Objective In PHOCONA we aim to develop a new class of highly fluorescent 2D and quasi-2D colloidal nanomaterials for solution-processed coherent light sources and ultrafast single-photon emitters. The 2D excitons are created in suspended semiconductor nanoplates with a thickness below 5 nm, and transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayers. Prepared by colloidal chemistry and liquid-phase exfoliation, respectively, they take advantage of both quantum confinement through their nanoscale dimensions, as well as dielectric confinement via the dielectric mismatch between nanomaterials and surrounding matrix. Via smart nanocrystal design, more specifically by exploiting novel synthesis methods that include asymmetric in-plane confinement potentials, anisotropic crystal structures, and lattice strain-induced band structure modifications in core/shell heterostructures, the nanomaterials will be shaped toward efficient multiexciton and stimulated emission, as well as stable, blinking-free single-photon emission. The intrinsic 2D exciton properties will be further modified toward ultrafast exciton recombination by coupling the nanomaterials to small mode-volume plasmonic nanocavities, hereby placing them in a local photon density-of-states that will lead to a strong Purcell enhancement. The realization of cost-effective, energy-efficient and highly flexible light emitters, which can be synthesized and processed via methods that are scalable to large areas and volumes, forms an important milestone in the ongoing development of optical and quantum communications technology, as well as new lighting and display applications. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystalsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivityengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons Keywords nanoplates colloidal synthesis lasing single photon emission solution-processed nanocrystals Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2016-STG - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2016-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITEIT GENT Net EU contribution € 1 427 625,00 Address SINT PIETERSNIEUWSTRAAT 25 9000 Gent Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 427 625,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITEIT GENT Belgium Net EU contribution € 1 427 625,00 Address SINT PIETERSNIEUWSTRAAT 25 9000 Gent See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 427 625,00