Open characterisation and modelling environment to drive innovation in advanced nano-architected and bio-inspired hard/soft interfaces

Project Information

Oyster

Grant agreement ID: 760827

DOI

10.3030/760827

Project closed

EC signature date 29 November 2017

Start date 1 December 2017

End date 31 March 2022

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials

Total cost

€ 3 999 752,50

EU contribution

€ 3 999 752,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI ROMA TRE
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - Oyster (Open characterisation and modelling environment to drive innovation in advanced nano-architected and bio-inspired hard/soft interfaces)

Reporting period: 2020-12-01 to 2022-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Based on the manufacturing/characterisation/modelling triangle, the OYSTER project will enable the optimisation of models, products and processes related to nano-engineered surfaces with tailored surface-free-energy, improved adhesion. In this context, OYSTER offers standardised protocols for multi-technique, multi-scale characterisations of adhesion and interfacial phenomena using advanced nano-scale contact mechanics characterisation methods, such as nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It will establish new international standard protocols and reference materials for standardisation of the micro/nano-scale analysis of adhesion and interfacial phenomena in particular through collaboration and activities together with the European Materials Characterisation Council (EMCC), European Materials Modelling Council (EMMC) and European Pilot Production Network (EPPN).

The following specific objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) ensure that its excellent scientific and technical ambitions translate pragmatically into high growth potentials, especially for the industrial partners (and in particular SMEs):

•Next generation nanoindentation and AFM for adhesion measurement;
•Validation of a suite of materials modelling tools to harmonise understanding of adhesion across multiple length scales;
•Development and wide dissemination of an Open Innovation Environment (OIE) web platform for the establishment of a wider manufacturing/modelling/ characterisation network linked with stakeholder platforms such as EMMC, EMCC, and EPPN;
•Development of novel open and adaptable metadata structures for design, characterisation and modelling;
•Development of surface enhanced materials for Optronics (THALES), contact lenses (Nanoforce) and superhydrophobic coatings (FUNCOATS) ;

Technical success indicators (KPIs), related to the objectives presented above.

•TRL6 Innovative hardware/software solutions for quantitative adhesion measurements by contact mechanics;
•Discrete and continuum adhesion models validated on reference materials to guarantee industry acceptance and interoperability;
•Data framework based web platform (OIE) facilitating access of characterisation and modelling ;
•EMMO for nanoindentation;
•TRL6 demonstration for developed materials and coatings.

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

Overall, the project achieved the entire set of anticipated goals:

WP2:
• The protocols for AFM (D2.1) and Nanoindentation (D2.2) surface energy measurements has been delivered and validated.
• The protocol for the calculation of uncertainty has been finalised (D2.2).
• The protocol for XPS/SIMS/AES measurements has been delivered and validated (D2.3);
• The two AFM manufacturers (SIL and Nanosurf) have developed and delivered their experimental protocols (D5.3-4);

WP3:
• The three main modelling deliverables (D3.1 D3.2 D3.2) were submitted, describing the atomistic simulations of solid/liquid and solid/solid interfaces.
• Coarse grained (CG) simulations have been carried out to fully validate the water CG model based on the MOLC force-field, evaluating the mass transfer coefficients and interface properties. (D3.4).
• Continuum models have been defined, optimised, validated and submitted (D3.5-6)

WP4:
• The EMMO for nano-scale mechanical characterisation has been submitted (D4.3).
• The final version of the OIE platform was published.
• The CHADA concept has been published and the sharing action among many NMBP Eu project (through EMCC) was very succesful (together with the accompanying experimental protocols, D4.7).
• The OYSTER CEN CWA has been succesfully completed, published and transferred to EMCC.
• (Task 4.6) Pre-normative interlaboratory studies completed and submitted.
• (Tasks 4.7-8) OIE data management infrastructure development and exploitation (D4.10) – continuous update of DMP platform (D4.5).

WP5:
• Thales went through a series iteration for the production of demonstrators that show outstanding superhydrophobic behaviour.
• Nanoforce has developed (and delivered) new materials for microchamber arrays - all deliverables submitted.
• IWM has validated optimised versions of the hydrophobic 3D printed materials.
• SIL provided the final development of the Protocol.
• FUNCOATS went through a series iteration for to the production of demonstrators that show controlled wettability

WP6:
• More than TWENTY papers on high-impact journals were published;
• Oyster has participated to all main EU-NMBP, EMCC and EMMC 2018-2022 events, as well as international conferences.
• The OYSTER project has been highlighted on the evening edition of main public Italian news (TG1 – RaI1, June 2019).
• An interview was given to the main official Italian Radio “RadioRai” (GRParlamento, July 2019) in international broadcasting.
• The project has received TWICE the NOMINATION at CEN-CENELEN innovation awards 2020 and 2021.
• The project has been selected as an EU success story and the article was published
• The Oyster ZENODO platform https://zenodo.org/communities/oyster
• The final project workshop was succesfully completed.

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)

THREE main innovations have been already demonstrated by tangible and quantifiable results:
a. OIE platform and its working principles, designed for as the basis for a future EMCC public platform for innovations, https://www.innoradar.eu/innovation/33862
b. Creation of novel metadata structure (CHADA) for collection data and information related to characterisation methodologies, https://www.innoradar.eu/innovation/33856
c. Functionalized nanopatterned surfaces for super-hydrophobic materials, https://www.innoradar.eu/innovation/3385

Here is a synthetic list of the main progresses beyond the state of the art:

1. Developed experimental protocol and already obtained quantitative results for Nanoindentation and AFM surface-free-energy measurements on all nanopatterned and reference samples;
2. Thales and FUNCOATS already achieved the production of demonstrators that show outstanding superhydrophobic behaviour and controlled wettability;
2. IWM validated hierarchically structured 3D-nano-engineered surfaces from industrially relevant materials, giving improved performance in terms of adhesion by control of surface morphology at multiple scales
3. The multi-scale modelling activities are completed and validated, showing a unique modelling toolbox that is now available in the literature;
4. The main concepts of CHADA has been published and the sharing action among many NMBP Eu project (though EMCC) was very succesful
5. A large number of open-Access papers with OYSTER acknowledgement were already published on international peer reviewed journals, as reported in the participant portal;
6. Oyster has participated, acting as invited speaker and/or event organiser to all the main EU-NMBP, EMCC and EMMC recent events (2018-2022):
8. The project has received TWICE the NOMINATION at the 2020 and 2021 CEN-CENELEN innovation awards
9. The project has been selected as an EU success story and the article was published

The structure of the OIE environment was specifically designed to be directly and deeply interconnected with a number of European active actions and clusters (EMCC, EMMC, EPPN, CFPS, NSC). This, together with a clear business plan, dedicated business models, Life Cycle Cost Analysis of developed techniques and specifically allocated resources, will guarantee all maintenance aspects of the OIE well beyond the lifetime of the project.

fig-1-the-conceptual-framework-of-oyster-1.jpg