Project description
Investigating ionic liquid behaviour at the nanoscale
Friction significantly impacts energy efficiency, consuming over 25 % of world energy. Ionic liquids – salts in liquid form at room temperature – hold promise as advanced lubricants owing to their thermal stability and tuneable viscosity. However, their behaviour in tight nanoscale gaps remains poorly understood. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NanoECoAL project will investigate how electric and magnetic fields influence the molecular arrangement and frictional performance of ionic liquids at the nanoscale. Researchers will use atomic force microscopy to obtain images of ionic liquid structures at high resolution, determine how they are organised and analyse their dynamic behaviour. Nanoscale findings will be complemented by macroscale tribology findings to bridge the gap between atomistic and macroscale observations.
Objective
Friction has a crucial role in almost any technological applications accounting for more than 25% of the world's energy consumption. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been suggested as the next generation of lubricants. Applications of ILs in real-life scenarios rely on full control of their properties in often inaccessible nanogaps. Externally applied electric or magnetic fields have emerged as a strong candidate to change surface polarisation of sliding solids and manipulate ILs lubricating properties in such tight gaps. However, an exhaustive picture of the molecular processes behind electromagnetic control of friction in systems lubricated by ILs is still lacking. NanoECoAL aims at investigating the influence of nanoscale electric and magnetic domains on the organization and shear response of model IL lubricants relevant for any mechanical systems. NanoECoAL will use atomic force microscopy to image, with sub-nanometric resolution, structural organization of ILs molecules as a function of surface electric and magnetic polarization; and at the same time studying their dynamic behaviour, in terms of lubricated friction force. Nanoscale in situ investigations will be complemented by macroscale tribology to bridge the gap between atomistic models and macroscale observations. NanoECoAL’s broader impact will support rational design of new and improved ILs that can reduce energy consumption in advanced tribological applications. Furthermore, the project will imply highly innovative, direct methodological developments that can be broadly applied, thus enhancing European academic and commercial competitiveness. The project has a strong multidisciplinary character and will greatly benefit from the expertise the fellow acquired from his mobility and collaborations with research institutions in different countries. Through NanoECoAL, the fellow will broaden his scientific background, develop complementary knowledge in new areas and increase his chances of success in academia.
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 mechanical engineering tribology lubrication
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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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.
56126 Pisa
Italy
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.