Objective Objectives and content The aim of this project is to develop high performance thin films of anisotropic metallic nanoclusters embedded in a dielectric host. The enhanced dielectric and optical properties of these composites make them a credible alternative to existing materials in well identified industrial sectors such as thin film passive components for electronics, e.g. planar capacitors with ultrahigh capacitance values, integrated polarisers with high extinction ratios or all-optical ultra-fast switches with response times of a few picoseconds. The Brite/Euram Area covered by this proposal is area 2 "Materials and Technologies for Product Innovation" in its item 2.1 "Materials engineering". The project will be developed in two stages. The first one involves the material engineering and thus, the development of the appropriate techniques to produce anisotropic particles embedded in an insulator matrix, with a controlled size, shape and tentation. Several routes will be conducted in parallel to produce such nanocomposite thin films in order to minimise the technical risk. The second stage relates to the optimisation of the dielectric and optical response of the composite films for the applications envisaged. Several metallic nanocrystals and hosts with different dielectric constant and structure will be explored to tailor the film properties to the specific application. The expected targeted results include media with a dielectric constant s 3 of 5,000 and tan s 2 of 0.1 at 300 kHz (for capacitors) and optical waveguides exhibiting non-linear optical properties (a non-linear third order susceptibility X3 > 10-8 esu, absorption a<101 cm l and x<12 ps) or polarising effects with extinction ratios > 30 dB and insertion losses <0.5 dB (for all-optical ultrafast integrated switches or integrated polarisers). Demonstrators are planned in the two fields of applications in order to probe the practical problems raised by the use of these nanocomposite films in actual devices. The consortium is formed by a manufacturer of capacitors and a supplier of telecommunication systems, a research organisation which brings expertise on dielectric and optical thin films and three University Departments with their proved skills on the production of nanoparticles by ion implantation, their characterisation by electron microscopy techniques and their modelling and surface control, respectively. In the case of the manufacturer of capacitors, it is essential to reduce dielectric layer thickness or to increase the dielectric constant. In the case of AAR the supplier of telecommunication systems, who is also a manufacturer of electronic and optoelectronic components, it is essential to produce low cost DC-DC converters, optoelectronic passive components and ultrafast switches with higher performances. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyelectron microscopyengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnanocrystalsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringnanocomposites Keywords Nanotechnology Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0201 - Materials engineering Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS EU contribution No data Address 121,Serrano 121 28071 MADRID Spain See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Alcatel CIT S.A. France EU contribution No data Address Route de Marcoussis 91461 Marcoussis See on map Total cost No data MORGAN GROUP TECHNOLOGY LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Bewdley Road DY13 8QR STOURPORT ON SEVERN See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITE PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE - PARIS VI France EU contribution No data Address Place Jussieu, 4 75252 PARIS See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Falmer BN1 9QT BRIGHTON See on map Total cost No data Universität Gesamthochschule Kassel Germany EU contribution No data Address 40,Heinrich-Plett-Strasse 40 34132 Kassel See on map Total cost No data
