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Shape-Shifting Ultrathin 2D Colloidal NanoPlatelets

Project description

Synthesising a new class of 2D materials with chiral symmetry

Atomically thin nanomaterials offer a wide variety of chiral 3D shapes such as helices, twists and rolls when a force is applied on their surface. The goal of the EU-funded SENECA project is to create a new class of chiral nanostructures. To do so, it will use organic ligands that will bend and twist the surface of ultrathin nanosheets – 2D colloidal nanoplatelets – into complex shapes. The project will advance fundamental knowledge on nanoscale mechanics and provide a mechanistic framework for the synthetic chemistry of 2D materials. Thanks to their chiroptical properties, the newly synthesised nanomaterials are expected to find wide application in fields as diverse as nanoswimmers, photocatalysis and soft robotics.

Objective

Mechanical instabilities of thin sheets has long been exploited in Nature to create patterns and ensure vital functions such as stimuli responsiveness. By applying forces at the surface of thin objects, it is possible to create a wide variety of chiral 3D shapes such as helices, twists and rolls. Moreover, minute changes on these forces can induce dramatic shape-shifting between different geometries. Our goal is to use this general principle to establish a new class of chiral and addressable nanostructures that current synthetic strategies can not afford. Building on our pioneering results, i will use organic ligands at the surface of two dimensional colloidal nanoplatelets to bend and twist ultrathin nanosheets into complex shapes. We first aim at establishing generic synthetic principles for colloidal 2D materials. To do so, we will develop in situ scattering methods to get atomistic insight on their formation mechanism. We will then determine the link between surface chemistry, interfacial stress and conformation in a set of model systems. Based on these insights, we will design stimuli responsive surface ligands whose conformational change upon excitation by an external stimuli will impact the nanoparticle shape. Finally, understanding the nanoscale colloidal forces and geometric frustration between these new building blocks will enable the design of nanostructured solids made by out-of-equilibrium assembly. This research program will advance our fundamental knowledge on mechanics at the nanoscale and provide a mechanistic framework for synthetic chemistry of 2D materials. The nanoparticles that we will synthesize are expected to have broad applications due to their chiroptical properties and their stimuli responsive character in fields as diverse as nano-swimmers, detection of chiral bio-coumpounds, photo-catalysis, soft-robotic or sensors/actuators.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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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.

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG

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Host institution

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 1 898 750,00
Total cost

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.

€ 1 958 000,00

Beneficiaries (2)

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