FUNMOL

Multi-scale Formation of Functional Nanocrystal-Molecule Assemblies and Architectures

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Recent developments in the design and synthesis of nanoscale building blocks as active elements in opto- or bio-electronic devices with tailored electronic functionality have the potential to open up new horizons in nanoscience and also revolutionise multi-billion dollar markets across multiple technology sectors including healthcare, printable electronics, and security. Ligand-stabilised inorganic nanocrystals (~2-30 nm core diameters) and functional organic molecules are attractive building blocks due to their size dependent opto-electronic properties, the availability of low-cost synthesis processes and the potential for formation of ordered structures via (bio) molecular recognition and self-assembly. Harnessing the complementary properties of both nanocrystals and functional molecules thus represents a unique opportunity for generation of new knowledge and development of new classes of high knowledge-content materials with specific functionality tailored for key applications, e.g., printable electronics, biosensing or energy conversion in the medium term, and radically new information and signal processing paradigms in the long term. Self-assembly and self-organisation processes offer the potential to achieve dimensional control of novel multifunctional materials at length scales not accessible to conventional “top-down” technologies based on lithography. It is critical for European industry to develop new knowledge and low-cost, scaleable processes for assembly and electrical interfacing of these multifunctional materials with conventional contact electrodes in order to produce into tailored devices and products, in particular on low-cost substrates. The FUNMOL consortium will deliver substantial innovation to European industry via development of cost-effective, scaleable processes for directed assembly of high-knowledge content nanocrystal-molecule materials into electrically-interfaced devices at silicon oxide, glass and plastic substrates.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded researchers are exploring the potential for nano-crystal molecules to be employed in European industries such as healthcare, printable electronics and security.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Recent developments in the design and synthesis of nano-scale building blocks as active elements in opto- or bio-electronic devices with tailored electronic functionality have huge potential. Indeed, scientists believe they could revolutionise multi-billion-dollar markets across many technology sectors, including healthcare, printable electronics and security.

Ligand-stabilised inorganic nano-crystals and functional organic molecules are attractive building blocks because of their size-dependent opto-electronic properties, the availability of low-cost synthesis processes, and the potential to form ordered structures via (bio)-molecular recognition and self-assembly. Scientists are therefore working to harness the complementary properties of nano-crystals and functional molecules. They claim this is a unique opportunity to generate new knowledge and develop new classes of high-knowledge-content materials that have been tailored specifically for key applications, such as printable electronics, bio-sensing or energy conversion.

During the first 18 months of the 'Multi-scale formation of functional nano-crystal molecule assemblies and architectures' (Funmol) project, researchers designed, synthesised and characterised a number of novel linker molecular systems with novel (opto)-electrical functionalities in isolation and within nano-crystal-based assemblies. They also developed a variety of novel bio-molecular and protein- based materials and tested them both in solution and with technologically relevant substrates.