Project description
Revolutionising adaptive synthetic materials
Adaptive synthetic materials hold potential in sectors that require self-regulated and autonomous systems, paving the way for more complex materials and tools. The ERC-funded DIMENSION project will incorporate coupled physical feedback loops within multidimensional hydrogels. By enabling these hydrogels to interact with environmental stimuli, the project seeks to unlock remarkable material functionalities and the ability to be powered remotely. Specifically, it aims to develop positive feedback mechanisms using scattering-enhanced absorption in hydrogels and employ continuous laser beams to create systems that can sense external stimuli and adapt their responses accordingly. These advancements promise to transform human-machine interfaces, artificial skin technologies, and a variety of other fields, driving the next wave of innovation in adaptive materials.
Objective
Towards the new frontier of self-regulated, autonomous, and adaptive synthetic materials, DIMENSION aims to bring a breakthrough by introducing coupled physical feedback loops in multidimensional hydrogels. Physical feedback mechanisms allow remote powering and interplay with the environmental stimuli and have proven to be instrumental in achieving groundbreaking material functionalities. However, the state-of-the-art physical feedback systems are all limited to single negative feedback loops within a predefined dimensionality. Inspired by the complex responses regulated by multi-component coupled feedbacks in biological systems, I envisage unprecedented functionalities enabled by the new concept in DIMENSION.
The grand challenges to construct physical feedback coupling lie in implementing new feedback mechanisms in responsive materials and interfacing different feedback mechanisms to form coupling. Herein, I propose to develop new positive feedback mechanisms based on scattering enhanced absorption in hydrogels, supported by my recent discovery, which will be interfaced with a negative feedback loop to construct coupled feedback loops. DIMENSION will create hydrogel systems fuelled by a constant laser beam, and synergy of optical excitation and gels' response will result in steady states or robust oscillations of temperature, allowing sensing of external stimuli and local enhancement of response. The feedback coupling will enable 3 new model systems with multidimensional geometries: (1) 1D adaptive motility in soft devices, (2) 2D mechano-training in bilayer films, and (3) 3D multidirectional adaptive sensors.
DIMENSION will provide new design routes for coupled feedback loops in soft materials across multidimensional geometries. The impact of DIMENSION will be far-reaching beyond self-regulated and adaptive materials, providing implications for embodied intelligence, artificial skin, human-machine interfaces, and bio-inspired actuators.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences physical sciences condensed matter physics soft matter physics
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics soft robotics
- engineering and technology materials engineering nanocomposites
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)
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.
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
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.
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-2024-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
02150 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.