Project description
Studying chemical reactions and material synthesis under extreme conditions
Pressures above 1 Mbar can drastically change the periodic table, altering the electronic structure and chemical properties of materials, especially at extreme temperatures. These conditions open the door to creating entirely new material structures and compounds. However, predictive modelling and experimental challenges have limited progress. The ERC-funded MEGACHEM project will pioneer dynamic megabar chemistry, using cutting-edge tools like X-ray free electron lasers and large-scale optical lasers. MEGACHEM’s goals include synthesising the elusive BC-8 carbon structure and developing a new method to create ultrasmall, tailored nanodiamonds. By combining experiments with advanced theory, MEGACHEM will push the boundaries of material science, with potential applications in astrophysics and photocatalysis.
Objective
Pressures above 1 Mbar, equivalent to energy densities stored in chemical bonds, are predicted to severely reshape the periodic table of the elements as we know it. Such extreme conditions can radically alter the electronic structure and chemical properties of materials, especially when heating these to temperatures of several thousand kelvins, which suggests new approaches for the synthesis of so-far unknown material structures and compounds. However, due to a lack of predictive modelling and experimental challenges, exploration and exploitation of new chemistry above one megabar has remained a dark spot in our understanding of matter. Unprecedented experimental capabilities provided by large-scale laser facilities and X-ray free electron lasers, also supported by new theoretical and computational tools, now drastically change this situation and I am at the forefront of these revolutionary developments. With MEGACHEM, I will establish the research direction of dynamic megabar chemistry, motivated by my pioneering studies on light elements mixtures. Performing exploratory experiments in close interplay with theory, I will investigate novel routes to two interlinked “holy grail” cases: a) the synthesis of the long sought but still speculative BC-8 structure of carbon and b) a new approach to an efficient formation of ultrasmall nanodiamonds of tailored size and dopant level. Indeed, for reaching both goals, the pressure-driven insulator-metal transition of liquid hydrogen may play a central role. By investigating these cases, MEGACHEM will cover new ground and test state-of-the-art theoretical models by combining studies at my university labs with experiments at large-scale research infrastructures: hard X-ray free electron lasers such as the European XFEL, and the largest optical laser systems, such as the National Ignition Facility and the Extreme Light Infrastructure. By doing so, MEGACHEM can impact various areas, ranging from astrophysics to photocatalysis.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis photocatalysis
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrophysics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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.
Funding Scheme
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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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
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18055 Rostock
Germany
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