Project acronym ALPAM
Project Atomic-Level Physics of Advanced Materials
Researcher (PI) Börje Johansson
Host Institution (HI) KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE5, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Most of the technological materials have been developed by very expensive and cumbersome trial and error methods. On the other hand, computer based theoretical design of advanced materials is an area where rapid and extensive developments are taking place. Within my group new theoretical tools have now been established which are extremely well suited to the study of complex materials. In this approach basic quantum mechanical theories are used to describe fundamental properties of alloys and compounds. The utilization of such calculations to investigate possible optimizations of certain key properties represents a major departure from the traditional design philosophy. The purpose of my project is to build up a new competence in the field of computer-aided simulations of advanced materials. The main goal will be to achieve a deep understanding of the behaviour of complex metallic systems under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions at the atomic level by studying their electronic, magnetic and atomic structure using the most modern and advanced computational methods. This will enable us to establish a set of materials parameters and composition-structure-property relations that are needed for materials optimization.
The research will be focused on fundamental technological properties related to defects in advanced metallic alloys (high-performance steels, superalloys, and refractory, energy related and geochemical materials) and alloy phases (solid solutions, intermetallic compounds), which will be studied by means of parameter free atomistic simulations combined with continuum modelling. As a first example, we will study the Fe-Cr system, which is of great interest to industry as well as in connection to nuclear waste. The Fe-Cr-Ni system will form another large group of materials under the aegis of this project. Special emphasis will also be placed on those Fe-alloys which exist under extreme conditions and are possible candidates for the Earth core.
Summary
Most of the technological materials have been developed by very expensive and cumbersome trial and error methods. On the other hand, computer based theoretical design of advanced materials is an area where rapid and extensive developments are taking place. Within my group new theoretical tools have now been established which are extremely well suited to the study of complex materials. In this approach basic quantum mechanical theories are used to describe fundamental properties of alloys and compounds. The utilization of such calculations to investigate possible optimizations of certain key properties represents a major departure from the traditional design philosophy. The purpose of my project is to build up a new competence in the field of computer-aided simulations of advanced materials. The main goal will be to achieve a deep understanding of the behaviour of complex metallic systems under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions at the atomic level by studying their electronic, magnetic and atomic structure using the most modern and advanced computational methods. This will enable us to establish a set of materials parameters and composition-structure-property relations that are needed for materials optimization.
The research will be focused on fundamental technological properties related to defects in advanced metallic alloys (high-performance steels, superalloys, and refractory, energy related and geochemical materials) and alloy phases (solid solutions, intermetallic compounds), which will be studied by means of parameter free atomistic simulations combined with continuum modelling. As a first example, we will study the Fe-Cr system, which is of great interest to industry as well as in connection to nuclear waste. The Fe-Cr-Ni system will form another large group of materials under the aegis of this project. Special emphasis will also be placed on those Fe-alloys which exist under extreme conditions and are possible candidates for the Earth core.
Max ERC Funding
2 000 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-03-01, End date: 2014-02-28
Project acronym BRAINGAIN
Project NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR BRAIN REGENERATION
Researcher (PI) Andras Simon
Host Institution (HI) KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS3, ERC-2011-StG_20101109
Summary In contrast to mammals, newts possess exceptional capacities among vertebrates to rebuild complex structures, such as the brain. Our goal is to bridge the gap in the regenerative outcomes between newts and mammals. My group has made significant contributions towards this goal. We created a novel experimental system, which recapitulates central features of Parkinson’s disease in newts, and provides a unique model for understanding regeneration in the adult midbrain. We showed an unexpected but key feature of the newt brain that it is akin to the mammalian brain in terms of the extent of homeostatic cell turn over, but distinct in terms of its injury response, showing the regenerative capacity of the adult vertebrate brain by activating neurogenesis in normally quiescent regions. Further we established a critical role for the neurotransmitter dopamine in controlling quiescence in the midbrain, thereby preventing neurogenesis during homeostasis and terminating neurogenesis once the correct number of neurons has been produced during regeneration. Here we aim to identify key molecular pathways that regulate adult neurogenesis, to define lineage relationships between neuronal stem and progenitor cells, and to identify essential differences between newts and mammals. We will combine pharmacological modulation of neurotransmitter signaling with extensive cellular fate mapping approaches, and molecular manipulations. Ultimately we will test hypotheses derived from newt studies with mammalian systems including newt/mouse cross species complementation approaches. We expect that our findings will provide new regenerative strategies, and reveal fundamental aspects of cell fate determination, tissue growth, and tissue maintenance in normal and pathological conditions.
Summary
In contrast to mammals, newts possess exceptional capacities among vertebrates to rebuild complex structures, such as the brain. Our goal is to bridge the gap in the regenerative outcomes between newts and mammals. My group has made significant contributions towards this goal. We created a novel experimental system, which recapitulates central features of Parkinson’s disease in newts, and provides a unique model for understanding regeneration in the adult midbrain. We showed an unexpected but key feature of the newt brain that it is akin to the mammalian brain in terms of the extent of homeostatic cell turn over, but distinct in terms of its injury response, showing the regenerative capacity of the adult vertebrate brain by activating neurogenesis in normally quiescent regions. Further we established a critical role for the neurotransmitter dopamine in controlling quiescence in the midbrain, thereby preventing neurogenesis during homeostasis and terminating neurogenesis once the correct number of neurons has been produced during regeneration. Here we aim to identify key molecular pathways that regulate adult neurogenesis, to define lineage relationships between neuronal stem and progenitor cells, and to identify essential differences between newts and mammals. We will combine pharmacological modulation of neurotransmitter signaling with extensive cellular fate mapping approaches, and molecular manipulations. Ultimately we will test hypotheses derived from newt studies with mammalian systems including newt/mouse cross species complementation approaches. We expect that our findings will provide new regenerative strategies, and reveal fundamental aspects of cell fate determination, tissue growth, and tissue maintenance in normal and pathological conditions.
Max ERC Funding
1 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-02-01, End date: 2017-01-31
Project acronym DYNACOM
Project From Genome Integrity to Genome Plasticity:
Dynamic Complexes Controlling Once per Cell Cycle Replication
Researcher (PI) Zoi Lygerou
Host Institution (HI) PANEPISTIMIO PATRON
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS3, ERC-2011-StG_20101109
Summary Accurate genome duplication is controlled by multi-subunit protein complexes which associate with chromatin and dictate when and where replication should take place. Dynamic changes in these complexes lie at the heart of their ability to ensure the maintenance of genomic integrity. Defects in origin bound complexes lead to re-replication of the genome across evolution, have been linked to DNA-replication stress and may predispose for gene amplification events. Such genomic aberrations are central to malignant transformation.
We wish to understand how once per cell cycle replication is normally controlled within the context of the living cell and how defects in this control may result in loss of genome integrity and provide genome plasticity. To this end, live cell imaging in human cells in culture will be combined with genetic studies in fission yeast and modelling and in silico analysis.
The proposed research aims to:
1. Decipher the regulatory mechanisms which act in time and space to ensure once per cell cycle replication within living cells and how they may be affected by system aberrations, using functional live cell imaging.
2. Test whether aberrations in the licensing system may provide a selective advantage, through amplification of multiple genomic loci. To this end, a natural selection experiment will be set up in fission yeast .
3. Investigate how rereplication takes place along the genome in single cells. Is there heterogeneity amongst a population, leading to a plethora of different genotypes? In silico analysis of full genome DNA rereplication will be combined to single cell analysis in fission yeast.
4. Assess the relevance of our findings for gene amplification events in cancer. Does ectopic expression of human Cdt1/Cdc6 in cancer cells enhance drug resistance through gene amplification?
Our findings are expected to offer novel insight into mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression.
Summary
Accurate genome duplication is controlled by multi-subunit protein complexes which associate with chromatin and dictate when and where replication should take place. Dynamic changes in these complexes lie at the heart of their ability to ensure the maintenance of genomic integrity. Defects in origin bound complexes lead to re-replication of the genome across evolution, have been linked to DNA-replication stress and may predispose for gene amplification events. Such genomic aberrations are central to malignant transformation.
We wish to understand how once per cell cycle replication is normally controlled within the context of the living cell and how defects in this control may result in loss of genome integrity and provide genome plasticity. To this end, live cell imaging in human cells in culture will be combined with genetic studies in fission yeast and modelling and in silico analysis.
The proposed research aims to:
1. Decipher the regulatory mechanisms which act in time and space to ensure once per cell cycle replication within living cells and how they may be affected by system aberrations, using functional live cell imaging.
2. Test whether aberrations in the licensing system may provide a selective advantage, through amplification of multiple genomic loci. To this end, a natural selection experiment will be set up in fission yeast .
3. Investigate how rereplication takes place along the genome in single cells. Is there heterogeneity amongst a population, leading to a plethora of different genotypes? In silico analysis of full genome DNA rereplication will be combined to single cell analysis in fission yeast.
4. Assess the relevance of our findings for gene amplification events in cancer. Does ectopic expression of human Cdt1/Cdc6 in cancer cells enhance drug resistance through gene amplification?
Our findings are expected to offer novel insight into mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression.
Max ERC Funding
1 531 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-02-01, End date: 2017-01-31
Project acronym FUN POLYSTORE
Project FUNctionalized POLYmer electrolytes for energy STORagE
Researcher (PI) Daniel BRANDELL
Host Institution (HI) UPPSALA UNIVERSITET
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE5, ERC-2017-COG
Summary Besides the need for large-scale implementation of renewable energy sources, there is an equivalent need for new energy storage solutions. This is not least true for the transport sector, where electric vehicles are expanding rapidly. The rich flora of battery chemistries – today crowned by the Li-ion battery – is likewise expected to expand in upcoming years. Novel types of batteries, “post-lithium ion”, will challenge the Li-ion chemistries by advantages in cost, sustainability, elemental abundance or energy density. This requires significant improvements of the materials, not least regarding the electrolyte. The conventional liquid battery electrolytes pose a problem already for the mature Li-ion chemistries due to safety and cost, but are particularly destructive for future battery types such as Li-metal, organic electrodes, Li-S, Li-O2, Na- or Mg-batteries, where rapid degradation and loss of material are associated with incompatibilities with the electrolytes. In this context, solid state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) could provide a considerable improvement.
The field of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) is dominated by polyethers, particularly poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). This application regards moving out of the established PEO-paradigm and exploring alternative polymer hosts for SPEs, primarily polycarbonates and polyesters. These ‘alternative’ polymers are comparatively easy to work with synthetically, and their possible functionalization is straightforward. The work aims at exploring functionalized alternative polymer host for mechanically robust block-copolymer systems, for alternative cation chemistries (Na, Mg, etc.), for extremely high and low electrochemical potentials, and for unstable and easily dissolved electrode materials (sulfur, organic). Moreover, since the ion transport processes in the host materials are fundamentally different from polyethers, there is a need for investigating the conduction mechanisms using simulations.
Summary
Besides the need for large-scale implementation of renewable energy sources, there is an equivalent need for new energy storage solutions. This is not least true for the transport sector, where electric vehicles are expanding rapidly. The rich flora of battery chemistries – today crowned by the Li-ion battery – is likewise expected to expand in upcoming years. Novel types of batteries, “post-lithium ion”, will challenge the Li-ion chemistries by advantages in cost, sustainability, elemental abundance or energy density. This requires significant improvements of the materials, not least regarding the electrolyte. The conventional liquid battery electrolytes pose a problem already for the mature Li-ion chemistries due to safety and cost, but are particularly destructive for future battery types such as Li-metal, organic electrodes, Li-S, Li-O2, Na- or Mg-batteries, where rapid degradation and loss of material are associated with incompatibilities with the electrolytes. In this context, solid state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) could provide a considerable improvement.
The field of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) is dominated by polyethers, particularly poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). This application regards moving out of the established PEO-paradigm and exploring alternative polymer hosts for SPEs, primarily polycarbonates and polyesters. These ‘alternative’ polymers are comparatively easy to work with synthetically, and their possible functionalization is straightforward. The work aims at exploring functionalized alternative polymer host for mechanically robust block-copolymer systems, for alternative cation chemistries (Na, Mg, etc.), for extremely high and low electrochemical potentials, and for unstable and easily dissolved electrode materials (sulfur, organic). Moreover, since the ion transport processes in the host materials are fundamentally different from polyethers, there is a need for investigating the conduction mechanisms using simulations.
Max ERC Funding
1 950 732 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-09-01, End date: 2023-08-31
Project acronym FUNMAT
Project Self-Organized Nanostructuring in Functional Thin Film Materials
Researcher (PI) Lars Hultman
Host Institution (HI) LINKOPINGS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE5, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary I aim to achieve a fundamental understanding of the atomistic kinetic pathways responsible for nanostructure formation and to explore the concept of self-organization by thermodynamic segregation in functional ceramics. Model systems are advanced ceramic thin films, which will be studied under two defining cases: 1) deposition of supersaturated solid solutions or nanocomposites by magnetron sputtering (epitaxy) and arc evaporation. 2) post-deposition annealing (ageing) of as-synthesized material. Thin film ceramics are terra incognita for compositions in the miscibility gap. The field is exciting since both surface and in-depth decomposition can take place in the alloys. The methodology is based on combined growth experiments, characterization, and ab initio calculations to identify and describe systems with a large miscibility gap. A hot topic is to elucidate the bonding nature of the cubic-SiNx interfacial phase, discovered by us in TiN/Si3N4 with impact for superhard nanocomposites. I have also pioneered studies of self-organization by spinodal decomposition in TiAlN alloy films (age hardening). Here, the details of metastable c-AlN nm domain formation are unknown and the systems HfAlN and ZrAlN are predicted to be even more promising. Other model systems are III-nitrides (band gap engineering), semiconductor/insulator oxides (interface conductivity) and carbides (tribology). The proposed research is exploratory and has the potential of explaining outstanding phenomena (Gibbs-Thomson effect, strain, and spinodal decomposition) as well as discovering new phases, for which my group has a track-record, backed-up by state-of-the-art in situ techniques. One can envision a new class of super-hard all-crystalline ceramic nanocomposites with relevance for a large number of research areas where elevated temperature is of concern, significant in impact for areas as diverse as microelectronics and cutting tools as well as mechanical and optical components.
Summary
I aim to achieve a fundamental understanding of the atomistic kinetic pathways responsible for nanostructure formation and to explore the concept of self-organization by thermodynamic segregation in functional ceramics. Model systems are advanced ceramic thin films, which will be studied under two defining cases: 1) deposition of supersaturated solid solutions or nanocomposites by magnetron sputtering (epitaxy) and arc evaporation. 2) post-deposition annealing (ageing) of as-synthesized material. Thin film ceramics are terra incognita for compositions in the miscibility gap. The field is exciting since both surface and in-depth decomposition can take place in the alloys. The methodology is based on combined growth experiments, characterization, and ab initio calculations to identify and describe systems with a large miscibility gap. A hot topic is to elucidate the bonding nature of the cubic-SiNx interfacial phase, discovered by us in TiN/Si3N4 with impact for superhard nanocomposites. I have also pioneered studies of self-organization by spinodal decomposition in TiAlN alloy films (age hardening). Here, the details of metastable c-AlN nm domain formation are unknown and the systems HfAlN and ZrAlN are predicted to be even more promising. Other model systems are III-nitrides (band gap engineering), semiconductor/insulator oxides (interface conductivity) and carbides (tribology). The proposed research is exploratory and has the potential of explaining outstanding phenomena (Gibbs-Thomson effect, strain, and spinodal decomposition) as well as discovering new phases, for which my group has a track-record, backed-up by state-of-the-art in situ techniques. One can envision a new class of super-hard all-crystalline ceramic nanocomposites with relevance for a large number of research areas where elevated temperature is of concern, significant in impact for areas as diverse as microelectronics and cutting tools as well as mechanical and optical components.
Max ERC Funding
2 292 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-12-01, End date: 2013-11-30
Project acronym GLOBALVISION
Project Global Optimization Methods in Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition and Medical Imaging
Researcher (PI) Fredrik Kahl
Host Institution (HI) LUNDS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2007-StG
Summary Computer vision concerns itself with understanding the real world through the analysis of images. Typical problems are object recognition, medical image segmentation, geometric reconstruction problems and navigation of autonomous vehicles. Such problems often lead to complicated optimization problems with a mixture of discrete and continuous variables, or even infinite dimensional variables in terms of curves and surfaces. Today, state-of-the-art in solving these problems generally relies on heuristic methods that generate only local optima of various qualities. During the last few years, work by the applicant, co-workers, and others has opened new possibilities. This research project builds on this. We will in this project focus on developing new global optimization methods for computing high-quality solutions for a broad class of problems. A guiding principle will be to relax the original, complicated problem to an approximate, simpler one to which globally optimal solutions can more easily be computed. Technically, this relaxed problem often is convex. A crucial point in this approach is to estimate the quality of the exact solution of the approximate problem compared to the (unknown) global optimum of the original problem. Preliminary results have been well received by the research community and we now wish to extend this work to more difficult and more general problem settings, resulting in thorough re-examination of algorithms used widely in different and trans-disciplinary fields. This project is to be considered as a basic research project with relevance to industry. The expected outcome is new knowledge spread to a wide community through scientific papers published at international journals and conferences as well as publicly available software.
Summary
Computer vision concerns itself with understanding the real world through the analysis of images. Typical problems are object recognition, medical image segmentation, geometric reconstruction problems and navigation of autonomous vehicles. Such problems often lead to complicated optimization problems with a mixture of discrete and continuous variables, or even infinite dimensional variables in terms of curves and surfaces. Today, state-of-the-art in solving these problems generally relies on heuristic methods that generate only local optima of various qualities. During the last few years, work by the applicant, co-workers, and others has opened new possibilities. This research project builds on this. We will in this project focus on developing new global optimization methods for computing high-quality solutions for a broad class of problems. A guiding principle will be to relax the original, complicated problem to an approximate, simpler one to which globally optimal solutions can more easily be computed. Technically, this relaxed problem often is convex. A crucial point in this approach is to estimate the quality of the exact solution of the approximate problem compared to the (unknown) global optimum of the original problem. Preliminary results have been well received by the research community and we now wish to extend this work to more difficult and more general problem settings, resulting in thorough re-examination of algorithms used widely in different and trans-disciplinary fields. This project is to be considered as a basic research project with relevance to industry. The expected outcome is new knowledge spread to a wide community through scientific papers published at international journals and conferences as well as publicly available software.
Max ERC Funding
1 440 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-07-01, End date: 2013-06-30
Project acronym GRINDOOR
Project Green Nanotechnology for the Indoor Environment
Researcher (PI) Claes-Göran Sture Granqvist
Host Institution (HI) UPPSALA UNIVERSITET
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE5, ERC-2010-AdG_20100224
Summary The GRINDOOR project aims at developing and implementing new materials that enable huge energy savings in buildings and improve the quality of the indoor environment. About 40% of the primary energy, and 70% of the electricity, is used in buildings, and therefore the outcome of this project can have an impact on the long-term energy demand in the EU and the World. It is a highly focused study on new nanomaterials based on some transition metal oxides, which are used for four interrelated applications related to indoor lighting and indoor air: (i) electrochromic coatings are integrated in devices and used in “smart windows” to regulate the inflow of visible light and solar energy in order to minimize air condition and create indoor comfort, (ii) thermochromic nanoparticulate coatings are used on windows to provide large temperature-dependent control of the inflow of infrared solar radiation (in stand-alone cases as well as in conjunction with electrochromics), (iii) oxide-based gas sensors are used to measure indoor air quality especially with regard to formaldehyde, and (iv) photocatalytic coatings are used for indoor air cleaning. The investigated materials have many things in common and a joint and focused study, such as the one proposed here, will generate important new knowledge that can be transferred between the various sub-projects. The new oxide materials are prepared by advanced reactive gas deposition—using unique equipment—and high-pressure reactive dc magnetron sputtering. The materials are characterized and investigated by a wide range of state-of-the-art techniques.
Summary
The GRINDOOR project aims at developing and implementing new materials that enable huge energy savings in buildings and improve the quality of the indoor environment. About 40% of the primary energy, and 70% of the electricity, is used in buildings, and therefore the outcome of this project can have an impact on the long-term energy demand in the EU and the World. It is a highly focused study on new nanomaterials based on some transition metal oxides, which are used for four interrelated applications related to indoor lighting and indoor air: (i) electrochromic coatings are integrated in devices and used in “smart windows” to regulate the inflow of visible light and solar energy in order to minimize air condition and create indoor comfort, (ii) thermochromic nanoparticulate coatings are used on windows to provide large temperature-dependent control of the inflow of infrared solar radiation (in stand-alone cases as well as in conjunction with electrochromics), (iii) oxide-based gas sensors are used to measure indoor air quality especially with regard to formaldehyde, and (iv) photocatalytic coatings are used for indoor air cleaning. The investigated materials have many things in common and a joint and focused study, such as the one proposed here, will generate important new knowledge that can be transferred between the various sub-projects. The new oxide materials are prepared by advanced reactive gas deposition—using unique equipment—and high-pressure reactive dc magnetron sputtering. The materials are characterized and investigated by a wide range of state-of-the-art techniques.
Max ERC Funding
2 328 726 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-06-01, End date: 2016-05-31
Project acronym MOFcat
Project Fundamental and Applied Science on Molecular Redox-Catalysts of Energy Relevance in Metal-Organic Frameworks
Researcher (PI) Sascha Ott
Host Institution (HI) UPPSALA UNIVERSITET
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE5, ERC-2015-CoG
Summary Organometallic redox-catalysts of energy relevance, i.e. water and hydrogen oxidation, and proton and carbon dioxide reduction catalysts, will be incorporated into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Immobilization and spatial organization of the molecular catalysts will stabilize their molecular integrity and ensure longevity and recyclability of the resulting MOFcats. The organized environment provided by the MOF will enable the control of conformational flexibility, diffusion, charge transport, and higher coordination sphere effects that play crucial roles in enzymes, but cannot be addressed in homogenous solution and are thus largely unexplored. The effect that the MOF environment has on catalysis will be directly probed electrochemically in MOFcats that are immobilized or grown on electrode surfaces. In combination with spectroscopic techniques in spectroelectrochemical cells, intermediates in the catalytic cycles will be detected and characterized. Kinetic information of the individual steps in the catalytic cycles will be obtained in MOFs that contain both a molecular photosensitizer (PS) and a molecular catalyst (PS-MOFcats). The envisaged systems will allow light-induced electron transfer processes to generate reduced or oxidized catalyst states the reactivity of which will be studied with high time resolution by transient UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy. The acquired fundamental mechanistic knowledge is far beyond the current state-of-the-art in MOF chemistry and catalysis, and will be used to prepare MOFcat-based electrodes that function at highest possible rates and lowest overpotentials. PS-MOFcats will be grown on flat semiconductor surfaces, and explored as a novel concept to photoanode and -cathode designs for dye-sensitized solar fuel devices (DSSFDs). The design is particularly appealing as it accommodates high PS concentrations for efficient light-harvesting, while providing potent catalysts close to the solvent interface.
Summary
Organometallic redox-catalysts of energy relevance, i.e. water and hydrogen oxidation, and proton and carbon dioxide reduction catalysts, will be incorporated into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Immobilization and spatial organization of the molecular catalysts will stabilize their molecular integrity and ensure longevity and recyclability of the resulting MOFcats. The organized environment provided by the MOF will enable the control of conformational flexibility, diffusion, charge transport, and higher coordination sphere effects that play crucial roles in enzymes, but cannot be addressed in homogenous solution and are thus largely unexplored. The effect that the MOF environment has on catalysis will be directly probed electrochemically in MOFcats that are immobilized or grown on electrode surfaces. In combination with spectroscopic techniques in spectroelectrochemical cells, intermediates in the catalytic cycles will be detected and characterized. Kinetic information of the individual steps in the catalytic cycles will be obtained in MOFs that contain both a molecular photosensitizer (PS) and a molecular catalyst (PS-MOFcats). The envisaged systems will allow light-induced electron transfer processes to generate reduced or oxidized catalyst states the reactivity of which will be studied with high time resolution by transient UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy. The acquired fundamental mechanistic knowledge is far beyond the current state-of-the-art in MOF chemistry and catalysis, and will be used to prepare MOFcat-based electrodes that function at highest possible rates and lowest overpotentials. PS-MOFcats will be grown on flat semiconductor surfaces, and explored as a novel concept to photoanode and -cathode designs for dye-sensitized solar fuel devices (DSSFDs). The design is particularly appealing as it accommodates high PS concentrations for efficient light-harvesting, while providing potent catalysts close to the solvent interface.
Max ERC Funding
1 968 750 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-01-01, End date: 2021-12-31
Project acronym NanoPokers
Project Deciphering cell heterogeneity in tumors using arrays of nanowires to controllably poke single cells in longitudinal studies
Researcher (PI) Christelle Nathalie Prinz
Host Institution (HI) LUNDS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE5, ERC-2015-CoG
Summary Cancer is responsible for 20% of all deaths in Europe. Current cancer research is based on cell ensemble measurements or on snapshot studies of individual cells. However, cancer is a systemic disease, involving many cells that interact and evolve over time in a complex manner, which cell ensemble studies and snapshot studies cannot grasp. It is therefore crucial to investigate cancer at the single cell level and in longitudinal studies (over time). Despite the recent developments in micro- and nanotechnologies, combined with live cell imaging, today, there is no method available that meets the crucial need for global monitoring of individual cell responses to stimuli/perturbation in real-time.
This project addresses this crucial need by combining super resolution live-cell imaging and the development of sensors, as well as injection devices based on vertical nanowire arrays. The devices will penetrate multiple single cells in a fully controlled manner, with minimal invasiveness.
The objectives of the project are:
1) To develop nanowire based-tools in order to gain controlled and reliable access to the cell interior with minimal invasiveness.
2) Developing mRNA sensing and biomolecule injection capabilities based on nanowires.
3) Performing longitudinal single cell studies in tumours, including monitoring gene expression in real time, under controlled cell perturbation.
By enabling global, long term monitoring of individual tumour cells submitted to controlled stimuli, the project will open up new horizons in Biology and in Medical Research. It will enable ground-breaking discoveries in understanding the complexity of molecular events underlying the disease. This cross-disciplinary project will lead to paradigm-shifting research, which will enable the development of optimal treatment strategies. This will be applicable, not only for cancer, but also for a broad range of diseases, such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.
Summary
Cancer is responsible for 20% of all deaths in Europe. Current cancer research is based on cell ensemble measurements or on snapshot studies of individual cells. However, cancer is a systemic disease, involving many cells that interact and evolve over time in a complex manner, which cell ensemble studies and snapshot studies cannot grasp. It is therefore crucial to investigate cancer at the single cell level and in longitudinal studies (over time). Despite the recent developments in micro- and nanotechnologies, combined with live cell imaging, today, there is no method available that meets the crucial need for global monitoring of individual cell responses to stimuli/perturbation in real-time.
This project addresses this crucial need by combining super resolution live-cell imaging and the development of sensors, as well as injection devices based on vertical nanowire arrays. The devices will penetrate multiple single cells in a fully controlled manner, with minimal invasiveness.
The objectives of the project are:
1) To develop nanowire based-tools in order to gain controlled and reliable access to the cell interior with minimal invasiveness.
2) Developing mRNA sensing and biomolecule injection capabilities based on nanowires.
3) Performing longitudinal single cell studies in tumours, including monitoring gene expression in real time, under controlled cell perturbation.
By enabling global, long term monitoring of individual tumour cells submitted to controlled stimuli, the project will open up new horizons in Biology and in Medical Research. It will enable ground-breaking discoveries in understanding the complexity of molecular events underlying the disease. This cross-disciplinary project will lead to paradigm-shifting research, which will enable the development of optimal treatment strategies. This will be applicable, not only for cancer, but also for a broad range of diseases, such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.
Max ERC Funding
2 621 251 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-09-01, End date: 2021-08-31
Project acronym NAPOLI
Project Nanoporous Asymmetric Poly(Ionic Liquid) Membrane
Researcher (PI) Jiayin Yuan
Host Institution (HI) STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2014-STG
Summary Nanoporous polymer membranes (NPMs) play a crucial, irreplaceable role in fundamental research and industrial usage, including separation, filtration, water treatment and sustainable environment. The vast majority of advances concentrate on neutral or weakly charged polymers, such as the ongoing interest on self-assembled block copolymer NPMs. There is an urgent need to process polyelectrolytes into NPMs that critically combine a high charge density with nanoporous morphology. Additionally, engineering structural asymmetry/gradient simultaneously in the membrane is equally beneficial, as it would improve membrane performance by building up compartmentalized functionalities. For example, a gradient in pore size forms high pressure resistance coupled with improved selectivity. Nevertheless, developing such highly charged, nanoporous and gradient membranes has remained a challenge, owing to the water solubility and ionic nature of conventional polyelectrolytes, poorly processable into nanoporous state via common routes.
Recently, my group first reported an easy-to-perform production of nanoporous polyelectrolyte membranes. Building on this important but rather preliminary advance, I propose to develop the next generation of NPMs, nanoporous asymmetric poly(ionic liquid) membranes (NAPOLIs). The aim is to produce NAPOLIs bearing diverse gradients, understand the unique transport behavior, improve the membrane stability/sustainability/applicability, and finally apply them in the active fields of energy and environment. Both the currently established route and the newly proposed ones will be employed for the membrane fabrication.
This proposal is inherently interdisciplinary, as it must combine polymer chemistry/engineering, physical chemistry, membrane/materials science, and nanoscience for its success. This research will fundamentally advance nanoporous membrane design for a wide scope of applications and reveal unique physical processes in an asymmetric context.
Summary
Nanoporous polymer membranes (NPMs) play a crucial, irreplaceable role in fundamental research and industrial usage, including separation, filtration, water treatment and sustainable environment. The vast majority of advances concentrate on neutral or weakly charged polymers, such as the ongoing interest on self-assembled block copolymer NPMs. There is an urgent need to process polyelectrolytes into NPMs that critically combine a high charge density with nanoporous morphology. Additionally, engineering structural asymmetry/gradient simultaneously in the membrane is equally beneficial, as it would improve membrane performance by building up compartmentalized functionalities. For example, a gradient in pore size forms high pressure resistance coupled with improved selectivity. Nevertheless, developing such highly charged, nanoporous and gradient membranes has remained a challenge, owing to the water solubility and ionic nature of conventional polyelectrolytes, poorly processable into nanoporous state via common routes.
Recently, my group first reported an easy-to-perform production of nanoporous polyelectrolyte membranes. Building on this important but rather preliminary advance, I propose to develop the next generation of NPMs, nanoporous asymmetric poly(ionic liquid) membranes (NAPOLIs). The aim is to produce NAPOLIs bearing diverse gradients, understand the unique transport behavior, improve the membrane stability/sustainability/applicability, and finally apply them in the active fields of energy and environment. Both the currently established route and the newly proposed ones will be employed for the membrane fabrication.
This proposal is inherently interdisciplinary, as it must combine polymer chemistry/engineering, physical chemistry, membrane/materials science, and nanoscience for its success. This research will fundamentally advance nanoporous membrane design for a wide scope of applications and reveal unique physical processes in an asymmetric context.
Max ERC Funding
1 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-03-01, End date: 2021-01-31
