NanoSCOpe · Mastering novel switchable molecular materials at the nanometric scale for their technological application in the areas of nanoelectronics and nanophotonics

Mastering novel switchable molecular materials at the nanometric scale for their technological application in the areas of nanoelectronics and nanophotonics

NanoSCOpe aimed at supporting the career development of the fellow by means of a training-through-research project in which the expertise of the researcher was combined with the expertise of the host institution for achieving scientific and technological innovation as well as the fellow’s consolidation as independent researcher. The main scientific objectives of the research proposed in this project were the controlled synthesis, nanopatterning and organization on surfaces of novel switchable and photo-switchable materials called spin crossover (SCO) complexes, as well as the study of the physical properties of the obtained miniaturized systems. During the first year of this project an important effort for the elaboration of new SCO nanoparticles has been performed (WP2) at the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, LCC, under the supervision of Dr. Azzedine Bousseksou exploring different synthetic strategies for obtaining original nano-objet and assemblies needed to perform the physico-chemical study (see WP3). The collaboration with the Laboratoire d’analyse et d’architecture des systemes, LAAS) has been crucial on the development of the new assemblies containing the SCO nano-objets. In this second year, the nano-materials and the nano-patterned thin films developed in WP2 are studied as collective and individual physical properties (structural, morphologic, magnetic, electrical and optical, WP3). Besides, the most successful assemblies are integrated into electronic and photonic sensor devices (WP4 and W5) with the intention of evaluating the potential use of these nano-objects as devices. NanoSCOpe innovated through the development of original coordination chemistry methods for the fabrication of nano-structures with controlled composition, morphology and 3D architecture and through the study of those materials as single nano-objets using cutting-edge nanotechniques. To achieve this task the control of the size and the molecular organization during nanopatterning are of paramount importance for preserving the integrity of the material properties. In fact, the crucial SCO properties depend not only on the chemical nature of the compounds and the local molecular environment (e.g. packing, solvent molecules, anions, etc.) but also critically on their size and structural arrangement. Attaining the nanoscale organization, while keeping the bistability of these compounds, was the main challenge of this project. From the technological point of view, NanoSCOpe has demonstrated the feasibility of practical applications in the areas of molecular information storage and molecular sensors by integrating the obtained nano-objects into nanophotonic and nanoelectronic devices. Some of the results obtained in this multidisciplinary proposal addressing Material Science, Chemistry, Physics and Nanotechnology issues will allow discover novel nanomaterials with new properties for future technological use. Nanoscope has definitely contributed to broadening the background and competencies of the candidate in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Further, Nanoscope has helped actively to achieve a consolidated research position as independent researcher at IMDEA Nanoscience in Madrid (Spain). As part of the dissemination activities, a project website was created to serve as vehicle of dissemination of the project and its results. Other dissemination material has been prepared as posters and oral presentations, besides; part of the work has been published in international Journal of chemistry and nanotechnology. Finally, the training activities performed during this two years project h in according to the training plan. Project public website address: http://nanoscope.lcc-toulouse.fr/

Data: CORDIS, © European Union