Objective
Friction is a phenomenon which is present in our everyday life although we tend to remember it only when it is nearly absent such as when “slipping on a banana peel”. Its presence across disparate length scales (earthquakes, car engines down to molecular machines) reminds us of its ubiquity which endows friction of an utmost practical importance. Therefore, attempts to control it are almost as old as civilization. Interestingly, during the past decades we have witnessed a growing progress in miniaturization of devices down to the nanometer scale. “Special problems occur when things get small […] and it might turn out to be advantages if we knew how to design for them”, said Feynman when discussing the prospects of building “infinitesimal machinery”. To achieve this goal, and to design efficient molecular nano-engines, it becomes imperative to know how friction at a molecular level can be controlled. In this project we propose to address this challenge by tuning molecular friction and adhesion via atomic/chemical design. Specifically, we shall study the lifting and sliding of two template molecules (porphyrin and terpyridine) over a Silver (111) surface. These molecules contain substituents groups that act as spinning molecular wheels when sliding over a surface. By proper modifications of these groups (wheels) we can tune the grip/drift response and the efficiency of the ball bearing over which the molecular wheel spins. Here we aim to provide an atomic level understanding of these processes by combining state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulations with high resolution scanning-probe microscopy experiments conducted in ultra-high-vacuum conditions at low temperature. This will constitute a major step forward in our understanding of dissipation processes at the nanoscale and paves the way to tune molecular friction and adhesion by atomic/chemical design.
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 chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology seismology
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4051 Basel
Switzerland
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.