Sputter deposition is a commonly used process and the possibility of using it in conjunction with 2D materials would constitute an enormous advantage for the industrial scale production in Europe. This has, however, not been accomplished yet. The reason for this is the energetic particle bombardment associated with conventional sputtering which may easily break the weak bonds in these types of sensitive materials. The conventional sputtering process promotes energetic particle flux onto the growing film which is normally beneficial for the film quality but may be very detrimental to a layered material. There is however a number of processing condition that can be modified to significantly reduce the energetic bombardment. By using Monte-Carlo based software that is capable of simulating the sputtering process together with experimental feedback, the aim is to develop a sputtering process that is compatible with the layered structures. In this project, we propose to develop a sputter-deposition method for deposition onto sensitive layered structures as well as for the actual deposition of high quality layered sulphide structures, such as WS2, MoS2, SnS2 and combinations thereof. Such materials combinations constitute novel layered materials structures and it is of major importance that such structures are developed in EU. The deposited films will further be characterized by using optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Such characterization is important for understanding the fundamental physics of the layered structures and hetero structures. Further, deposition and analysis of the proposed 2D materials is necessary to assess their potential in novel electronics and optoelectronics. The specific purposes and aims of the proposed project are as follows • Study and characterize the influence of the energetic particle bombardment associated with sputter deposition onto the proposed 2D-materials. • Develop a sputter deposition process that enables deposition onto the proposed 2D- materials without deteriorating their quality. • Develop a sputter deposition process that enables deposition of high quality layered sulphide films, such as WS2, MoS2, SnS2, and novel combinations thereof • Characterize the sputtered 2D-materials films and evaluate them from a fundamental standpoint, e.g. correlation of the structural aspects (crystal structure and defects) with the fundamental electronic properties.

Quantum technology for quantum computing builds on a deep understanding of the fundamental phenomena underlying the quantum properties as well as of the phenomena limiting the qubit performance. In addition, the chosen materials need to offer a real potential of scalability and reproducibility, as in the case of silicon and CMOS compatible materials. The aim of SIQUOS is to realise and study a Si gatemon qubit, a gate tuneable transmon qubit composed of a Si Josephson field-effect transistor (JoFET) coupled to a microwave resonator. It represents a valid integrable and scalable alternative to fully metallic superconducting qubits. SIQUOS will focus on the Si JoFET, i.e., a Si transistor with superconducting source and drain (S&D) contacts, whose non-dissipative supercurrent can be modulated by an electrostatic gate. CMOS-compatible metal silicides and heavily boron (B) doped Si will be used as the superconducting S&D contacts. A comprehensive investigation of the superconductor/Si (S/Sm) interface by means of structural, chemical and low-temperature electronic transport characterisation will be performed. The first and foremost objective of SIQUOS is to optimise the S/Sm interface transparency so as to allow for the transfer of correlated charge carriers from the superconducting contacts into the Si channel and to reach large, reproducible supercurrents. The second objective is to realise superconducting Si transistors, demonstrating the gate tuneability of the Josephson supercurrent. Thereupon, the third and final objective is to integrate Si JoFETs in a transmon geometry including on-chip capacitors and resonators, and to realise the manipulation of quantum states in Si-gatemon devices. Additionally, the quantum performance of individual qubits will be measured when coupled to a limited number of other qubits to anticipate more complex quantum circuits. The control of the qubit properties in a scalable technology, and therefore the potential to directly assemble a large number of qubits in a functional quantum circuit, is an added major outcome of the project. To achieve its successful realisation, SIQUOS relies on a multidisciplinary consortium with expertise in material and characterisation science, process integration and quantum nanoelectronics.

2D materials exhibit promising properties for key European industrial areas including high-speed computing and communication technologies. However, mainly focused on crystalline materials, these applications are currently limited by the lack of direct and reproducible low cost-synthesis methods, due to high temperature growth. Recently, structurally disordered 2D materials, produced at much lower temperatures, have been shown to manifest a large degree of uniformity over large areas, and performant properties for device applications. Amorphous boron nitride (aBN) is found to exhibit ultra-low dielectric-constant, and excellent field emission performance, being suitable for interconnects technologies and high performance electronics, such as flexible dielectric devices or conductive bridging RAM. MINERVA aims to grow aBN thin films over large area on various substrates, and evaluate their properties as coatings for thermal, electronic and spintronic applications. Particular attention will be paid to achieve nanoscale control of the amorphicity, thickness of the films as well as doping rate and substrate interaction. The relationship between processing and atomic structure will be studied by an appropriate combination of analytical techniques. Modelling to understand the structures and properties of the materials will support and validate the experiments at every stage. The expected physical properties of such deposited layers, coupled with the versatility and adaptability in materials processing, as well as the large-area and uniform coverage at low temperature, should allow their integration as electronic components in ultimate nanoelectronic systems. More concretely, the added value of large scale aBN will be studied for resistive switching devices, magnetic tunnel junctions and spin injection tunnel barriers. The possible dependence of aBN electronic properties in contact to ferromagnetic electrodes will be explored in detail, predicting the possible fruitful potential of spin manipulation by proximity effect at the hybridized aBN/ferromagnet interface. This is expected to generate new scientific knowledge of charge and spin transport across novel 2D hybrid junctions. In addition, these newly tuned aBN materials, on which no studies have yet been conducted within the Graphene Flagship, will be added to the Samples and Materials Database as standard references. MINERVA brings together complementary expertises and is characterized by a high level of interaction between partners. UCBL will coordinate MINERVA and synthesize controlled aBN samples. ICN2 and UU will respectively perform measurements of thermal conductivity and charge and spin transport. UCLouvain and ICN2 will simulate spin-dependent transport throughout aBN films and investigate the coupling between aBN electronic properties and ferromagnetic materials. MINERVA will bring new materials and technological devices to the Flagship consortium, thereby supporting its industrial objectives.

Addiction leads to substantial human suffering as well as to tremendous economical costs for our society. A secret to the understanding of this pathology lies in unraveling the function of a specific brain region named nucleus accumbens (NAc). The NAc regulates several behavioral outputs that are affected in addiction, including motor control, learning of habits, motivational and reward-related learning. To communicate with each other, brain cells, neurons, use a combination of electrical and secreted chemical signals, called neurotransmitters. Amongst these brain neurotransmitters, dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA and glutamate are key players in the NAc. Dysfunction of communication in the NAc underlies the development of drug dependence. For instance, dopamine transmission in the NAc is critical for reward prediction as well as addiction to drugs such as cocaine, morphine, nicotine amphetamine and alcohol. Acetylcholine-secreting neurons (known as TANs) also regulate many of the pathological alterations in addiction. We have recently made the astonishing discovery that acetylcholine-secreting neurons can release the neurotransmitter glutamate in addition to acetylcholine. This finding suggests that these neurons can communicate with other cells in the NAc using two different chemical codes. Hence, by using these two separate “languages” TANs can provide distinct forms of information to other neurons in the NAc. We have recently uncovered evidence that it is glutamate release, and not acetylcholine release, by these “bilingual” neurons that is critical in mediating drug–induced effect. Furthermore, we have identified individuals suffering from severe addictions, who carry mutations in the machinery allowing glutamate release from TANs. The ultimate goal of our current proposal is to decipher how TANs, by sending these two chemical codes, can regulate the NAc in healthy and diseased states. Understanding this “neuronal bilingualism” will lead to the refinement of screening strategies and medications for the treatment of NAc-related diseases.

Shipping is the most widely used medium for transport of goods internationally and will continue to increase. Although shipping is a carbon-efficient transport medium, there is an increasing focus on its broader environmental consequences. For a sustainable and equitable use of the oceans, as well as minimizing impacts of global change, a further development to sustainable shipping, or green shipping, is needed. Ship-building and operational standards are introduced and area-based instruments, such as emission control areas (ECAs), are established. However, lack of regulations, vague monitoring, unclear environmental impacts and economic uncertainty might cause problems for industry and society. In ShipTRASE, the environmental, economic and legal aspects of both near-term and long-term solutions to shipping emission reduction and control mechanisms will be analysed. The potential environmental impacts on the lower atmosphere and upper ocean include those from pollutant emission from ship smokestacks and liquid discharge, as well as increased methane-induced greenhouse warming. With our transdisciplinary team (atmospheric sciences, chemical oceanography, international law, environmental economy and engineering), we will investigate how the use of scrubbers and alternative fuels impact the environment and feedback on economics and regulation. In addition, we will involve stakeholders in both Germany and Sweden (industry, local government, large scale regulation) to discuss these topics, share information and outcomes, and co-design further scientific research. The work involved will use various platforms: in-situ measurements, scrubber laboratory measurements, numerical modeling, cost-benefit analysis, and survey methodologies. ShipTRASE will deliver an economic and environmental consequence analysis of implementation of control areas. In addition, we will assess the impact of policy settings and legal regulation. A methodology for making such analysis is also one important outcome of the project.