Objective
Radiation damage on molecular scale commonly occurs due to exposure to UV light or ionizing radiation as applied e.g. for food preservation, waste water treatment, medical treatments, or originating from the sun. Initially, radiation creates highly reactive electronic defects such as electron holes and excess electrons.
These defects can attack organic molecules directly or are converted to intermediate free radicals that react rapidly with most molecules and are responsible for e.g. DNA damage. Free radical scavengers provide protection by capturing these highly reactive species. We propose to study the chemistry of electronic defects in aqueous solution such as formed by irradiation using parameter free, atomistic and electronic modelling based on density functional theory.
The insight gained from this modelling should complement the vast body of experimental research. A computational approach may in particular help rationalizing the transient electronic states playing a role during the early steps of radiation damage, which are less accessible to experiment. We will study the formation of solvated electrons, hydroxyl radicals and other small radicals in water, and investigate the process in presence of free radical scavengers.
The ultimate aim is the simulation of radiation damage to DNA in aqueous solution. Given the extended nature of the electronic defects and high transient mobilities following photoionization or radiolysis, the simulated systems will have to be large, requiring highly accurate and fast electronic structure calculations for up to several thousand atoms.
Moreover, the strong coupling to molecular motion in finite temperature liquid solutions leading to relaxation and solvation can only be treated by molecular dynamics techniques, and requires simulation over periods of time in the order of picoseconds. In order to achieve this, we will validate and expand the capabilities of the density functional program CP2K/QUICKSTEP.
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 water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences physical sciences nuclear physics
- natural sciences chemical sciences nuclear chemistry radiation chemistry
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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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
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.