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Content archived on 2024-06-18

New materials for energy production and sustainable energy use

Objective

The proposed research is in the field of nanofiber materials, focusing on the development of functional nanofibers for the complementary purposes of energy production and sustainable energy use. Significant opportunities exist in these areas, stemming from the development of several methods in the last decade for higher capacity nanofiber production, as well as the strategic need to find alternatives to current production of energy and its uses. Nanofibers are expected to bring revolutionary advances to these and many other fields of science and technology, including catalysis, filtration, protein separations, tissue engineering, and flexible electronics. We will work on creating such materials with potential applications in multi-exciton photovoltaics and catalysis for energy production. For sustainable energy use, we will develop bioinspired responsive materials and architectures, which would store energy, release it on demand, and act as life-like, efficient, and autonomous entities. Fundamental questions we will address in the research include: How do we tailor semiconductor band structures, as well as achieve nanoscale morphologies for efficient dissociation of photogenerated excitons? Can we develop general predictive rules for the conditions needed to fabricate nanofibers from any polymer solution by liquid shear processing? Can the molecular crystallinity and porosity be controlled in the fibers? What are the simplest life-like, autonomous devices that could be made with synthetic materials?

This work will include extensive solution-based synthesis, processing, structural and chemical characterization (by optical and electron microscopy, small angle X-rays), physical property measurements (mechanical, optical, electronic), device fabrication and assembly, and computer simulations. Most of the facilities needed for the research are available in Cambridge, and some will be arranged for through external collaborations.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2011-StG_20101014
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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
EU contribution
€ 1 480 663,91
Address
TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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No data

Beneficiaries (3)

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