Press Room
FP5 projects showcase
Improving Human Potential
Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
A Key to Nanotechnology |
 |
|
Project acronym:
FUNCARS
|
|
Carbon nanotubes, a new 1D carbon material, were discovered around ten years ago.This new molecular form of carbon exhibits a series of fundamentally new and unexpected physical, mechanical and chemical properties and brought nanotubes into the position of one of the most promising tools in future nanotechnology.
Nanotubes can have implications for the fabrication of molecule-based electronic devices, nanotransistors and memory elements. Due to their extraordinary mechanical properties considerable interest is in the development of carbon composites for applications in automobile and aerospace industry.
Chemical functionalization will provide solubility to the tubes and transform them into processible material. Functionalization of nanotubes becomes an essential prerequisite for potential nanotechnological applications and can be seen as a key to Nanotechnology.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - more images |
:: Publication: PDF
|
Programme Growth Materials
| Nano-engineering for efficient energy conversion systems |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Nanothermel
|
|
Thermoelectric (TE) materials have a unique position for their dual purpose: electrical generation on one side and cooling/heating on the other side.
Thermoelectrics have very attractive features, such as small size, simplicity, and reliability, and have important applications for power generation or cooling both for terrestrial and space applications. With state-of-the-art research and development, it is clear that new generation TE materials and devices are expected to play an important role in the development of clean and efficient energy conversion systems.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Internet Training and Networking Micro-Nanotechnology |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Vision online
|
|
It is now accepted that a world, both industrial and societal, is evolving that expects more for less. Referred to by many as the emerging 'Nanoworld', nanotechnology and nano engineering are implicit in its creation.
The technologies span a whole range of industries and are becoming of importance to the international community over a large range of technical levels. Related industries span from medical and biomedical, to communications and infotainment, to aerospace and automotive. Associated technical levels span from novice to expert.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| A high-temperature testing technology for micro- and nanomaterial |
 |
|
Project acronym:
HiT
|
|
In advanced microtechnology, medicine and microbiology, a large variety of nanoscaled materials are used. Product functionality depends on the reliability and performance of these materials. The determination and assurance of these performances requires the knowledge of materials behaviour parameters at nanoscale.This is dependent on the geometry of component, on surface factors, etc. Material behaviour parameters obtained from macroscopic testing cannot therefore be transferred to nanoscaled material design. High temperature applications of nanoscaled materials with an operational temperature range up to 300°C are of specific interest. This gives rise to the demand for a measuring and testing technology for determination reliability parameters of nanoscaled objects. Therefore, the objectives of the HiT project are to develop a device for high temperature nanoscale material tests together with a testing technique for high temperature components. The technique will be integrated with surface deformation field measurement.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2- image 3 |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Towards the bulk production of fullerenes, nanotubes and carbon black by a clean process |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Plasmacarb
|
|
Nanomaterials will be the first big market for nanotechnologies and several big companies are positioning themselves to become bulk suppliers. The major objective of the project is to make new carbon nano-particles (carbon black, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes) available in commercial quantities to the industry and applied research. The use of plasma for the production of carbon black is an innovative new technology demanding new and high skills. This technology might replace one day the commonly used furnace technology. This technology will allow carbon-dioxide-free production and will enable the use of renewable (vegetable) oils as feedstock. The same technology is used for the production of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - more images |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Low-cost all-polymer integrated circuits for low-end high-volume identification applications |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Plastronix
|
|
Europe has a very strong position in the development of organic (plastic) electronics. Organic electronics is targeted at a wide range of low performance, very low cost electronics applications. The project has brought forward the general technological basis in this field (materials synthesis, device manufacture, and environmental elements) and has demonstrated specific applications, aimed at identification and information displays respectively.
|
| |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| A disposible biochip for low-cost DNA analysis |
 |
|
Project acronym:
PolymerMicroSensorFab
|
|
Largely driven by the human genome project, the application of micro-systems technology to the field of molecular detection has resulted in a variety of devices, such as DNA-arrays and biochips. Presently, these devices are extensively used in genetic research, research into diseases and drug discovery.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Counting electrons one by one - Measurement of very small electrical currents |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Count
|
|
The ongoing process of downscaling the size, and reducing the dissipation, of integrated circuits in electronics, particularly those which are portable and battery operated, is leading to the reduction of the electrical currents that flow through these circuits. The challenge of measuring and controlling such small (sub nano-ampere) electrical currents is becoming more and more important to the electronics industry.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - more images |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Nanoscale microscopy of magnetic materials |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Magnetude
|
|
Advanced magnetic materials serve not only the magnetic storage industry, but also other industrial sectors, notably sensors. A crucial condition for the continued development of these materials is the ability to visualise the magnetic domain structure. The behaviour of magnetic domains are key to the understanding of the overall magnetic properties of the systems. However, the shrinking magnetic structures have reached the limits of classical magnetic imaging techniques.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - more images |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Nano fabrication with focused ion beams |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Nanofib
|
|
The development of industrial processes for the patterning of materials on the nano-scale is one of the major challenges of nanotechnology. Lithographic techniques, used at ever shorter wavelengths in the integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing indus-try, have clearly identified limitations, with minimum attainable feature sizes in the range of tens of nano-metres. Electron beam lithography gives access to smaller feature size. However, scattering of electrons in the target material and in the resist layer imposes limitations on minimum feature size of about ten nano-metre.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - more images |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Durable and clean nanocomposite coatings for the car of tomorrow |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Nanomag
|
|
Magnesium alloys will be a "must" in the near future to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution, as they will play a key role to reach the lower weight targets set by the automotive and aeronautical industries.
Today, a broader use of magnesium is constrained by its susceptibility to corrosion. As a consequence, there is a growing need for European transportation companies to combine efforts, within and across industrial sectors, to develop appropriate sur-face finishing.The serious environmental problems arising from the use of today's environmentally critical treatment like chro-mate- based conversion coatings make it urgent to develop "clean" solutions for the European citizen.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - image 4(LANCIA NEA Concept Car) |
:: Publication: PDF
|
| Smart and small robots for the micro-world |
 |
|
Project acronym:
Robosem
|
|
Europe has stimulated the R&D; in micro- and nanosystems technologies in the past since these technologies form the basis of a new generation of products, techniques and market opportunities. A key problem area is the non-availability of flexible, high-precise nanohandling machinery, especially for the assembly of microsystems.
The project aims to develop a nanohandling station operating in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Microassembly, nanotesting and functional and pharmaco genomics are the main application fields.
Benefits are expected for microsystem technology (MST), microassembly, nanotribology, material nano-characterization, micro-biology, medicine, pharmaceutics, microelectronics (probing of IC's), mechanical engineering and high-precision positioning.
|
| :: Project images:image 1 - image 2 - image 3 - more images |
:: Publication: PDF
|
|
