Project description
Advanced microscopy technique opens a new window into the nanoworld
The quantum processes that occur at the length scale of a few nanometres largely define the optoelectronic properties of low-dimensional materials. Elucidating nanoscale processes requires probing light-matter interactions at a resolution an order of magnitude greater than that achieved by existing nano-optical approaches. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the AETSOM project plans to achieve optical resolution of a few nanometres by tapping into the potential of a technique researchers call atomic energy near-field scanning optical microscopy. The technique could enable researchers to perform photon-based material characterisation across different length scales on nearly any sample and in environments that are typically found in most technological applications.
Objective
Many of the defining optoelectronic properties in low-dimensional materials – e.g. exciton Bohr radii and diffusion lengths, defect sizes and spacings, and Moire lattice periods – are determined by materials physics and processes that occur at the single-digit nm length scale. Their direct investigation and elucidation – crucial for future applications – therefore requires the ability to probe light-matter interactions at a resolution an order of magnitude better than what is generally achievable with existing nano-optical approaches. Here we propose a strategy for achieving single-nm optical resolution by developing a breakthrough capability which we will refer to as Atomic Energy Transfer Scanning nano-Optical Microscopy (AETSOM). The one-nm optical resolution will be attained by the attachment of a lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticle (UCNP) at the end of a near-field scanning probe tip. The intended probe is composed of a tapered metal-insulator-metal waveguide fabricated at the end of a glass fiber, enabling the efficient coupling of far-field light to the near-field and vice-versa through the probe tip, over a wide range of wavelengths. Lanthanide-doped UCNPs absorb multiple photons in the NIR and emit at higher energies in the NIR/visible with efficiencies orders of magnitude higher than those of the best 2-photon fluorophores. The robust attachment of the UCNPs to the probe through specific functionalization of the UCNPs will enable illumination/collection to/from single-digit nm volumes. The establishment of this breakthrough single-digit nano-optical capability will provide the ability to perform photon-based characterization and activation over multiple length scales on nearly any sample and in the real environments encountered in most technological applications. The anticipated results will immediately impact numerous fields, from quantum materials to photo-chemistry to energy harvesting to ultrasensitive biomolecular control and detection.
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.
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.
- engineering and technology materials engineering fibers
- natural sciences chemical sciences physical chemistry photochemistry
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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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.
91904 JERUSALEM
Israel
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.