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H2020Doctoral network2015–2019

Enabling Excellence · Graphene-based nanomaterials for touchscreen technologies: Comprehension, Commerce and Communication

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2015-04-01 → 2019-03-31
EU contribution
€3,358,044
Participants
10
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Graphene-based nanomaterials for touchscreen technologies: Comprehension, Commerce and Communication

Reaping the benefits of nanotechnology requires highly skilled creative young researchers able to communicate and think widely across the different areas of academic and socio-economic progress. Enabling Excellence is a training vehicle covering all these aspects, offering training at PhD level focused on graphene-based nanostructures. Graphene is an unprecedented fundamental nanobuilding block with a wide range of outstanding properties. The core research and development structure follows two parallel streams along the TRLs via intersectoral (public-private) collaboration towards either materials design (Graphene-based composites for consumer and industrial electronics), or materials characterization (new instrumentation for spectroscopy of nanocarbons). The project tackled critical issues at different levels of R&I, starting with graphene as the nanoobject itself, the development of functional graphene-based materials, their processing and integration into electronic device platforms such as supercapacitors, strain-sensors and touchscreens. In parallel we explored mission-critical techniques (electronic and optic) required for rapid, accurate characterization of these materials, developing new instrumentation with unparalleled resolution. Uniquely the other pillars, commerce and communication, are not just training elements; both contain a key research aspect we will feed back into future EU projects and ESR training. The action has concluded successfully with a range of exciting and innovative research, business and communication outcomes including new materials and products brought to market, high-impact publications, and launch of a company now valued at several times the money initially invested in the ITN. Primarily the project has delivered 12 highly-trained ESRs with the skills to become the new European leaders in nanomaterials science and technology.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

“Enabling Excellence” offers integral R&D training at PhD level around one of the most active and exciting topics at the forefront of nanoscience and nanotechnology, graphene-based nanostructures and materials. We propose a training experience built on three interrelated pillars, namely COMPREHENSION AND CONTROL, COMMERCE, and COMMUNICATION.*Comprehension & Control* covers fundamental knowledge of the nano-objects, the development of functionalities and processing into macroscopic advanced materials and devices, accompanied by a broad set of characterization techniques, to understand the interrelation between local and global properties and the requirements for functional end products.*Commerce* aims at market-ready graphene-based materials and commercial local probe Raman/AFM systems for routine quality control of graphene products. This is accompanied by innovative measures for start-up development and pitching to venture capitalists.*Communication* is the unique keystone in “Enabling Excellence”. The project is a novel experiment to find how best to develop the communication skills in our ESRs, creating optimum conditions under which they are best able to flourish. The results will serve as a model adaptable to European training and research at all levels.“Enabling Excellence” is formed by five partners from academic institutions and four private companies specialized in the above mentioned fields spanning TRL1-9. They offer a common and highly complementary modular structured training programme. During 468 ESR months we will address the need in Europe for nanocarbon specialists, training a new generation of highly skilled interdisciplinary clear thinking researchers. We will develop in these young people creativity, confidence and the ability to communicate with the most eminent scientists, technologists and business people. “Enabling Excellence” will equip them with the tools and self-belief necessary to maximize their potential in their future careers.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union