Dielec2DNanoLiquids · Dielectric measurement of two-dimensional nanoconfined liquids
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2018-09-01 → 2020-08-31
- EU contribution
- €195,455
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Dielectric measurement of two-dimensional nanoconfined liquids
The possibility of combining 2D materials in heterostructures allows the fabrication of new devices with novel functionalities, further expanding the opportunities of new science and new technologies. The properties of 2D crystals provide a unique platform to observe molecules under confinement, to artificially create new molecular phases and to exploit them to develop devices with new functionalities. SPM techniques are the ideal tool for probing the properties of novel 2D nano-confined systems, in particular, the dielectric properties of nano-confined molecules, since they have a strong impact on many important physical phenomena. However, experimental evidence is lacking because dielectric measurements at such a small scale are technically challenging. To overcome this lack of experimental information, the overall objectives of this project were: -Fabrication of 2D nanoenclosures/nanochannels that allow measurement of the dielectric properties of nanoconfined liquids with the scanning probe approach. -Development of SPM tools/setups for in situ dielectric characterization of 2D nanoconfined liquids and chemical reactions under controlled conditions (temperature, liquid flow/concentration). -Study of local electric polarization properties of 2D nanoconfined molecular fluids and their link to molecular organization (structure, phase) at solid interfaces by using the developed SPM tools. We have developed and built new setups for the study of the dielectric properties of nanoconfined liquids, observing a decrease of the out-of-plane dielectric constant of confined water. Additionally, we studied the possible influence of topographic features and alignment in the electric and dielectric properties of 2D crystal devices. In conclusion, the action has been successfully implemented by the unique combination of 2D materials-based confining structures with customized scanning probe tools for the characterization of liquids under extreme confinement at the nanoscale.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Two-dimensional (2D) materials are one of the most exciting fields of research which explores materials with novel properties and develops new technologies that promise to meet the needs of our society. As such, they are a recognized long-term priority in the European strategy for future technologies. 2D materials are attracting great interest because crystals behave differently once thinned down to a few atomic layers. With the further possibility of stacking them into heterostructures, they allow creating novel devices with new functionalities. This proposal will focus on the fabrication of novel 2D solid/liquid heterostructures in which molecular fluids are confined between 2D crystals, and on their study by means of scanning probe approaches. The final objective is the experimental characterization of the dielectric properties of 2D nanoconfined molecules, which are inherently related to the molecular structuring and dynamics, with strong impact on a variety of phenomena ranging from physics and materials science to chemistry and biology. These properties have remained unknown so far because dielectric measurement on such a small scale is a challenge. This is because of technical difficulties in engineering the confining systems and the lack of techniques with high enough sensitivity to probe them. Here we will overcome these two challenges by confining the liquids into 2D nanocavities and directly measuring their properties using a novel scanning dielectric microscopy approach that will allow for the first time in situ dielectric characterization. To this end, the project will include engineering novel 2D nanochannels with controlled size/geometry/layout suited to dielectric microscopy as well as the development of a novel, fully-customized scanning dielectric platform to probe 2D liquids, their reactions and phase transitions under controlled environmental conditions.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER · ManchesterCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union