Objective Discovering new phases of matter in materials with superior properties is a central goal of condensed matter physics. Topological phases are a remarkable example: their robust and universal properties are key to groundbreaking technologies, notably robust quantum computation based on topological superconductors. However, our methodology to discover and classify topological materials relies heavily on crystal symmetry, thereby overlooking the largest, most affordable and scalable pool of materials - amorphous materials. Amorphous matter can outperform crystals, and is ubiquitous in technology: e.g. amorphous bismuth superconducts below 6K, a temperature 10,000 times larger than crystal bismuth, and amorphous silicon makes large-area solar cells affordable. This raises the fundamental question of whether we have overlooked new topological phases intrinsic to amorphous matter in materials with properties unparalleled by crystals. It is also unknown if any amorphous superconductor is topological. The core objective of this project is to harvest the superior properties of the vast pool of amorphous solids to find fundamentally distinct topological phases with high technological potential, via three specific goals: 1. Establish a predictive methodology to unlock the vast pool of amorphous matter to discover new topological materials. 2. Use this methodology to define unaccounted for amorphous topological phases with superior capabilities and no crystal analogues. 3. Use the above to predict the first amorphous topological superconductors. These goals will establish amorphous topological matter as a radically new direction to solve the challenge of finding novel platforms for topological superconductivity, where robust quantum computers can be based. This project will establish the necessary and currently absent theoretical background, guaranteeing a long-term impact on how we understand and discover new phases of matter with superior properties. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrypost-transition metalsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computersnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloidsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssuperconductivity Keywords Topological insulators Topological metals topological superconductivity amorphous solids Programme(s) HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2021-COG - ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS Call for proposal ERC-2021-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC - Support for frontier research (ERC) Host institution CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS Net EU contribution € 1 918 969,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 918 969,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France Net EU contribution € 1 918 969,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 918 969,00
