Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : DEOM (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Materials Engineering
Entité participante : Université de Groningue — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : RUG
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2500000.0 €

One of the promises of the combination of quantum mechanics and nanotechnology is the ability to design materials with tailor-made physical properties. While there have been several successful examples, as in the case of metamaterials for photonic applications, where colour and refractive index can be tuned by a smart design of the material structure, the development of similar metamaterials for other applications has been lagging behind. In this proposal, I aim to capitalize the body of work done by my group to fabricate optoelectronic devices with colloidal semiconducting quantum dots and layered metal halide perovskites by proposing an innovative approach towards optoelectronic metamaterials. We will engineer metamaterials for optoelectronic in the visible and near infrared spectral range using as building blocks superlattices quantum wells (QWs) based on layered metal halide perovskites and Pb chalcogenides quantum dots (QDs), respectively. The metamaterials will be assembled from a solution phase using modified Langmuir-Blodgett-Schaefer techniques (both for the QWs and QDs). We will increase the monodispersity of the precursor’s clusters in solution using interaction with an ionic liquid. Ligands will be used in both QDs and QWs superlattices to control the charge carrier transport of the metamaterials providing their full tuneability of properties that will allow to revolutionize the optoelectronic field. The final certification of the quality of the DEOM’s metamaterials will be obtained with the fabrication of near- and short-wavelength infrared photodetectors and visible-light emitting diodes of superior performance levels.

Mots-clés : quantum dots,quantum wells,optoelectronics
Projet ERC : COMP-O-CELL (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences
Entité participante : Université de Groningue — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : RUG
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2498148.0 €

As an integral part of cell architecture, cell membranes are central to cell functioning. Comprising a heterogeneous mixture of proteins and lipids, cell membranes are constantly adapting their structural organization to regulate cellular processes. Malfunction at the level of lipid-protein interaction is implicated in numerous diseases , and hence, understanding cell membrane organization at the molecular level is of critical importance. Unfortunately, our current understanding is limited, which is due to the lack of methods for studying these fluctuating nanoscale assemblies in vivo at the required spatiotemporal resolution. An important tool for studying cellular processes is through molecular simulation, denoted computational microscopy. Computational microscopy has been used to study small membrane patches in isolation, but until now, cell membranes have not been simulated in their ‘natural’ context. I intend to apply computational microscopy at the whole-cell level, to study complex membrane structures and their function within the cellular environment. This requires challenging methodological innovations at the crossroads of biology, life sciences, physics, and chemistry. In this project, I will use advanced computational microscopy to study the interplay of membranes with their surroundings in a realistic cellular environment. The main goal is to establish a framework for the simulation, at molecular resolution, of entire cells and cell organelles.

Mots-clés : molecular dynamics coarse grain models cell membranes martini force field protein lipid interplay
Projet ERC : STOREHEAT (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Materials Engineering
Entité participante : Institut Mines-Télécom — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : IMT
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2494415.0 €

Although affordable solutions exist to store and recover heat from low temperature sources, the high temperature ones (> 550 °C) such as the concentrated solar and waste heat from high temperature energy intensive industries remain challenging since efficient and affordable storage materials are scarce. The waste heat from these industries is huge and corresponds to 16% (122 Terawatt hours) of the total heat consumption/year in Europe. STOREHEAT targets the investigation of an outstanding and novel family of High Storage Capacity materials, namely Calcium Carbide-based Composites (3C), for High Temperature Heat Storage. 3C is produced at much lower temperature (1000 – 1200 °C) than the current solutions (1800-2500 °C) based on silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics from fossil source (coke) mainly. 3C is synthesized by carbonization of calcium rich biochar and have not yet been mentioned in the literature neither for high temperature storage nor the mechanism of their formation explored. Preliminary synthesis attempts showed a high temperature storage capacity for 3C of 20% higher than that of SiC while consuming much less energy and using sustainable resources for its production. The scientific breakthrough lies on the counter-intuitive and pioneering approach proposed to combine and stabilize the hierarchical carbon and metal species both from biochar to take advantage of their respective high thermal conductivity and heat capacity at high temperature. This seemingly winning combination, key for effective heat storage has never been done before. To achieve this objective, I propose an ambitious research approach combining in-situ and dynamic experimental methods and modelling to unlock the mechanisms governing the chemical phases assemblage and stabilization of 3C. The storage performance will be evaluated and optimized. The findings will push a way beyond the frontier of knowledge and broaden research opportunities in scientific communities interested in energy storage.

Mots-clés : materials for high temperature energy storage in form of heat advanced carbon materials engineering carbon metal composites hierarchical and tunable materials in situ characterization of chemical phase and structure transformations modelling biomass energy and environmental transitions decarbonization of industry
Projet ERC : PROMISES (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe Sciences
Entité participante : Nantes Université — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : NU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1854958.75 €

There is growing evidence that heavy organic molecules are a major component of the outer solar system bodies such as icy moons, comets, and Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Density profiles inferred from measurements of space missions require a low-density component in the core of the largest objects such as Ganymede and Titan. These observations suggest that a previously overlooked low-density component, identified as carbonaceous organic matter (COM), is one of the three main components, in addition to ice and rocks, building planetary bodies that formed beyond the ice line. However, there is a dearth of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations exploring the interaction of the heavy organic molecules constituting the COM with both the ice component (mainly H2O ices) and the rocky component (hydrated silicates, oxides and sulphides) at pressures relevant to icy moons. Observations from space missions also demonstrated that most icy moons are differentiated into a refractory core and an outer hydrosphere that includes a liquid layer (deep ocean), thus the name of ocean worlds. This raises the questions of the emergence of life at the ocean/core interface and of the habitability of ocean worlds. How does the presence of COM affect the thermal and chemical evolution of ocean worlds? The interaction between COM, ice and rocks is therefore essential for understanding the evolution of ocean worlds and for assessing their habitability potential. First, this project conducts laboratory experiments using diamond anvil cells (DAC) coupled with in situ Raman spectroscopy, a combination that is best suited for this kind of investigation. Second, it develops a thermochemical evolution model that can handle the chemical reactions and the thermo-chemical properties of the three components. Third, it applies the results to the evolution of ocean worlds in our solar system and beyond.

Mots-clés : planetary geophysics
Projet ERC : 3DmultiFerro (Horizon Europe, appel 2023, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Materials Engineering
Entité participante : Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : HZDR
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2500000.0 €

Disruptive development of brain-inspired computing, machine learning and deep neural networks for electronic assistants in smartphones, autonomous driving systems or chatGPT require new logic and storage concepts, which are beyond conventional von Neumann computer architectures. Materials known as multiferroics are identified as key enablers of these technologies. In contrast to ferromagnets, where the magnetic state is controlled by magnetic fields (energy inefficient due to flowing currents), magnetoelectric multiferroics allow manipulation of magnetic states by electric fields. The great promise of multiferroic materials towards energy efficient computing is compromised by the limited material portfolio. Literally, after decades of research, we have only one multiferroic (i.e. BiFeO3) potentially promising for room temperature spintronic devices. Even this most advanced material meets challenges outperforming state-of-the-art CMOS elements. The mainstream approach to design magnetoelectrics is to induce ferroelectric ordering in magnets to control non-volatile magnetic states electrically. Although intuitively understandable, this concept failed providing a technologically-relevant multiferroics. Here, we propose a paradigm shift in the design of multiferroic materials. Instead of trying to induce ferroelectricity, we will realize curvilinear multiferroics by imposing ferrotoroidal order in geometrically curved magnetic thin films. Fundamentally, we predict that effects of geometric curvature and inhomogeneous mechanical strain will induce sizeable ferrotoroidal order parameter in any magnetically ordered material, rendering this material multiferroic. Hence, curvilinear systems will turn rare ferrotoroidic materials in a broadly populated material class, available for material science and technologies similar to the conventional ferromagnets. This project will enable curvilinear multiferroics and validate their application potential for memory and logic devices.

Mots-clés : multiferroics,ferrotoroidal order,antiferromagnetism,magnetoelectric materials
Projet ERC : GAP (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Biotechnology and Biosystems E ngineering
Entité participante : Université de Pise — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2440000.0 €

Axon navigation is guided by spatial patterns of chemical and physical cues in the developing brain. After a damage, the pattern is lost. Axons do not have instructions to reach their target. Axon regeneration, if stimulated, occurs by chance. Unfortunately, current technologies do not allow us to control axon navigation decisions, and guided re-innervation is not possible in the central nervous system (CNS). The GAP project aims to fill this knowledge gap by modulating neuron mechanotransduction, in order to program axon pathfinding and to differentiate axon navigation decisions. Cells will be engineered to express magnetic nano-switches that can generate forces in specific nano/micro domains of specific neurons. Depending on the domain, the force triggers a different mechanotransduction pathway, resulting in axon elongation or axon retraction. The integration of the different outputs from different neurons can be used to re-shape the network. GAP will demonstrate the ability: i) to change navigation decisions (e.g., to guide axon elongation in the direction of a repelling cue or to disengage axon outgrowth mediated by an attracting cue); ii) to differentiate between different navigation decisions in a mixed neuronal population (e.g., excitatory versus inhibitory neurons); iii) to control axon navigation decisions in a living organism (e.g., promoting reinnervation of excitatory neurons in models of spinal cord injury). GAP would demonstrate the ability to control neural network remodeling which remains an unmet challenge for science.

Mots-clés : neuron,axon pathfinding,navigation decision,mechanotransduction,magnetic nanoparticle,nanomedicine,rational cell engineering
Projet ERC : H2Bro (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Materials Engineering
Entité participante : Technion - Institut de technologie d'Israël — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2950000.0 €

H2Bro will develop a transformative decoupled water electrolysis process for green hydrogen production. It aims for high efficiency in a continuous and isothermal process that supports membraneless electrolysis with high-throughput and minimal energy losses, going far beyond other electrolysis processes. I propose to achieve these goals by dividing the oxygen evolution reaction into two sub-reactions, electrochemical and chemical ones, carried out in different cells. Towards this end, I propose to use a soluble redox couple that will be oxidized electrochemically while hydrogen evolves at the cathode in one cell, and reduced spontaneously in the presence of a catalyst in a chemical reaction that evolves oxygen in another cell. I have identified the bromide/bromate couple as a promising candidate due to its high solubility and suitable redox potential. Fundamental materials challenges will be addressed in developing the electrolytic process with an aim to achieve high efficiency and selectivity to produce bromate without volatile side products such as O2 or other loss reactions, and a suitable catalyst for spontaneous bromate reduction and oxygen evolution. Addressing these challenges requires a multidisciplinary research in materials science, electrochemistry, catalysis and process engineering, where questions of materials selection and catalyst activity and selectivity intertwine with process parameters such as electrolyte composition, temperature and flow, with an ultimate goal of combining the electrolytic and catalytic sub-processes into a seamless process in a flow system that generates hydrogen and oxygen in different cells at high efficiency and rate. Progress towards these aims will lead the way to a competitive solution for green hydrogen production to fight global warming, and advance the science of catalysts and electrodes for advanced water electrolysis and related technologies.

Mots-clés : water electrolysis,electrodes,catalysts,decoupled water splitting,green hydrogen
Projet ERC : BREPOCI (Horizon Europe, appel 2021, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : Société Max Planck
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 0.0 €

Cognitive disability and decline play key roles in neuropsychiatric conditions but lack effective therapies. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hypoxia-inducible growth factor, named after its original description in erythropoiesis. We discovered - by 'reverse approach' (human trials first) - that recombinant human (rh) EPO has potent procognitive effects, hematopoiesis-independent. Searching for mechanistic insight in mice, we saw that rhEPO markedly drives differentiation/maturation of pyramidal neurons and oligodendrocytes from non-dividing precursors in cornu ammonis, outside known neurogenesis areas. In parallel, rhEPO dampens microglia. This suggests that endogenous, brain-expressed EPO (bEPO), acting in auto/paracrine fashion, has fundamental, hitherto overlooked physiological significance. BREPOCI will pursue the groundbreaking hypotheses that (I) 'functional hypoxia' is a physiological consequence of increased neuronal activity, inciting an integrated response of many brain cell types and (II) this activity-induced hypoxia stimulates bEPO expression to optimize multicellular brain plasticity, providing substantial 'hardware upgrade'. (III) Also, BREPOCI postulates diverse EPOR in brain and will study their nature and contribution to these pivotal processes upon normoxia, 'functional', and inspiratory hypoxia. (IV) rhEPO treatment of intellectual disability/autism caused by Tbr1 or Zbtb20 loss-of-function mutations will constitute a first mechanistic approach to specific brain pathologies, translatable to humans. This ERC project can build on acquired novel genetic mouse tools (cell-type specific EPO/EPOR mutants, inducible hypoxia reporters, multiomic mice), sophisticated behavior tests, MRI/MRS, multiphoton imaging, NanoSIMS, sc/snRNA-seq, confocal/Lightsheet/electron microscopy, electrophysiology. BREPOCI will illuminate rhEPO/bEPO effects on physiological brain functions and explore how it limits developmental delay, intellectual disability, or neurodegeneration.

Mots-clés : hypoxia,motor cognitive challenge,erythropoietin,epo,erythropoietin receptor,multicellular brain plasticity,autism,cognitive disability,cognitive decline
Projet ERC : FARIA (Horizon Europe, appel 2024, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth System Science
Entité participante : Université de Pise — Pays : Italie — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2180831.0 €

Seismology is a branch of science with many open questions, and predicting earthquakes is still a utopia. We know earthquakes interact with each other by changing the state of stress in their surroundings. Strong earthquakes are, for example, followed by countless smaller events, a posteriori called aftershocks, whose number decays with time. We have shown that aftershock sequences are systematically associated with changes in the average earthquake size distribution, an increase in the so-called b-value, unless a second large mainshock is still coming, in which case the b-value decreases. This exciting finding allows the use of the b-value for real-time discrimination between foreshocks and aftershocks, answering the most asked question following a moderate/big quake: Was this the mainshock or a bigger event has yet to come? The observation also aligns with the concept that the b-value can be used as an indirect stress meter in the earth’s crust. Building on these findings, I propose here now to develop and test a general model of the evolution of the b-value through the seismic cycle, building on the following hypothesis: 1) a stable background or gradual decreasing b-value during inter-seismic times, 2) occasionally a pre-mainshock decrease, 3) an increase after the mainshock and 4) recovery to the background value. According to my hypothesis, monitoring b-values in real-time allows us to understand and monitor for the first where a fault is in the seismic cycle. This would represent a major breakthrough in Earth science, with profound implications for understanding earthquake processes, seismic hazard assessment and risk mitigation. To achieve this ambitious goal, FARIA comprises a set of closely coordinated activities in data analytics, computational modeling, laboratory experiments, and formal testing. If successful, FARIA will represent transformative progress in earthquake predictability.

Mots-clés : seismic cycle,b value,forecasting,seismic sequence,mainshock,foreshock,aftershock,real time discrimination,earthquake forecasting
Projet ERC : MaMa (Horizon Europe, appel 2022, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences
Entité participante : Université de Pise — Pays : Italie — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 143750.0 €

The MaMa project aims at developing integrated computational approaches enabling to describe and design new mechanochromic materials. In particular, we aim at rationally design technologically consistent commodity polymers with smart and intelligent features such as mechano-responsive elastomeric, thermoplastic and thermoset polymers by the introduction of chromogenic species in the polymeric matrix in the form of mechanophore chromophores. The inter- or intra-molecular interactions ruling the opto-mechanical behaviour of the chromophores within the polymer matrix, and thereby the macroscopically perceived colour, can be tuned by application of an external force and they will be the key issue to control - by suitable design of the chromophores and polymers- and to predict by theoretical tools.  In this respect the present project concerns, beside primary fundamental issues, such as the development of theoretical approaches for the description of photophysical processes in complex matrix, the handling, description and prediction of phenomena occurring from molecular to nano-scale in presence of an external stimulus such as pression/shearing or drawing. We will focus on mechanochromic luminogenic materials based on strain-induced modulation of molecular covalent or non-covalent interactions, affecting phenomena like excimer modulation or aggregation-induced emission at the molecular chromogenic scale. The functionalized smart materials designed can find real-life applications ranging from anti-counterfeiting systems for intelligent packaging, smart coatings and textiles, and optical indicators for the detections of cracks and fatigue issues in thermoset polymers. The solid and active collaboration with leading experimental and theoretical chemists will allow for the efficient synthesis and characterization of the most promising demonstrators, to exhaustively validate the computational tools and to further illustrate the technological relevance of these materials.

Mots-clés : density functional theory,mechanochromism,aggregation induced emission,quantum chemistry,excited electronic states,mechano responsive polymers,