Project description
Characterising f-block organometallics with a focus on the enigmatic phi bond
The electronic structures and bonding of rare earth elements and actinides, also called f-elements, have garnered increasing attention recently. The f-elements have many applications in important high-tech fields, including optics, magnetism, catalysis, energy and quantum technologies. Phi (φ) bonds, a new, fourth type of chemical covalent bond involving f-orbitals, were predicted to exist but only recently discovered experimentally. Characterising φ-interactions will be fundamental to understanding and rational design of organometallics for future devices and technologies. The EU funded PhiBond project will synthesise compounds with high symmetry and leverage symmetry locking to shed light on enigmatic φ bonds.
Objective
If the f-elements; rare earths and actinides, have many applications in various fields (catalysis, materials for optics, for magnetism, for energy and quantum technologies), major fundamental questions yet remain to be discovered. The nature of the interactions between the f orbitals, which have a low radial extension, and their surroundings is still in question. Indeed, if the buried-character of f-electrons confers their compounds with some of their properties, this particularly harms the description of covalent bonds of φ-symmetry. More specifically, the interaction of two φ-symmetry metallic orbitals, which would lead to the description of φ-bonds, is sorely lacking in the landscape of molecular chemistry. In order to exacerbate the interactions with f- orbitals, we propose to use the argument of symmetry, locking the f orbitals in an ideal configuration, which will make the description of φ-interactions easier to study. We propose to use original large aromatic ligands in order to synthesize compounds of high symmetry. This approach notably differs from the current one, which aims to sterically hinder conventional ligands with large substituents. Once the symmetry is locked, we will vary the electron count and the redox state, as well as the ligand field by modulating the 4f- or 5f-ion used, including transuranic elements. The organometallic synthesis of the these original 4f- and 5f-compounds will be followed by experimental electronic density studies as well as adapted spectroscopy, which will shed light on the interactions of φ−symmetry. Unusual radioelements, uranium and more classical rare earth metal ions will thus lead to an overall assessment of the necessary requirements to enhance the interactions and move towards molecules containing several f-metal ions and a small intermetallic distance. The redox and physical properties of the latter compounds will be engineered with the aim of forming molecules containing metal-metal interactions of φ-symmetry.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry organometallic chemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-COG
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75794 PARIS
France
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