Objective
In a truly cross-disciplinary research project encompassing surface science, astrophysics and chemistry we aim to address two of the major outstanding questions in the field of astrochemistry, namely i) how molecular hydrogen, the most abundant molecule in the interstellar medium, form, and ii) whether it is possible to identify specific Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) species in interstellar spectra. The insights gained from the experimental investigations may revolutionize our current understanding of astrochemistry and will have impact even beyond the field. Special emphasis will be placed on the impact our findings will have on ascertaining the suitability of PAHs as a hydrogen storage medium. By combining scanning tunneling microscopy, thermal desorption spectroscopy, laser-induced thermal desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry, fluorescence spectroscopy experiments and density functional theory calculations we will map out the interaction of atomic hydrogen with PAHs. The goal of the investigation is to obtain atomic level understanding of the atomic hydrogen – PAH interaction in order to i) ascertain whether interstellar molecular hydrogen formation, contrary to present belief but in accordance with our recent calculations, could occur predominantly via interaction with PAHs, ii) measure the adsorption/emission spectrum of Hydrogen-PAH complexes and thereby facilitate observational detection of these complexes in the interstellar medium, iii) determine whether PAHs are a promising medium for hydrogen storage and iv) ascertain whether the hydrogen storage properties of PAHs are tunable by electro-magnetic radiation. This ambitious and cross-disciplinary research project will predominantly take place at the newly established Surface Dynamics Laboratory at the University of Aarhus, headed by the applicant, but will also benefit from fruitful collaborations already initiated with local, national and international colleagues.
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.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy emission spectroscopy
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences celestial mechanics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy scanning tunneling microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrochemistry
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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.
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.
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.
ERC-2007-StG
See other projects for this call
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.
Host institution
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
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.