Imaging Magnetism in Nanostructures using Electron Holography

Objective

"Future developments in the control, functionalization and manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles and nanoscale magnetic devices require an understanding of collinear and non-collinear spin configurations and correlated changes of electronic structure on the sub-nanometer scale.

In this project, an experimental methodology will be developed to allow magnetic spin structures in differently shaped nanomagnets to be visualized quantitatively and correlated with their crystallographic, compositional and defect structures. The project is based on the development of electron holography in the transmission electron microscope. It aims to provide quantitative measurements of internal magnetic fields in nanoparticles and devices that have characteristic dimensions of between 2 and 20 nm with a spatial resolution of better than 1 nm, both in projection and in three dimensions. Developments in instrumentation will allow the measurements to be acquired in situ in the electron microscope at elevated and reduced specimen temperatures and in the presence of oxidizing and reducing gases.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, requiring close collaboration between scientists working on nanoparticle synthesis, device fabrication, magnetic modeling, computational mathematics and characterization techniques. It will provide a powerful new analytical tool at the frontiers of the highest spatial resolution analysis of spin and electronic structures that will have far-reaching impact beyond a specific research domain, not only in fundamental magnetism but also for applications that include magnetic recording, spintronics, catalysis and biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles.

The methodology will also benefit European industry by providing a new leading edge in the fast growing international market of in situ transmission electron microscopy."

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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

• natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
• natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics spintronics
• natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
• engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
• natural sciences mathematics

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

• FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

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.

• ERC-AG-PE4 - ERC Advanced Grant - Physical and Analytical Chemical sciences

Call for proposal

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

ERC-2012-ADG_20120216
See other projects for this call

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-AG - ERC Advanced Grant

Host institution

Beneficiaries (3)