BIOntier offers innovative solutions to environmental challenges and establishes a holistic, integrated, and industrial-driven platform for the design, development, and scalable fabrication of the next generation of cost-effective, sustainable, lightweight, recyclable bio-based composites (BioC) with enhanced properties (e.g. thermal, mechanical, chemical), functionalities (e.g. corrosion, chemical and fire resistance, hardness and impact resistance, high temperature resistance, structural health monitoring). BIOntier will also advance manufacturing processes, enhancing synthesis and stability and reducing environmental impact. Such BioC and manufacturing capabilities will allow robust connections with end-users and thus develop and qualify the commercial propositions to high TRLs. BIOntier will develop, demonstrate, and validate the efficacy of BioC-enabled products (6 use cases) which will underlie future technologies for different sectors (e.g. automotive, aerospace, energy (hydrogen economy) and water treatment). BIOntier also supports the innovation output and industrialization efforts of the EU initiatives and strategies for circular bioeconomy, building a credible pathway for the newly accumulated knowledge to impact EU industry and society. BIOntier will support a strong EU value chain in translating technology advances from TRL4-5 into concrete innovation opportunities and production capabilities (TRL6-7), with first-mover market advantages of scale in the defined industrial sectors. The consortium consists of 25 partners from 12 countries, representing the full value chain, with leading OEMs, large industries, world-class research and education organisations, and innovative SMEs. BIOntier is designed to ensure maximum impact for the defined industries and society as a whole, significantly contributing to the evolving field of BioC.

Solid-state batteries can surpass the current Li-ion technology in terms of energy density, battery safety, specific power, as well as fast-charging capability. According to the Recommendations on energy storage of the European Commission, the development of next-generation batteries is a high priority. In this context, this project proposes novel cross-disciplinary approaches empowered by digital technologies that can accelerate research on the next generations of safe and high-performing batteries. The project presents three main goals: (a) train the young researcher Dr. Cristian Mendes-Felipe, in the design, development and optimisation of UV-curable materials with tailored made properties, including self-healing capabilities to develop solid-state electrolytes (SSEs); (b) assemble those SSEs in a battery, and (c) understand the role of materials and interfaces (hybrid materials interfaces and solid electrolyte/electrode interfaces) in the ionic transport in order to unravel a possible kinetic mechanism in solid-state batteries. The combination of photopolymerization technique of different materials containing ionic conductors with the in-situ analysis of the ongoing battery state envisage not only improve the cutting-edge technology of solid-state energy storage obtain a fundamental understanding of the SSEs structures. During his short research career, the fellow has gained expertise in the fabrication of nanostructured and composite photocurable materials, acquiring hands-on experience with both structural and electronic characterization techniques. Nonetheless, to further boost his career, the fellow needs to broaden his knowledge in the field of energy-storage at BCMaterials, to complement the already known characterization techniques with new ones and with computer simulations and modelling. This project will also increase his supervision experience, project and intellectual property management expertise, and research funding and proposal writing skills.

Today, there is a tremendous need of new optoelectronic devices for spontaneous and visual reading of the touch/pressure through high-spatial resolution for smart technologies such as e-skin, robotics, touchpad screens, or medical monitors. To replace the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) that actually used in light emissive devices, mostly lanthanides, iridium or platinum, and to generate highly sensitive pressure sensors, the strategy of AniMOC project, is to use luminescent and anisotropic (1D or 2D) nanomaterials, in order to apply a directional strain on the targeted bonds involved in the optoelectronic processes. Thus, the emerging anisotropic d10 coinage Metal Organic Chalcogenolates (MOCs) as coordination polymers, [M(ER)]n, M = Cu, Ag, Au and ER = chalcogenolate ligand, are ideal candidates, because they are a good alternative to CRM and present an intense emission, due to the metallophillic interactions, as well as intrinsic multiemission bands. Therefore, the main breakthrough is to fabricate thin films with a preferential alignment of the anisotropic and luminescent MOCs through strong bonds between the nanoobjects in order to get high pressure sensitivity and stable and reversible processes. To reach this target, the four objectives of AniMOC are (i) to synthesize nanowires and nanosheets of [M(SR)]n, (M = Cu, Ag, Au) (ii) to control the functionalization of the external surfaces of the nanoobjects, (iii) to couple and organize them by cupling reactions dynamc covalent chemistry and (iv) to fabricate orientated thin films of MOCs that exhibit pressure dependent photoemission. The AniMOC project is a great opportunity to develop new luminescent touch sensitive devices that will open a new path to lightening technologies avoiding the present of CRM and provides a better sustainable and economical solution.

GIANCE offers innovative solutions to environmental challenges and establishes a holistic, integrated, and industrial-driven platform for the design, development, and scalable fabrication of the next generation of cost-effective, sustainable, lightweight, recyclable graphene and related materials (GRM)-based multifunctional composites, coatings, foams, and membranes (GRM-bM) with enhanced properties (e.g. thermal, mechanical, chemical), functionalities (e.g. wear, corrosion, chemical and fire resistance, hardness and impact resistance, high temperature resistance, structural health monitoring, ultralow friction surfaces), and as enablers for hydrogen storage. GIANCE will also advance manufacturing processes, enhancing synthesis and stability and reducing environmental impact. Such GRM-bM and manufacturing capabilities will allow robust connections with end-users and thus develop and qualify the commercial propositions to high TRLs. GIANCE will develop, demonstrate, and validate the efficacy of GRM-enabled products (11 use cases) which will underlie future technologies for different sectors (e.g. automotive, aerospace, energy (hydrogen economy) and water treatment). GIANCE also supports the innovation output and industrialization efforts of the Graphene Flagship initiative, building a credible pathway for the newly accumulated knowledge to impact EU industry and society. GIANCE will support a strong EU value chain in translating technology advances from TRL4-5 into concrete innovation opportunities and production capabilities (TRL6-7), with first-mover market advantages of scale in the defined industrial sectors. The consortium consists of 23 partners from 10 countries, representing the full value chain, with leading OEMs, large industries, world-class research and education organisations, and innovative SMEs. GIANCE is designed to ensure maximum impact for the defined industries and society as a whole, significantly contributing to the evolving field of GRM.

Piezoelectricity in two-dimensional (2D) materials is increasingly important because of its potential in realizing thin yet efficient and flexible piezoelectric devices. In contrast to traditional three-dimensional (3D) piezo- and ferroelectrics that are prone to size effects, piezoelectricity in 2D materials may be controlled by flexoelectricity and interfaces thus providing significant piezoelectric effect in ultrathin films and crystals. Equally important, the majority of 2D layered piezoelectrics found so far possess in-plane piezoelectricity and require bending of flexible substrates to activate piezoelectric effect. This severely limits their integration with modern Si technology. This project aims at strengthening the piezoelectric activity in 2D materials via interface and stress engineering and bond control in order to reach the maximum efficiency and other relevant figures of merit. The materials list includes hafnium-zirconium oxide (HZO), transition metal thio/selenophosphates (TPS), graphene on oxide substrates, and polymer PDVF. A comprehensive investigation of piezoelectricity in these 2D materials and their relevant device performance is still at an initial stage and needs European support. Concerning piezoelectric energy harvesting, Piezo2D will build a technology to provide local energy generation (microgenerators) from the nm- to the micro-scale to power nano- and microdevices. Piezo2D will do so by enhancing and deploying the combined powers of equilibrium and nonequilibrium thermodynamics and atomistic models with device physics and engineering. Research results will underpin future developments of nanoscale energy devices for decades to come. We will also develop new characterization techniques and metrology-inspired protocols aiming at future standards and their use in the industry. The multidisciplinary approach of Piezo2D brings together leading teams in theoretical physics, materials science, chemistry and instrumentation working in synergy