex and because its principle relies on ionization, it is incapable of analyzing biomolecules with masses greater than a few MDa. Averaging more than 100 million particles per measurement, it is also incapable of characterizing the diversity of such heavy entities. ENLIGHTENED aims at demonstrating a breakthrough concept based on Photonic Nano-Mechanical Mass Spectrometry, able to perform analysis of bioparticles of high biomedical significance, of ultra-high mass, never so far characterized, with single-molecule sensitivity and unprecedented resolution. The long-term vision beyond the current proposal is to provide the biologists with a tool which will be transformative for fundamental knowledge, and to make possible cheap, handheld devices for personalized medicine.
ENLIGHTENED proposes to use photons to shed light on unexplored species at the individual level, which is of high biomedical significance and will expand our understanding of simple life forms.”
Summary
« Mass Spectrometry has become a routine analytical tool in modern biological research, and has gained in recent years a foothold in the realm of clinical diagnostic and screening. However, it is still costly, complex and because its principle relies on ionization, it is incapable of analyzing biomolecules with masses greater than a few MDa. Averaging more than 100 million particles per measurement, it is also incapable of characterizing the diversity of such heavy entities. ENLIGHTENED aims at demonstrating a breakthrough concept based on Photonic Nano-Mechanical Mass Spectrometry, able to perform analysis of bioparticles of high biomedical significance, of ultra-high mass, never so far characterized, with single-molecule sensitivity and unprecedented resolution. The long-term vision beyond the current proposal is to provide the biologists with a tool which will be transformative for fundamental knowledge, and to make possible cheap, handheld devices for personalized medicine.
ENLIGHTENED proposes to use photons to shed light on unexplored species at the individual level, which is of high biomedical significance and will expand our understanding of simple life forms.”
Max ERC Funding
1 999 090 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-06-01, End date: 2020-05-31
Project acronym MINERVA
Project Communication Theoretical Foundations of Nervous System Towards BIO-inspired Nanonetworks and ICT-inspired Neuro-treatment
Researcher (PI) Ozgur B. Akan
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE7, ERC-2013-CoG
Summary “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”, stated by Nobel laureate Richard Feynman, describes the possibility of manipulating individual atoms and molecules to realise nanomachines. Emerging nanoscale applications mandate enabling nanomachines to communicate and form nanonetworks to overcome the limitations of a single one. Thus, our aim is to find the answer to the profound question, i.e., “is the room down there sufficient for a communication network?” Thanks to natural evolution, the affirmative answer is right inside us. Human body is a large- scale communication network of molecular nanonetworks composed of billions of nanomachines, i.e., cells, which use molecules to encode, transmit and receive information. Any communication failure that is beyond the recovery capabilities of this network leads to diseases. In this project, first, (1) we will investigate the communication theoretical foundations of nanoscale neuro-spike communication channels between neurons. Second, (2) we will study multi-terminal, i.e., multiple-access, relay, broadcast, neuro-spike channels and nervous nanonetwork in terms of communication theoretical metrics. Third, (3) we will validate our channel and nanonetwork models with physiological data, and develop a nervous nanonetwork simulator (N4Sim). Finally, (4) we will develop the first nanoscale bio-inspired communication system for ICT-inspired neuro-treatment for spinal cord injury, i.e., nanoscale artificial synapse, which will mimic neuron behaviour by realising both electrical and nanoscale molecular communications.The MINERVA project will pave the way for the realisation of emerging nanonetwork applications with significant societal impact, e.g., intra-body networks for health monitoring, drug delivery, chemical and biological attack prevention systems. The project will help develop the future ICT-inspired treatment techniques for communication related neural disorders.
Summary
“There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”, stated by Nobel laureate Richard Feynman, describes the possibility of manipulating individual atoms and molecules to realise nanomachines. Emerging nanoscale applications mandate enabling nanomachines to communicate and form nanonetworks to overcome the limitations of a single one. Thus, our aim is to find the answer to the profound question, i.e., “is the room down there sufficient for a communication network?” Thanks to natural evolution, the affirmative answer is right inside us. Human body is a large- scale communication network of molecular nanonetworks composed of billions of nanomachines, i.e., cells, which use molecules to encode, transmit and receive information. Any communication failure that is beyond the recovery capabilities of this network leads to diseases. In this project, first, (1) we will investigate the communication theoretical foundations of nanoscale neuro-spike communication channels between neurons. Second, (2) we will study multi-terminal, i.e., multiple-access, relay, broadcast, neuro-spike channels and nervous nanonetwork in terms of communication theoretical metrics. Third, (3) we will validate our channel and nanonetwork models with physiological data, and develop a nervous nanonetwork simulator (N4Sim). Finally, (4) we will develop the first nanoscale bio-inspired communication system for ICT-inspired neuro-treatment for spinal cord injury, i.e., nanoscale artificial synapse, which will mimic neuron behaviour by realising both electrical and nanoscale molecular communications.The MINERVA project will pave the way for the realisation of emerging nanonetwork applications with significant societal impact, e.g., intra-body networks for health monitoring, drug delivery, chemical and biological attack prevention systems. The project will help develop the future ICT-inspired treatment techniques for communication related neural disorders.
Max ERC Funding
1 757 039 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-03-01, End date: 2019-02-28
Project acronym TOTALPHOTON
Project A Total Photon Camera for Molecular Imaging of Live Cells
Researcher (PI) Robert Kerr Henderson
Host Institution (HI) THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary "How can we construct a high-resolution camera capable of imaging the time-of-arrival, polarisation and wavelength of each of the maximal 10Gphoton/s emitted from a labelled, biological cell?
Such a measurement would capture the complete information available in the optical signal, and significantly enhance our ability to observe the organisation, movement and interactions of cellular components at molecular scales. Advances in single molecule light microscopy are steadily improving our understanding of the processes underlying normal cellular function, and their alteration in disease states. However, these technologies are unable to reach their full potential due to their reliance on pre-existing, suboptimal detectors. A dedicated camera technology is now required to permit simultaneous, multidimensional measurements of large cohorts of molecules at high temporal and spatial (sub-diffraction limit) scales through total imaging of the photon flux.
Today’s digital cameras capture photons in packets of 10-100 thousand and provide them for external display or recording at fraction of second intervals. In order to process photons individually rather than as packets we must develop a camera operating 10-100 thousand times faster. Each pixel must be capable of capturing single photon parameters without compromising the high resolution and sensitivity achieved by current technology. The ""total photon"" camera will be realised in nanoscale CMOS technology, based on recent breakthroughs in ultra-miniature single-photon detectors. We will combine these with novel approaches to pixel circuits, image processing and high-speed readout electronics to provide a fundamental research tool for the emerging area of computational microscopy. We will provide access to the full record of photon emission from live cells, and hence the clearest possible visualization of dynamic cellular processes in a single device capable of wide-field molecular spectroscopy and superresolution imaging."
Summary
"How can we construct a high-resolution camera capable of imaging the time-of-arrival, polarisation and wavelength of each of the maximal 10Gphoton/s emitted from a labelled, biological cell?
Such a measurement would capture the complete information available in the optical signal, and significantly enhance our ability to observe the organisation, movement and interactions of cellular components at molecular scales. Advances in single molecule light microscopy are steadily improving our understanding of the processes underlying normal cellular function, and their alteration in disease states. However, these technologies are unable to reach their full potential due to their reliance on pre-existing, suboptimal detectors. A dedicated camera technology is now required to permit simultaneous, multidimensional measurements of large cohorts of molecules at high temporal and spatial (sub-diffraction limit) scales through total imaging of the photon flux.
Today’s digital cameras capture photons in packets of 10-100 thousand and provide them for external display or recording at fraction of second intervals. In order to process photons individually rather than as packets we must develop a camera operating 10-100 thousand times faster. Each pixel must be capable of capturing single photon parameters without compromising the high resolution and sensitivity achieved by current technology. The ""total photon"" camera will be realised in nanoscale CMOS technology, based on recent breakthroughs in ultra-miniature single-photon detectors. We will combine these with novel approaches to pixel circuits, image processing and high-speed readout electronics to provide a fundamental research tool for the emerging area of computational microscopy. We will provide access to the full record of photon emission from live cells, and hence the clearest possible visualization of dynamic cellular processes in a single device capable of wide-field molecular spectroscopy and superresolution imaging."
Max ERC Funding
2 280 232 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-02-01, End date: 2019-01-31
Project acronym UNIQDS
Project Universal Framework for Charge Transport
in Quantum Dot Systems
Researcher (PI) Jong Min Kim
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary The field of quantum dots (QDs) is one of the major growth areas in interdisciplinary field of physics, materials, chemistry, and engineering for the exploration of fundamental physical properties and potential/new functionalities. This will serve as a basis for creation of unique applications such as new display/lighting, photovoltaic device, TFTs and image sensors. However, there are serious impediments to the device performance such as high efficiency and longer life time due to the lack of understanding in charge transport and light-matter interaction mechanism in QD networks. Therefore, the proposed work is a comprehensive and fundamental understanding of underlying physics for charge transport in i) a single QD and surface, ii) QD/QD, iii) QD/interface/matrix, iv) QD/layer and /electrode, and v) bulk QD network systems and the creation of any real devices with new functionality. Enormous opportunities will arise from many unanswered questions of general nature/fundamental physical aspects of QDs related to charge transport that have still to be addressed. Thus, we will highlight and focus on strongly linked key themes and challenges that are at the heart of our proposed work. The main emphasis of proposed work will be on the understanding and control of charge transport dynamics in various QD systems, even though we explore the development of meaningful technologies and new devices based on QDs in the proposal. Our most intriguing issue is to expand the basic understanding of QDs for their potential applications. We will study interface dipole design/control, computational engineering for charge transport, analysis of the above five subsets, and will realise them into a full system with QD networks. Another challenge lies in integrating new QD materials with flexible/large-area substrates by monolayer-level control. We also propose the development of new synthetic routes for QDs with stable surface for supporting the above charge transport. This work will be underpinning research aimed at the development of the charge transport based QD devices with high efficiency and longer lifetime. These provide enormous opportunities to enable us not only to broaden and deepen our knowledge/experience in this area, but also to make rational predictions and open new device/system concepts unique to QD networks.
Summary
The field of quantum dots (QDs) is one of the major growth areas in interdisciplinary field of physics, materials, chemistry, and engineering for the exploration of fundamental physical properties and potential/new functionalities. This will serve as a basis for creation of unique applications such as new display/lighting, photovoltaic device, TFTs and image sensors. However, there are serious impediments to the device performance such as high efficiency and longer life time due to the lack of understanding in charge transport and light-matter interaction mechanism in QD networks. Therefore, the proposed work is a comprehensive and fundamental understanding of underlying physics for charge transport in i) a single QD and surface, ii) QD/QD, iii) QD/interface/matrix, iv) QD/layer and /electrode, and v) bulk QD network systems and the creation of any real devices with new functionality. Enormous opportunities will arise from many unanswered questions of general nature/fundamental physical aspects of QDs related to charge transport that have still to be addressed. Thus, we will highlight and focus on strongly linked key themes and challenges that are at the heart of our proposed work. The main emphasis of proposed work will be on the understanding and control of charge transport dynamics in various QD systems, even though we explore the development of meaningful technologies and new devices based on QDs in the proposal. Our most intriguing issue is to expand the basic understanding of QDs for their potential applications. We will study interface dipole design/control, computational engineering for charge transport, analysis of the above five subsets, and will realise them into a full system with QD networks. Another challenge lies in integrating new QD materials with flexible/large-area substrates by monolayer-level control. We also propose the development of new synthetic routes for QDs with stable surface for supporting the above charge transport. This work will be underpinning research aimed at the development of the charge transport based QD devices with high efficiency and longer lifetime. These provide enormous opportunities to enable us not only to broaden and deepen our knowledge/experience in this area, but also to make rational predictions and open new device/system concepts unique to QD networks.
Max ERC Funding
2 454 650 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-11-01, End date: 2018-10-31
Project acronym UPTEG
Project Unconventional Principles
of ThermoElectric Generation
Researcher (PI) Jean-François Sebastien Denis Robillard
Host Institution (HI) YNCREA HAUTS DE FRANCE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2013-StG
Summary The performance of thermoelectric generation has long since been limited by the fact that it depends on hardly tunable intrinsic materials properties. At the heart of this problem lies a trade-off between sufficient Seebeck coefficient, good electrical properties and suitably low thermal conductivity. The two last being closely related by the ambivalent role of electrons in the conduction of both electrical and thermal currents. Current research focuses on materials composition and structural properties in order to improve this trade-off also known as the figure of merit (zT). Recently, evidences aroused that nanoscale structuration (nanowires, quantum dots, thin-films) can improve zT by means of electron and/or phonon confinement. The aim of this project is to tackle the intrinsic reasons for this low efficiency and bring TE conversion to efficiencies above 10% by exploring two unconventional and complementary approaches:
Phononic Engineering Conversion consists of modulating thermal properties by means of a periodic, precisely designed, arrangement of inclusions on a length scale that compares to phonon means free path. This process is unlocked by state of the art lithography techniques. In its principles, phononic engineering offers an opportunity to tailor the phonon density of states as well as to artificially introduce thermal anisotropy in a semiconductor membrane. Suitable converter architecture is proposed that takes advantage of conductivity reduction and anisotropy to guide and converter heat flow. This approach is fully compatible with standard silicon technologies and is potentially applicable to conformable converters.
The Micro Thermionic Conversion relies on low work function materials and micron scale vacuum gaps to collect a thermally activated current across a virtually zero heat conduction device. This approach, though more risky, envisions devices with equivalent zT around 10 which is far above what can be expected from solid state conversion.
Summary
The performance of thermoelectric generation has long since been limited by the fact that it depends on hardly tunable intrinsic materials properties. At the heart of this problem lies a trade-off between sufficient Seebeck coefficient, good electrical properties and suitably low thermal conductivity. The two last being closely related by the ambivalent role of electrons in the conduction of both electrical and thermal currents. Current research focuses on materials composition and structural properties in order to improve this trade-off also known as the figure of merit (zT). Recently, evidences aroused that nanoscale structuration (nanowires, quantum dots, thin-films) can improve zT by means of electron and/or phonon confinement. The aim of this project is to tackle the intrinsic reasons for this low efficiency and bring TE conversion to efficiencies above 10% by exploring two unconventional and complementary approaches:
Phononic Engineering Conversion consists of modulating thermal properties by means of a periodic, precisely designed, arrangement of inclusions on a length scale that compares to phonon means free path. This process is unlocked by state of the art lithography techniques. In its principles, phononic engineering offers an opportunity to tailor the phonon density of states as well as to artificially introduce thermal anisotropy in a semiconductor membrane. Suitable converter architecture is proposed that takes advantage of conductivity reduction and anisotropy to guide and converter heat flow. This approach is fully compatible with standard silicon technologies and is potentially applicable to conformable converters.
The Micro Thermionic Conversion relies on low work function materials and micron scale vacuum gaps to collect a thermally activated current across a virtually zero heat conduction device. This approach, though more risky, envisions devices with equivalent zT around 10 which is far above what can be expected from solid state conversion.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 507 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-10-01, End date: 2019-07-31
