Objective
Functional materials are critical enablers for sustainable energy systems – a defining global challenge of the 21st century. Among them, multi-element oxides offer great promise to replace scarce noble metals with earth-abundant alternatives for applications in catalysis. However, a critical gap persists: We lack synthesis processes that can both flexibly explore the vast compositional space of these materials to identify high-performing materials AND scale to industrial production. Spray-flame aerosol synthesis could close this gap thanks to its demonstrated ability to produce materials with unique properties at scale. Yet its advantages have been harnessed for only few materials because of the reliance on manual, slow, and intuition-driven optimization of the underlying complex processes, governed by nonlinear interactions between flow, reaction, and particle formation.
My vision with AEROSYN is to transform flame synthesis into an autonomous, high-throughput platform that integrates in situ process diagnostics, real-time product characterization, and AI-driven experimental design. This will enable a step-change in how we explore, understand, and scale the synthesis of functional nanomaterials. A key innovation is my hypothesis that the vast operation parameter space can be drastically reduced through a hierarchical approach that identifies ‘islands of stability’ – sub spaces, where desired materials properties emerge through systematic tuning of operating conditions. AEROSYN will autonomously find and exploit these islands by combining: i) optical and acoustic diagnostics to monitor the reaction process in situ, ii) a novel inline sensor suite for real-time feedback on materials properties, iii) adaptive experimental planning to systematically narrow down viable synthesis pathways, and iv) data analytics and AI to interpret, predict, and optimize. This autonomous evolutionary approach will mark a paradigm shift toward scalable, intelligent materials synthesis.
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.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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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)
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-2025-ADG
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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.
45141 Essen
Germany
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.