OPTICAL PROGRAMABLE ASSEMBLY OF NANOMATERIALS

Project Information

OPAN

Grant agreement ID: 896410

DOI

10.3030/896410

Project closed

EC signature date 17 March 2020

Start date 2 December 2020

End date 3 July 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 212 933,76

EU contribution

€ 212 933,76

Coordinated by

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OPAN (OPTICAL PROGRAMABLE ASSEMBLY OF NANOMATERIALS)

Reporting period: 2020-12-02 to 2022-12-01

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

This MSCA Individual Fellowship aimed to address critical gaps in our understanding and application of light-matter interactions for the fabrication of advanced nanostructured materials and holographic devices. The project focused on overcoming limitations in:
• Predictive modelling of nanomaterial behaviour: Existing tools could not accurately model the complex dynamics of nanoparticle assembly under the influence of light, hindering the design and optimization of novel nanostructured devices.
• Sensitive and versatile optical sensor development: Current sensor technologies often lack the required sensitivity, reversibility, and conformability for applications like point-of-care diagnostics and continuous monitoring of biological systems.
• Real-world applications of holography: Despite the potential of holography, challenges remained in generating high-resolution holograms in real-time and integrating them into practical devices for applications like augmented reality and 3D visualization.
Societal implications:
• Healthcare: Advanced optical sensors could revolutionize point-of-care diagnostics, enabling early disease detection, personalized medicine, and improved patient monitoring, ultimately leading to better healthcare outcomes.
• Transportation: Real-time holographic displays could enhance driver safety by providing intuitive and immersive information, contributing to safer and more efficient transportation systems.
• Infrastructure: Improved inspection techniques, such as free-form laser profilometry, could ensure the integrity and safety of critical infrastructure like pipelines, minimizing the risk of environmental damage and economic losses.
• Scientific research: Developing robust simulation platforms and advancing our understanding of light-matter interactions at the nanoscale paves the way for future breakthroughs in nanotechnology, photonics, and materials science.
Potential benefits:
• Develop a sophisticated simulation platform: This platform would accurately model the formation of nanostructures in configurable materials under the influence of light, enabling the design and optimization of novel nanostructured devices.
• Create functionalized nanostructured elements for sensing: The project aimed to develop sensitive, reversible, and conformable sensors for applications like wound monitoring and point-of-care diagnostics.
• Develop innovative holographic devices: The focus was on developing real-time holographic projection systems for automotive head-up displays and high-resolution 3D imaging systems for infrastructure inspection.

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

This MSCA Individual Fellowship yielded significant results across three interconnected areas:
• Simulation of Nanostructured Materials: A sophisticated simulation platform was developed, exceeding existing capabilities in modelling the complex dynamics of nanostructured materials under the influence of light. This platform enables researchers to explore a wider range of parameters and geometries, facilitating the design and optimization of advanced nanostructured devices for applications like sensors and lasers. Findings were disseminated through peer-reviewed publications (e.g. DOI: 10.1002/adts.202200082 DOI: 10.1117/1.jnp.17.016007) and conference presentations, fostering knowledge transfer and collaboration.
• Development of Optical Sensors: Innovative, functionalized nanostructured elements for optically based sensing mechanisms were created, surpassing existing technologies in sensitivity, reversibility, and conformability. Achievements include a conformable holographic pH sensing bandage for wound monitoring (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202308490) holographic alcohol sensors (DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c02109) and reversible photonic hydrogel sensors for continuous pH monitoring in biological fluids (DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114206). These sensors hold potential for applications in healthcare, point-of-care diagnostics, and industrial biotechnology, with research findings disseminated through high-impact publications and conference presentations.
• Advancement of Holographic Devices: Advanced holographic devices for inspection and visualization applications were developed, pushing the boundaries of real-time holographic projection and high-resolution 3D imaging. Key achievements include an accelerated augmented reality holographic point cloud video projection system for automotive HUDs (DOI: 10.1002/adom.202301772) a free-form laser profilometry method for pipeline inspection (DOI: 10.1109/jsen.2021.3130224) and a customizable mixed reality HUD system for projecting 3D holographic traffic signs (DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202328709004). These devices hold promise for enhancing safety and efficiency in the automotive and infrastructure sectors, with research findings disseminated through leading publications and conference presentations.

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)

This MSCA Individual Fellowship achieved significant progress beyond the state-of-the-art, yielding advancements in:
• Simulation of Nanostructured Materials: The project developed a sophisticated simulation platform surpassing existing capabilities in modelling the complex dynamics of these materials. This platform enables researchers to explore a wider range of parameters and facilitates the design and optimization of advanced nanostructured devices. Continued refinement and validation of this platform will further enhance its application in nanotechnology and photonics, accelerating the development of novel materials and devices for diverse applications, including sensors, lasers, and metamaterials. This progress has the potential to drive scientific discovery and facilitate the design of nanostructured materials for industrial applications, leading to new products and processes with enhanced performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Development of Optical Sensors: This fellowship created innovative, functionalized nanostructured elements for optically based sensing mechanisms, surpassing existing technologies in sensitivity, reversibility, and conformability. Continued development and refinement of these sensors, including exploring new functionalization strategies, will optimize their performance for specific applications. These advancements have the potential to revolutionize point-of-care diagnostics, enabling early disease detection, personalized medicine, and improved patient monitoring, particularly in resource-limited settings. Furthermore, they can drive the development of a new generation of wearable and implantable sensors for healthcare, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications, fostering both societal well-being and economic growth.
• Advancement of Holographic Devices: The project developed advanced holographic devices for inspection and visualization applications, pushing the boundaries of real-time holographic projection and high-resolution 3D imaging. Further development and optimization of these devices will focus on increasing resolution, enhancing speed and accuracy, and exploring new applications in areas like augmented reality and virtual reality. These innovations can enhance driver safety through real-time holographic displays in automotive head-up displays, improve the efficiency and safety of infrastructure inspection through advanced holographic imaging techniques, and drive innovation in the field of holography, leading to new applications in 3D visualization, augmented reality, and optical data storage.

Simulations of functional nanomaterials