Integrated self-assembled SWITCHable systems and materials: towards responsive organic electronics – a multi-site innovative training action

Project Information

iSwitch

Grant agreement ID: 642196

DOI

10.3030/642196

Project closed

EC signature date 16 December 2014

Start date 1 January 2015

End date 31 December 2018

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 3 826 359,20

EU contribution

€ 3 826 359,20

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURG
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - iSwitch (Integrated self-assembled SWITCHable systems and materials: towards responsive organic electronics – a multi-site innovative training action)

Reporting period: 2017-01-01 to 2018-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

"iSwitch offered top-level multi-disciplinary and supra-sectorial training to a pool of talented young researchers, involving contributions from different scientific and technological fields such as, supramolecular chemistry, materials, nanoscience, physics and engineering. iSwitch’s appointees were trained through lecture courses, dedicated international schools and workshops, topical conferences, secondments to other consortium nodes and an ambitious and carefully planned research activities benefiting from the expertise of world-leading senior PIs and of younger but well-established PIs with outstanding track records in training and research.

The specific training and research objectives were:
- Design and synthesis of a (macro)molecular toolbox including electroactive and responsive systems as well as semiconducting and metallic nanostructures.
- Generation of controlled interfaces of switches on (non)planar surfaces.
- Self-assembly of multicomponent systems into multifunctional architectures and materials.
- Multiscale structural, optical and electrical characterization of systems including Scanning Probe studies and time-resolved spectroscopy.
- Fabrication and characterization of switchable devices, i.e. transistors for ""logics"" and light-emitting devices for photonics, and related applications (optical illumination, optical filtering/landscaping, optical sensors, photovoltaics, etc.)."

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the 4 years of the project:
- 103 articles were published in high-impact scientific journals (average impact factor: 10+), including 85+% of joint publications and 5+ hot and very important papers, yielding 12 cover pages, 110+ press releases and highlights in major scientific journals (Nature, Nature Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Photonics, Science) and national newspapers (Le Figaro), and 900+ citations.
- ESRs reported their results through 82 oral and poster presentations (including 2 invited seminars) in national and international conferences and workshops in 12 countries. 3 poster prizes were awarded to ESRs.
- 1 international conference, 2 schools, 4 workshops, 1 campus colloqium and 1 symposium were organized.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

iSwitch generated new ground-breaking S&T knowledge needed to obtain efficient and fast switching in supramolecular electro- and opto-active materials as a response to external stimuli. This was accomplished via controlled self-assembly of multicomponent architectures incorporating molecular switches for fabricating responsive and multifunctional optoelectronic supramolecular devices.