Project description
Mapping ultrafast nanoscale transitions in metal oxides
Transition metal oxides can switch from insulating to metallic states, a phenomenon vital for next-generation technology. However, these changes occur on femtosecond timescales and nanometre length scales, making them incredibly difficult to observe and understand. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the LOTUS project aims to address this by resolving these dynamics simultaneously in space and time. By integrating ultrafast spectroscopy with nanoscale imaging, the project will map the interactions of electrons during these transitions. Beyond solving a fundamental puzzle in physics, LOTUS seeks to establish a foundation for oxide-based electronics. This research could lead to resistive switching memories that are significantly faster and more energy-efficient than traditional semiconductor devices.
Objective
Insulator to metal phase transitions in transition metal oxides are among the most striking phenomena of strong electron correlations where collective interactions trigger ultrafast and nanoscale changes in both electronic and structural order. These transitions are of fundamental scientific importance and hold great promise for future information technologies such as resistive switching memories that could enable faster operation and improved energy efficiency compared to semiconductor devices. Yet insulator to metal transitions remain poorly understood because they evolve on femtosecond timescales and nanometer length scales which continues to challenge both experiment and theory. With my MSCA project LOTUS, I will uncover the microscopic mechanisms of insulator to metal transitions by resolving their dynamics simultaneously in space and time. This requires advancing experimental methods that integrate ultrafast spectroscopy with nanoscale imaging capable of capturing correlated electrons in space and in time. By establishing a fundamental understanding of conductivity switching driven purely by electron correlations LOTUS will address one of the central challenges in condensed matter physics and lay the foundation for oxide-based electronics. The project will demonstrate how harnessing these transitions can transform a long-standing scientific puzzle into a platform for novel device concepts.
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 ecosystem-based management climatic change mitigation
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
3526 KV Utrecht
Netherlands
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.