Project description
New research to aid nanocrystal mass production
The outstanding properties of nanocrystals compared to their bulk counterparts are due to their small size, their dimensions measuring only a few nanometres. Finding production methods that guarantee the repeatability, reproducibility and scalability that any real-life application needs will allow these materials to be widely deployed in the industry. The EU-funded NANO-TUNE project aims to break down the barriers that hamper mass production of nanocrystals. Using synchrotron X-ray scattering techniques, researchers will obtain unprecedented insight into the nucleation and growth mechanisms of nanocrystals, especially those consisting of copper chalcogenide. Research results will enable researchers to fine tune nanocrystals properties on-demand and scale them for industrial applications.
Objective
The future of materials chemistry is the ability to tune materials properties to meet the demands of specific applications. Nanocrystals (NC) are promising materials because their properties can be tuned with NC diameter. Further tuning can be achieved with materials like non-stoichiometric Cu2S that have tunable properties by incorporating different elements into their structure. One example is Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), a photoabsorber with a tunable band-gap with changes in Cu:Zn ratio. However, in order to take advantage of tunable properties the copper chalcogenide NCs must be made reproducibly. However, the ability to reproducibly synthesize NCs has not been reached due to three challenges. The first is a lack of understanding of the NC nucleation mechanism which results in batch-to-batch variation in NC size. The second is a lack of understanding of NC growth mechanisms and how those depend on growth conditions. The third is phase segregation and cation disorder which often occurs for complex ternary and quaternary materials (like CZTS) synthesized with multiple metal precursors. Studying NC formation mechanisms using in situ X-ray total scattering from synchrotron sources allows for previously unobtainable insight on structure of NCs from precursor to nuclei to NC. In NANO-TUNE, I will study the nucleation and growth of CuS using in situ X-ray total scattering and target subsequent cation exchange with Zn and Sn to make CZTS. The outcomes of NANO-TUNE will be the ability to make NCs more reproducibly and with a great tunability of materials properties. CZTS NCs will be used as a proof of concept to study other copper chalcogenide materials in the future which have a wide range of uses including batteries and sensors. The supervisor of this work, Prof. Jensen, has extensive expertise on studying the structure of ultra-small particles and in situ beamline X-ray total scattering experiments, making the University of Copenhagen the perfect host for this project.
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 energy and fuels renewable energy
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials nanocrystals
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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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-2018
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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.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
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.