Will computers of tomorrow still be made of silicon?

Will computers of tomorrow still be made of silicon?

New Materials for Information and Communication Technologies of the Future

su

cc

es

s s

to

ries

Interested in European research?

Research*eu is our monthly magazine keeping you in touch with main developments

(results, programmes, events, etc.). It is available in English, French, German and

Spanish. A free sample copy or free subscription can be obtained from:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Research

Communication Unit

B-1049 Brussels

Fax (32-2) 29-58220

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/research/research-eu

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Directorate-General for Research

Directorate G — Industrial technologies

Unit G3 — ‘Value-added materials’

Head of Unit: Renzo Tomellini

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/research/industrial_technologies/index_en.html

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Directorate - General for Research, Industrial technologies2009 Unit G3 ‘Value – added materials’ EUR 24057 EN

Will computers of tomorrowstill be made of silicon?

New Materials for Information and Communication Technologies of the Future

Selected projects in the materials research domain

Edited by Dr. Anne F. de Baas

LEGAL NOTICE

Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible

for the use which might be made of the following information.

The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and

do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.

It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu).

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2009

ISBN 978-92-79-13435-7

doi: 10.2777/51990

ISSN 1018-5593

© European Communities, 2009

Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

Printed in Belgium

Printed on white chlorine-free paper

EUROPE DIRECT is a service to help you find answers

to your questions about the European Union

Freephone number (*):

00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11

(*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers

or these calls may be billed

Foreword

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are critical to Europe’s future,

underpinning the realisation of the Lisbon agenda. In this sector, materials are second

only to labour as major contributors to the cost of industrial products. Materials with

new properties are often key to the development of better performing and more envi-

ronment-friendly products. They form a basis for technological progress, and are vital

to the continued competitiveness of the EU. Hence, research into materials for ICT is

an important strategic priority.

Which materials will be best to build tomorrow’s computers?

To meet scientific and technological challenges in the value chain of industrial prod-

ucts in general, the European Commission launched its Framework Programmes for

EU-wide transnational cooperation in research and technological development (RTD).

These have a catalytic impact in three key areas: productivity and innovation, mod-

ernisation of public services and advances in science and technology.

The Framework Programmes (FP) include the Themes Nanotechnology-Materials-Pro-

duction (managed by directorate NMP) and Information-Society Technologies

(managed by Directorate-General DG INFSO), which operate in due synergy with oth-

er themes or actions funded by the EU. NMP supports the development of novel

materials and synthesis technologies, and INFSO addresses research into ICT systems

and devices. Alongside these, the European Research Council (ERC) supports funda-

mental science; while infrastructures, networking and mobility of researchers,

availability of risk capital and other essential elements of the research and innovation

process are funded via other dedicated schemes.

In this brochure we would like to present some selected NMP projects that have been

supported under FP6 (2003-2006) in the field of materials science and technology

(Materials S&T) for ICT devices. More new initiatives are currently being financed under

FP7 (2007-2013), and may make the subject of a future publication.

We hope this brochure will prove interesting and informative for materials scientists

and ICT engineers, and that its content will stimulate further useful ideas for applica-

tion in industry.

Herbert von Bose

Director Industrial Technologies

4 W I L L C O M P U T E R S O F TO M O R R O W S T I L L B E M A D E O F S I L I C O N ?

Table of contents

3 Foreword

6 Introduction to Materials S&T for ICT applications

11 Projects on multifunctional materials

12 ANSWER Multiayered structures fill infrared laser source gap (2004-2007)

13 HETEROMOLMAT Advances in molecular electronics (2005-2008)

14 MIND Lead-free piezoelectrics demonstrated (2005-2010)

15 CAMELIA New insulating dielectrics suit above-IC applications (2006-2009)

16 NUOTO New dielectric ceramics function as versatile insulators (2006-2009)

17 MAGMANet Molecular chemistry produces new kinds of versatile magnets (2005-2009)

18 METAMORPHOSE Common research platform for metamaterials science (2004-2008)

19 MACOMUFI Magnetoelectric properties of multiferroic materials (2006-2009)

20 MULTICERAL Materials respond to multiple external stimuli (2006-2009)

21 FAME Hybrid/ceramic integration leads to new ICT materials (2004-2008)

23 Projects on interfaces in materials

24 ICONTROL Interface control for organic devices (2006-2009)

25 INTERCONY Novel photonic nanomaterials created at interfaces during nucleation and crystallisation (2006-2009)

26 NANOXIDE Nanoscale devices based on functional oxide interfaces (2006-2009)

27 OFSPIN Organic-ferromagnetic hybrid interfaces boost spintronic performance (2006-2009)

28 STAG Switchable multifunctional materials measure temperature exposure (2006-2009)

N E W M AT E R I A L S F O R I N F O R M AT I O N A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N T E C H N O L O G I E S O F T H E F U T U R E 5

31 Projects on materials processing and inspection

32 FLEXONICS Roll-to-roll encapsulation protects flexible electronics (2005-2008)

33 UVTECH Deposition of Nanoparticle dispersions shows promise as oxide source for ICT devices (2005-2009)

34 NOVOPOLY Functional polymers designed for MEMS and NEMS (2005-2008)

35 MULTIPOL SOLID progress in organic polymers for electronics (2007-2009)

36 3D-DEMO Multifunctional oxide thin films offer radical new properties (2006-2009)

37 MULTIFLEXIOXIDES New deposition of oxides allows tuning of properties for multiple device functionality (2006-2009)

38 SCINTAX High performance scintillator for materials inspection (2006-2009)

39 STRING Structured scintillators cut positron emission tomography costs (2006-2009)

41 Projects on modelling of materials

42 INCEMS Predictive modelling aids identification of functional ceramics (2005-2009)

43 MULTIPRO Tailored white light from standard LED sources (2006-2009)

44 MAGDOT Nanoscale structures designed for super-high-density memories (2006-2009)

47 Further information


The study of complex materials, and their tai-loring to specific application needs, involves multidisciplinary efforts – with chemists, phys-icists, biologists, electromagnetic engineers and other specialists working together in col-laborative materials science and technology (S&T) projects.

Understanding of the complex phenomena governing the interrelated characteristics of materials enables develop-ment to be pursued via a design-oriented approach. Today, most projects combine a theoretical aspect with an exper-imental part. Flexibility in the tailoring of properties can be provided by varying the geometric designs, using thin films, functionally-graded films, nano-structuring and inclusions. Multi-scale analysis from atomic level to mac-ro-scale is also essential for the optimisation of performance.

The activities of the projects described in this brochure addressed the understanding of the relation between com-position and properties, including the development of relevant computational strategies (simulation and model-ling) and experimental tools. New synthesis technologies for novel highly complex composite systems were also explored, as material processing is often central to the real-isation of certain desired properties.

In the ICT field, especially, most materials are produced during device processing, rather than being provided as ‘off-the-shelf‘ ingredients. This integrated way of manu-facturing is supported by the development of new tools enabling the production of new materials to be accom-plished in a sustainable and cost-competitive manner. And, for industry, it is essential to integrate knowledge of mate-rials with knowledge of manufacturing.

From the projects selected as a result of several calls for proposals launched in 2003, 2004 and 2005, two NMP projects on optoelectronic ICT materials are described in the following pages: plus three on dielectrics and ferroe-lectrics: and four on magnetic, electromagnetic and metamaterials.

All have produced materials with potential for new appli-cations. They demonstrate new functionalities in basic device structures that can be developed into working devices by electronic engineers, or used in further device research, e.g. as funded under the INFSO Programme.

Subsequent chapters cover the complementary topics of multi-functional materials, interfaces in materials, materi-als processing and inspection, and modelling of materials.

Introduction to Materials S&T for ICT applications

Multifunctional materials The smart materials section of the NMP Programme targets the development of ‘knowledge-based multifunctional mate-rials’. These are materials providing a targeted combination of functionalities derived from interactions between the atoms of their assembled constituents or via hybridisation of the assembled components.

Multifunctional materials are critical drivers of innovation in ICT devices and systems, where the inclusion of several functions in a minimal space aids the miniaturisation of overall volumes. By providing these functionalities ‘intrinsi-cally’, such materials also reduce the need to design physical device features.

In this chapter they are presented in four property-oriented sub-groups:• Optoelectronics • Dielectrics and ferroelectrics• (Electro-)magnetic materials and metamaterials• Nanostructured thin films and hybrids


OptoelectronicsProject Material Application

ANSWER Nanostructured compound semiconductors Quantum cascade lasers

HETEROMOLMAT Heterosupermolecular materials and nanocrystalline metal oxides forming hybrid materials

Optical energy conversion devices, LED’s, sensing/switching devices

Note that projects on photovoltaic materials are described in a Materials S&T brochure on energy-related materials (http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/events/ict4ee/2009/docs/files/ec/ec/rtd/g3/Energy_WEB.pdf)

Dielectrics and ferroelectricsProject Material Application

MIND (Lead-free) piezoelectric ceramics (Alkali niobate/tantalate)

Ultrasonic imaging

CAMELIA High k dielectrics (PMNT (Pb(Mg,Nb)TiO3) and CCTO (CaCu3Ti4O12))

Insulation in IC capacitors and switches

NUOTO High k dielectrics (CCTO) high-density capacitors and integrated RF antennas

Magnetic, electromagnetic and metamaterialsProject Material Application

MAGMANet Molecular magnets ([V15As6O42(H2O)]6-[PMo12O40(VO)2]q-

[{(Me3C)2C6H3CO2(C2H6)2NH2{Cr7CoF8

(O2CCMe3)16

Magnetometer, qubits, molecular devices

METAMORPHOSE Metamaterials with unusual/extreme permeability, permittivity, refractive index, chirality

Invisible cloaks, antennas, magnets, insulation

MACOMUFI Multiferroic oxide thin films(BiFeO3, YMnO3 and CoFe2O4-BiFeO3)

High density memories, tuneable components for information storage and telecommunications

MULTICERAL Multiferroic oxide thin films, multilayers, composites, nanotube/nanowire arrays(Cr2O3/Pt/Co/Al2O3/Co/Pt and rare earth and alkaline composites)

Random access memories; sensor/actuator systems for vibration damping, structural monitoring, biodiagnostics, avionics

Nanostructures, films and hybrid materials

In 2002 a call was launched for Networks of Excellence (NoE). NoEs are large and wide-ranging initiatives, the purpose of which is to create research road-maps appropriate to the topics of interest, and to ensure continuation of the effort by establishing durable integration structures (e.g. virtual institutes) with the momentum to survive and grow beyond the initial funded period. One NoE selected under the NMP Programme is featured to illustrate the de-velopment materials relevant to the ICT sector.

Project Material Application

FAME Hybrid materials and ceramics consisting of coated metal oxides nanoparticles in inorganic-organic epoxy

Functional and protective coatings, catalysts, sensors and other optics, electronics and biomedical devices

More information on NoEs can be found in a separate brochure: ‘Networks of Excellence, Key for the future of EU research’ (http://ec.europa.eu/research/industrial_technologies/pdf/noes-122007_en.pdf)


Interfaces in materialsMany properties of multifunctional materials rely on interfacial phenomena. It is therefore essential to understand the relationship between such interfac-es and the materials themselves. The creation of interfaces may be dependent on processing conditions, which must be understood in order to control their effects and optimise the impact on final industrial applications.

A dedicated call on interfacial phenomena in materials was launched by the NMP Programme in 2004, resulting in the selection of five ICT-related STREPs.

Project Material Application

ICONTROL Organic materials and metallic/conductive oxide electrodes

Photovoltaic cells, field effect transistors, memory cells, sensors

INTERCONY Composites consisting of an organic component and electrode materials made of metals and/or transparent conductive oxides

Nano glass-ceramics for photonics

NANOXIDE-TTC Transition metal oxides with properties ranging from dielectricity to superconductivity.

Strain gated and field effect devices

OFSPIN Inorganic ferromagnetic materials (ranging from magnetic oxides to transition metals and their alloys); organic semiconductors, such as pentacene and oligothiophenes; 3lectroluminescent molecular materials such as Alq3.

Magnets for spintronics, field effect transistors, organic LEDs

STAG Organic materials (rotaxanes, functional (co-) polymers and discotic liquid crystals) interfaced to graphite and functionalised silicon

Tags to record the thermal exposure of perishable products


Materials processing and inspectionNew production processes such as innovative deposition and etching techniques, often involving structuring at the nano-scale, enable ‘smart’ and complex made-to-measure materials to be created in an efficient, environment-friendly way. Since these materials are frequently made by processes integrated into the overall fabrication of complete devices, in-line inspection techniques compatible with existing plants also have to be developed.

Eight strategically targeted research projects (STREP) on the production and inspection of ICT materials are summarised: These also have broader implications, because the technologies can provide benefits across industrial domains. A generic aspect of Materials S&T therefore fosters widespread trans-sectoral dissemination of the new knowledge acquired as a result of project outcomes.

Project Processing technology Material Application

FLEXONICS Large-scale roll-to-roll (r2r) encapsulation

Organic/inorganic barrier multilayers Measurement of water and oxygen permeation; fast visible and far-UV spectroscopy

UVTECH Aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (CVD) reactor, customised with UV-assisted capability

Pt nanoparticles in a SiO2 host, Si nanoparticles in a ZnO host, CdSe nanoparticles in a ZnO host

Magnetic sensors, LEDs, memories

NOVOPOLY UV-based patterning; ink-jet printing and micro-moulding

Functionalised polymers; metal, oxide and semiconducting colloidal nanocrystals

MEMS and NEMS (AFM probes, cantilever-based biosensors)

MULTIPOL Solid on liquid deposition Functionalised poly-para-xylylene (parylene)

Organic electronics sensors and actuators and flexible displays

3D-DEMO Laser-assisted chemical beam deposition/epitaxy (LA-CBD/CBE)

Ferroelectric oxides, lithium niobate and lithium tantalate films, strontium barium niobate

Electro-optics and electromechanical systems

MULTIFLEXIOXIDES Low-temperature CVD, chemical solution deposition, inkjet printing

Ceramic thin films containing multi-component oxides (amorphous transparent conductive oxides (TCOs)

Patterning of oxide semiconductor films, LEDs, and thin film transistors (TFTs)

SCINTAX High-resolution x-ray imaging Scintillating material Lu2SiO5 (LSO) doped with Tb

Non-destructive testing and medical imaging

STRING Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning

Fast ceramic scintillators Pr3+ and Nd3+ in a variety of host lattices

Medical imaging

Modelling of materialsOne of the objectives of the Materials S&T Programme is to acquire fundamental knowledge about design-for-application and the processes of production. Computational tools for materials modelling are essential to understanding of the complex characteristics of new knowledge-based materials and their behaviour under industrial processing conditions.

Calls for proposals on modelling were launched in 2003 and 2004, as well as a joint call between the EU and the USA’s National Science Foundation in 2004. Three STREPs on modelling of ICT materials were selected:

Project Models Material Application

INCEMS First principle and mesoscale models describing multi-component chemistry, space charge and dispersion forces on the thermodynamic stability of interfaces

High-k dielectrics – SrTiO3 (STO), Ba- and Sr-titanate (BTO, STO)

Functional electroceramic materials: piezoelectric sensors and actuators, dielectric or ferroelectric memory devices, photovoltaics and optoelectronics

MULTIPRO Molecular modelling and modelling of reactive deposition process including atomisation and UV curing

TiO2 quantum dots in an organic or hybrid matrix

Optoelectronic devices (lighting sources)

MAGDOT Ab-initio calculations of surface energies, surface stress and surface diffusion coefficients, statistical mechanics and continuum finite-element calculations

Magnetic dots of FePt and CoPt, Fe/Mo and Fe/W

Super-high-density magnetic storage

✲ Projects on multifunctional materials

Optoelectronics

ANSWER 12HETEROMOLMAT 13

Dielectrics and ferroelectrics

MIND 14CAMELIA 15NUOTO 16

Magnetic, electromagnetic and metamaterials

MAGMANet 17METAMORPHOSE 18MACOMUFI 19MULTICERAL 20

Nanostructures, films and hybrid materials

FAME 21


The absorption lines of many important chemical com-pounds fall in the 3-5μm band. Applications such as the detection of hazardous chemicals, drugs, and explosive detection, medical monitoring, environmental pollution control, and vehicle exhaust analysis can all be tackled by real-time laser-based spectroscopy. Free space com-munications can also be improved significantly by using long wavelengths (>3μm), which exhibit reduced Mie scattering in adverse weather conditions.

The goal of ANSWER project was to address the short-age of suitable semiconductor laser sources emitting in the 3-5μm wavelength range. To achieve this objective, the partners worked on the development of material plat-forms for novel nanostructured devices, notably quantum cascade lasers (QCL).

For light generation, QCL technology uses unipolar inter-sub-band transitions, the energies of which can cover the mid-far infrared portion of the spectrum. QCLs have shown excellent performance at wavelengths longer than 6μm because such materials do not suffer from Auger recombination or intervalence band absorption (IVBA) processes; they are also less temperature-sensitive than bipolar interband transition materials. Large conduction band-offset materials developed for QC lasers in the 3-5μm band circumvent the problem of thermally acti-

vated carrier escape from the constituent quantum wells and are suitable for continuous wave operation.

The artificial structures, which typically consist of more than 500 layers, are produced by the epitaxial growth of semiconductors. This provides dimensional control on the nanometre scale, so that fundamental quantum mechan-ical concepts can be exploited.

QC devices composed of so many layers demand the highest standards of epitaxial growth. The next genera-tion of devices such as field effect transistors and quantum wells infrared photodetectors could also ben-efit from these new high quality materials.

✲ Project achievements

• Two material systems – Sb based materials and strained compensated AlInAs/GaInAs on an InP substrate – with improved performance as laser devices.

• A QCL emitting below 5μm and working in continuous wave operation on a thermoelectric cooler at room temperature.

NMP3-CT-2003-505642 – ANSWERArtificial nanomaterials for short wavelength emission in the infraredTotal cost: €2 522 282 | EC contribution: €1 800 046Project duration: February 2004 – January 2007 (36 months)Coordinator: Michel Garcia, Alcatel Thales III-IV Lab., France

Multiayered structures fill infrared laser source gap (2004-2007)

Electro-optical materials for high-performance quantum cascade lasers emit in the 3-5μm band


Molecular electronics relies on the development of supra- and super-molecular chemistry, where the functionalities of individual molecular components are enhanced by their organisation into larger supermolecular systems. The goal of HETEROMOLMAT was to address the devel-opment of innovative heterosupermolecular devices that combine the functionality of supermolecular chemistry with nanometer-scale structural control, and to achieve ease of integration into electronic devices of nanocrys-talline metal oxide electrodes.

This project brought together chemists who have an inter-est in synthesising and developing new supermolecular structures based on chemical, biological, and bio-mimetic motifs with physical chemists and physicists seeking to develop and evaluate novel heterosupermolecular function-ality and devices. Together they worked on the interface between supermolecular chemistry and nanocrystalline met-al oxide electrodes for the integration of molecular and supermolecular components into optoelectronic devices.

Key scientific elements of the project were the synthesis of new supermolecular functions, which included anchoring motifs for adsorption onto the surface of nanocrystalline semiconductor particles. Functionalisation of nanocrystal-line metal oxide films by the adsorption of such supermolecular structures was also carried out, as was the electrochemical and photochemical evaluation of the result-ing heterosupermolecular systems, and the functional evaluation of these systems for technological applications.

The technical objective of this project was to demonstrate the materials in lab-scale devices like optical energy conver-sion devices, nanocrystalline inorganic/molecular LED’s, and heterosupermolecular light-coupled sensors/switches avoid-ing the use of highly reactive cathode materials such as barium or calcium.


• Nanocrystalline semiconducting metal oxides and sem-iconductor polymers for new air-stable hybrid light-emitting devices (HYLED).

• Sensitisers based on phthalocyanine molecules with light absorption in the near infrared (700 nm), which convert sunlight into electrical energy with power con-version efficiencies close to 4 %.

• Light-coupled chemical sensors that change their opti-cal properties on binding a toxic substance, providing a simple optical method for qualitative and quantita-tive determination of the presence of toxic metal ions such as Hg(II) or Cu(II).

• An entire family of new phthalocyanines for near-IR light-to-energy conversion devices, proving the possibility of achieving long-lived charge-separated states on dye-sen-sitised nanocrystalline metal oxide nanoparticles.

NMP3-CT-2005-516982 – HETEROMOLMATNanocrystalline heterosupermolecular materials for optoelectronic applicationsTotal cost: €2 196 275 | EC contribution: €1 850 000Project duration: 1 October 2005 – 30 September 2008 (36 months)Coordinator: Emilio Palomares, Institut Català d’Investigació Química, SpainWebsite: http://www.iciq.es/Heteromolmat/index.html

Advances in molecular electronics (2005-2008)

Novel supermolecular structures integrated into electronic and optoelectronic devices

14 W I L L C O M P U T E R S O F TO M O R R O W S T I L L B E M A D E O F S I L I C I U M ?

The MIND network was established to address the prob-lem of fragmentation of research activity and expertise across academic and industrial groups in Europe in the field of piezoelectric materials and devices. To this end, the Piezo Institute was created as a non-profit association, which will become financially independent on completion of the EC-funded period.

Piezoelectricity is the ability of some materials to generate electrical power in response to applied mechanical stress or strain, and vice-versa The effect finds applications in areas such as the production and detection of sound, har-vesting of vibration energy to replace batteries, medical applications like ultrasonic imaging and blood flow meas-urements, micromotors and transformers, electronic filters and oscillators, and microbalances. It is also the basis of a number of scanning probe microscopic techniques with atomic-level resolution.

Research executed in MIND pursued new materials that show large electromechanical coupling and dielectric/mechanical properties tailored for various applications. A further objective was to seek environment-friendly lead-free compositions.

The investigation of lead-free piezoelectrics focused on alkaline-niobate materials, which have been shown to possess functional properties comparable to those of lead-based alternatives. Studies ranged from solid-state crystal growth and bulk ceramics processing, to screen-printing of thick films and chemical solution deposition of thin films.


• Lead-free alkali niobate ceramics, prepared using a conventional processing technique suitable for com-mercial application. Screen-printed thick films were manufactured, and ultrasonic transducers have been demonstrated.

• The first lead-free alkali niobate single crystals prepared by solid state crystal growth.

• Improved solid-state synthesis of alkali niobate/tantalate ceramics by introducing mechanochemical activation.

• Photochemical solution deposition of thin films, result-ing in a decreased processing temperature – which represents a route with decreased environmental impact, also suitable for lead-containing materials.

NMP3-CT-2004-515757 – MINDMultifunctional and integrated piezoelectric devicesTotal cost: €7 438 640 | EC contribution: €7 430 000Project duration: 1 January 2005 – 28 February 2010 (60 months)Coordinator: Wanda W. Wolny, Ferroperm Piezoceramics A/S, Denmark

Lead-free piezoelectrics demonstrated (2005-2010)

New institute overcomes fragmentation of piezoelectric research and expertise in Europe


Miniaturisation of ICT devices requires a high level of inte-gration of components, which in turn necessitates insulation. The CAMELIA project developed high value insulator materials for capacitors and switches. A new low-cost, low-temperature deposition process for these multi-component oxides allows capacitors to be placed on top of integrated circuits (ICs) without destroying the underlying circuitry.

The goal was to investigate the PMNT (Pb(Mg,Nb)TiO3) and CCTO (CaCu3Ti4O12) material systems, to achieve a potentially very high dielectric constant (k) above 2000, and a surface capacitance of 500 nF/mm2. As CCTO is a rare example of a lead-free high-k dielectric, this also offered the unusual and environmentally attractive pros-pect of manufacturing lead-free very high-k dielectrics.

The main innovation lies in the extremely low-tempera-ture processing of the complex multicomponent oxide films, using chemical solution deposition (CSD), photo-assisted processing and advanced 3D capacitor architectures, all compatible with above-IC integration.

A successful fabrication of thin-film on-chip capacitors would open significant opportunities for numerous long-term application possibilities in areas such as the medical, avionics, and automotive sectors. The materials will be used in all high performance applications where compo-nent density is an issue.


• Novel low temperature (<400ºC) high-k (above 2000) dielectric material and processing technology for future high density or ultra-low-profile MIM (metal/insulator/metal) decoupling capacitor applications.

• New ferroelectric materials science in PMNT systems. PMNT with ∑ = 1425 and typical loss tangent value about 0.04 measured at a frequency of 100 kHz.

• Produced at 700 °C. To facilitate deposition on tem-perature-sensitive substrates and permit new applications of this material, UV-assisted processing is currently under investigation.

• Dispersion of PMNT and CCTO NPs in CVD- and CSD-compatible solvents facilitates nanoparticle seeding and reduces crystallisation temperatures. Nanocom-posite films have been deposited.

• Low temperature (<400 ºC) thin film processing routes exploiting nanoscale seeding, CSD and uv-assisted reaction pathways investigated for integrated above-IC application. However, seeding has resulted in low temperature formation of only the pyrochlore phase.

• MIM decoupling capacitor structures integrating high-k PMNT thin films exhibited a typical capacitance value of 12 nF or 3.3 nF, Array capacitor chips compatible with microelectronic integrated circuits have been designed.

• MIM capacitors with a piezoelectric coefficient e31 of -3.1 C/m2 have been obtained in PMNT thin films, deposited on PZT-buffered platinised silicon wafers. These are basic technological blocks for the actuation part of a piezoelectric switch in mobile communica-tions devices.

NMP3-CT-2006-033103 – CAMELIAMonolithic above IC ultra high value capacitors for mobile and wireless communication systemsTotal cost: €2 066 265 | EC contribution: €1 850 000Project duration: 1 December 2006 – 30 November 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Richard Winfield, Tyndall National Institute, IrelandWebsite: http://www.tyndall.ie/projects/CAMELIA/index.html

New insulating dielectrics suit above-IC applications (2006-2009)

Low-temperature-processable oxides answer system needs for mobile and wireless communications


NUOTO explored the high k dielectric properties of calci-um copper titanate (CCTO) based materials at frequencies up to 3 GHz and beyond, with the objective of designing an insulating material suitable for a range of electronic devices.

CCTO is a ceramic with a perovskite multi-component structure, in which all components contribute to its dielec-tric property. Changing the composition thus leads to widely differing properties. The project was able to clarify whether these properties are intrinsic for powders, single crystals and films – or whether they are extrinsic results of the method or system used to measure the property. (For example, an intrinsic dielectric property is related to the internal charge oscillations induced by an electric field, whereas an extrinsic property can be due to extra charges from the measuring electrode.)

Intrinsic: property of a material related to its own physical properties. Physical methods such as laser ablation and sputtering were developed for thin film deposition, while metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) was also investigated. The advantage of the developed laser assisted chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) is the easy scalabil-ity to large surfaces for industrial processes, and the possibility of local property modification by irradiating the film during growth. Etching and processing of deposited CCTO thin films have been improved to a degree that per-mitted demonstration of their use in standard device fabrication.

The NUOTO project focused on insulating materials for high density capacitors for RF circuits, condensers and the integrated antennas employed in wireless electronics Tech-nological steps such as the deposition of special metal electrodes on CCTO have been completed, to allow the integration of CCTO films into microelectronics devices.


• Methods based on CVD for deposition of CCTO thin films (in a 150 mm wafer reactor), allowing control of complex oxide depositions using up to three gases simultaneously at high temperatures (up to 800 °C).

• Rapid post-deposition treatments, including thermal treatments in O2, Ar or N and ambient environments.

• Establishment of standards for pattern geometries and fabrication, and for measurements with submicron resolution.

• Reproducible bulk CCTO materials with uniform prop-erties; high permittivity nearly constant over wide temperature ranges (100-600 K) and frequencies (101-106 Hz).

• Scientific explanation establishing the CCTO colossal permittivity as an extrinsic property.

• High thermal budget-resistant electrodes consisting of SiO2 with a deposited TiN/Pt layer, showing thermal sta-bility at up to 500 °C. Advanced bottom electrodes consisting of TiN/IrO2/Ir metal layers for higher temperatures.

• CCTO etching and lithography on CCTO films, multi-layers and structures.

• Etching by chlorine chemistry, using ICP etchers. Proc-esses with a selectivity of 3:1 with resist (a possible etching mask) were implemented.

NMP3-CT-2006-032644 – NUOTONew materials with ultra high k dielectric constant for tomorrow wireless electronicsTotal cost: €2 370 366 | EC contribution: €2 100 000Project duration: 1 November 2006 – 31 October 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Raineri Vito, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi, ItalyWebsite: http://nuoto.imm.cnr.it/

New dielectric ceramics function as versatile insulators (2006-2009)

Calcium copper titanate thin films proven for RF circuits and antennas


The interdisciplinary Network of Excellence MAGMANet used molecular chemistry techniques to develop new classes of magnets based on molecules, rather than on pure metallic and ionic lattices. Its main fields of activity were:• Molecules whose magnetic properties can be switched

by external stimuli;• Molecular conducting magnets;• Molecules behaving like tiny magnets;• Molecular approaches to magnetic nanoparticles and

other molecular nanostructures for medical and elec-tronic applications; and

• New instrumentation for joint use.

The versatility of organic chemistry facilitated design of the most efficient bridging ligands to maximise magnetic interactions between the transition metal ions and opti-mise the magnetic anisotropy, in order to obtain magnetic hysteresis. The tails required to organise the molecules on surfaces could also be designed.

Targeted applications spanned telecommunications, transportation, computers, and the medical and biologi-cal sectors. Examples include audio and videotapes, door closures and car parts, nanoscale data storage, molecu-lar spintronics and quantum computing devices, magneto-optical switches and biocompatible magnets for healthcare/biomedicine, safety and security devices.


• New magnetometer based on a SQUID (superconduct-ing quantum interference device), with single-walled carbon nanotube Josephson junction, able to measure nano-sized magnetic objects at temperatures in the 100 mK region.

• Observation of quantum oscillations in a polyoxomet-alate magnetic cluster comprising 15 vanadium ions, [V15As6O42(H2O)]6-, showing that coherence times of 100 μs indicate potential suitability for quantum computing.

• Polyoxometalates of general formula [PMo12O40(VO)2]q- were proposed as possible hardware for quantum computing, taking advantage of the ability to control the spin state by an electrical gate (two localized spins can be coupled through the electrons of the central core). A two-qubit gate and qubit readout can be implement-ed using an electron transport setup in which a single molecule is contacted by an STM tip and a back gate.

• Magnetic rotaxanes – a new entry in molecular mag-netism, bringing prospects of observing dynamic magnetic behaviour and designing new molecular devices, Dumb-bell organic molecules have been used to template inorganic magnetic rings of differing sizes, containing various metal ions, e.g. [{(Me3C)2C6H3CO2

(C2H6)2NH2{Cr7CoF8(O2CCMe3)16}]. Similar rings could be used as qubits in future computers).

• A fundamental step toward molecular memory banks using a molecular magnet comprising four iron metal ions connected by organic molecules. At low tempera-ture, each molecule becomes bistable, operating as a bit of information. For the first time it was possible to meas-ure the magnetic hysteresis of molecules organised on a gold surface using synchrotron radiation.

NMP3-CT-2004-505767 – MAGMANetMolecular approach to nanomagnets and multifunctional materialsTotal cost: €10 470 000 | EC contribution: €10 470 000Project duration: 1 May 2005 – 31 October 2009 (54 months)Coordinator: Dante Gatteschi, Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, ItalyWebsite: http://www.magmanet-eu.net/index.php

Molecular chemistry produces new kinds of versatile magnets (2005-2009)

Applications across industry for magnets based on molecular structures


The main scientific objective of the Network of Excellence METAMPORPHOSE was to develop new types of artificial materials, known as metamaterials. These have unusual and advantageous electromagnetic properties. For exam-ple, by combining nanoscale elements made from existing conventional materials, it is not only possible to reproduce existing properties at lower cost, but also to create mate-rials with fundamentally new optical properties.

Research into metamaterials is multidisciplinary, embrac-ing materials physics, electromagnetics, optics, radio engineering, and electronics. Because previous work in this field had been fragmented and in the need of better coor-dination and structuring, METAMPORPHOSE partners assembled an international community working on joint projects with coordinated goals.

The results of this NoE’s developments should lead to a conceptually new range of microwave, millimeter wave, and optical applications, based on materials made by large-scale assembly of various basic elements (nanoscopic for optical applications) in unprecedented combinations. In the future, it will become possible to fabricate revolution-ary materials on demand, with specific properties tailored to new applications.


• Metamaterials with unusual and extreme properties (permeability, permittivity, refractive index, chirality) and their application in novel devices.

• Negative refraction material consisting of metal wires and small metal split rings or Ω-shaped inclusions embedded in a dielectric host for applications in super-resolution imaging devices.

• Artificial materials with permittivity and permeability val-ues ranging from 1 to 0, consisting of an array of small metal helices in a dielectric matrix for applications like cloaking devices.

• Networks of metal strips printed on dielectric substrates (possibly loaded with bulk capacitors and inductors) emulating materials with desired values of permittivity and permeability, including zero and negative values, with applications in microwave devices (phase shifters, filters, power dividers, antennas), non-reflecting lenses and electromagnetic cloaks.

• Thin composite layers with engineered electromagnetic response – for example, artificial magnetic conductors or emulating layers of materials with negative parame-ters – for application in microwave antennas.

NMP4-CT-2003-500252 – METAMORPHOSEMetamaterials organized for radio, millimetre wave, and photonic superlattice engineeringTotal cost: €11 352 000 | EC contribution: €4 400 000Project duration: 1 June 2004 – 31 May 2008 (48 months)Coordinator: Sergei Tretyakov, Helsinki University of Technology, FinlandWebsite: www.metamorphose-vi.org

Common research platform for metamaterials science (2004-2008)

Generating a common research platform in the area of metamaterial science


The MACOMUFI project manipulated the magnetoelec-tric (ME) coupling in multiferroic thin films, made of single phase, multilayers and nanocomposite materials. The physics of ME coupling was investigated is by a system-atic approach, involving oxide synthesis, complex oxide modelling and device design.

Particular attention was being devoted to multiferroics exhibiting simultaneously ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties, both being coupled. This multiferroism is scarcely observed in materials due to limiting factors that prevent the simultaneous existence of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric effects. ME materials would allow reversing the magnetization by an electric field, as well as revers-ing the electric polarization by a magnetic field.

The project has unravelled the fundamental mechanisms ruling the magnetoelectric effect and also achieved tech-nological advances on the processing of novel multiferroic oxides exhibiting a significant and controlled magneto-electric effect at room temperature.

This new knowledge on ’E-field control‘ of magnetic devices will open the door to a wide range of novel com-pact, fast, multifunctional electronic devices, from high density memories to tuneable components with an enor-mous potential market in information storage and telecommunications such as high density electric field controlled MRAM (Magnetic RAM) and high frequency wireless telecoms and spintronics.


• Synthesis of novel oxide thin film nanocomposites (BiFeO3 and YMnO3 with CoFe2O4-BiFeO3) with mag-netoelectric coupling at room-temperature, which switches magnetisation when a 12V electric field is applied. Optimised production processes and tailored synthesis methods.

• Understanding of the relationship between process-ing, structure composition, and performance of the multiferroic oxide thin films consolidated in a software tool for the design of ceramic thin films with optimum ME properties. The first-ever study of ME response within the BiMO3 family was done.

• Techniques for ME coupling measurement and micro-structural characterisation methods, using neutron diffraction to show the antiferromagnetic order in hex-agonal REMnO3 in thin films.

NMP3-CT-2006-033221 – MACOMUFIManipulating the coupling in multiferroic thin filmsTotal cost: €2 694 811 | EC contribution: €2 400 000Project duration: 1 September 2006 – 31 August 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Wilfrid Prellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FranceWebsite: www.macomufi.eu

Magnetoelectric properties of multiferroic materials (2006-2009)

Study of the magnetoelectric coupling in advanced oxide thin films (2006-2009)


Multiferroics are multifunctional materials in which the cou-pling between magnetic, electric, and elastic properties is strengthened e.g. ferroelectric (FE) and ferromagnetic (FM).

MULTICERAL investigated three types of multiferroic material:• First, those exhibiting strong coupling between elec-

tric and magnetic moments, in which the dielectric polarisation can be changed by a magnetic field, and vice-versa.

• Secondly, ferroelectric relaxors (RE), combining high dielectric polarisability and piezoelectric/electrostrictive deformation with tunability (i.e. a strong dependence of the corresponding coefficients on the applied elec-tric field).

• The third class of crystalline materials was ferromagnet-ic shape memory alloys (FSMA), in which the magnetic moment can be switched by electrical and stress fields.

The project developed single-layer films of several compo-sitions and created thin-film composite structures in complex geometries. These can easily be incorporated into so-called ‘smart’ systems that combine various sensors and actuators with control electronics. Examples of their appli-cation range from vibration damping devices and structural monitoring, to biodiagnostics and avionics.

The project added new knowledge about the behaviour at different levels (macroscopic, mesoscopic, and nanoscopic) of these multifunctional materials as thin layers, with par-ticular emphasis on understanding how the deposition conditions influence their corresponding responses.


• Multifunctional complex films of BiFeO3 (undoped and doped at A-site), Pb(Zr1,Ti)O3 (PZT), PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3 (PFN), (PbFe,Nb)O3-Pb(Mg,W)O3 (PFN-PMW), and solid solu-tions with rare earths and alkaline earths – in the form of single- and multi-layers, composites and nanotube/nanowire arrays, by a variety of techniques (PLD, sput-tering, misted CVD, and sol-gel).

• Modelling approaches elucidating the physical proper-ties and cross-coupling effects in multifunctional layers consisting of FE, FM, and RE in complex geometries. These models involved the theory of magnetoelectric effect in complex geometries, and the local structure of multiferroic systems as applied to magnetoelectric relax-ors and multiglasses.

• Design and development of two prototypes combining the multilayer elements Cr2O3/Pt/Co/Al2O3/Co/Pt with ME-controlled tunnelling magnetoresistance, to show the possibility of high magnetoelectric cross-coupling effects and multifunctionality (actuator with both elec-tric and magnetic control).

• Omni-directional plane stress sensors and magnetoelec-tric random access memories.

NMP3-CT-2006-032616 – MULTICERALMultifunctional ceramic layers with high electro-magneto-elastic coupling in complex geometriesTotal cost: €1 734 400 | EC contribution: €1 550 000Project duration: 1 November 2006 – 1 October 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: A. L. Kholkin, Universidade de Aveiro, PortugalWebsite: http://multiceral.web.ua.pt/

Materials respond to multiple external stimuli (2006-2009)

Multiferroic films show high cross-coupling effects


FAME is a Network of Excellence integrating the hybrids and ceramics communities. Research was done on hybrid materials consisting of organic and inorganic units, which have new or enhanced properties giving flexibility in design and easier processing. FAME combined this new field with ceramic materials, in studies encompassing five separate fields: new architectures for passive electronics, hybrids for optics and sensing, next generation multifunc-tional ceramics, biomedical use of hybrids, and theory and modelling.

The partners worked on multifunctional passive materi-als by incorporating ceramic nanoparticles in hybrid matrices (epoxy- or methacryl-functionalised hybrids), thus enhancing permittivity. First test-objects created via UV-lithography and printing are the core and cladding of waveguides for single and multi-mode applications.

The modelling efforts addressed the structural instabili-ties of CaMnO3 from first principles, and showed that ferroelectricity and magnetism are not necessarily exclu-sive but can be driven by the same cation.

In another area, the first principles approach enables interactions at the interfaces between layers to be inves-tigated at the atomic scale. It also explains why the properties of multilayer structures composed of atomi-cally thin layers of alternating oxides are radically different from those of the two constituent materials. This discov-ery opens a completely new field of investigation based on the concept of mastering interface engineering at the atomic scale, as a route to new functional materials.


• Hybrid material consisting of TiO2- and SiO2-coated BaTiO3 and BaxSryTiO3 nanoparticles in inorganic-organic epoxy- or methacryl-functionalised hybrids (ORMOCER®s) with a dielectric permittivity of 60 and a refractive index ranging from 1.47 to 1.60, able to withstand the high pressure and temperature (20 bar and 200 °C) of lamination processes, as well as of sol-dering. With this material, data processing with a speed of 7 GBits/s can be achieved.

• A multilayer structure comprising alternating ultra-thin layers of two oxides (PbTiO3 and SrTiO3), which behaves like a prototypical improper ferroelectric and exhibits a very large dielectric permittivity of εr ~ 600, which is fairly temperature-independent.

• First principle models explaining interface phenomena and improper ferroelectricity in perovskite oxide artifi-cial superlattices.

NMP3-CT-2004-500159 – FAMEFunctionalised advanced materials engineering of hybrids and ceramicsTotal cost: €5 000 000 | EC contribution: €5 000 000Project duration: 1 October 2004 – 30 September 2008 (48 months)Coordinator: Jean Etourneau, University of Bordeaux 1, FranceWebsite: http://www.emmi-materials.eu/

Hybrid/ceramic integration leads to new ICT materials (2004-2008)

Research extends from first-principles modelling to test devices

✲ Projects on interfaces in materials

ICONTROL 24INTERCONY 25NANOXIDE 26OFSPIN 27STAG 28


The ICONTROL project addressed interfaces between dis-similar materials in the field of organic (opto-) electronics. Both homo- and hetero-junctions were studied in com-posites consisting of an organic component and electrode materials made of metals and/or transparent conductive oxides. The target was to develop universal interface modification schemes to achieve effective control and generate new insights into interfaces comprising conju-gated organic materials.

The common principle is the introduction of oriented dipoles resulting from charge transfer reactions between specifically designed organic molecules and electrode materials, or between covalently linked donor/acceptor systems.

Preparation of ICONTROL interfaces included vacuum sub-limation and solution-based processing techniques. The organic electronics devices developed include light emit-ting diodes, photovoltaic cells and field effect transistors.


• Knowledge of the nature of chemical bonding and energy-level alignment of donors/acceptors on metals and transparent conductive oxides and proof of linear relationship between donor/acceptor and energy level alignment. Established relationships between charge carrier injection barrier height and injection efficiency for metal and transparent conductive oxide interfaces modified by (sub-)mono-layers of donors and acceptors.

• Realisation of a set of largely planar and suitably large conjugated molecules with strong electron donor and acceptor character. Incorporation of those molecular building blocks into cyclophanes (aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbons) with a significant charge-transfer capability.

• Systematic and continuous adjustment of energy lev-els at virtually all interfaces. This, in turn, permits optimisation of charge injection/extraction barriers at organic/electrode interfaces, and of energy level off-sets at organic/organic interfaces.

• The solution-based deposition of molecular acceptors resulted in control over the charge carrier balance in light emitting devices (OLEDs) and it was shown that work function of the anode in an OLED can be accu-rately varied by over 0.5 eV. In combination with e.g. a green light-emitting polymer the onset voltage of the OLED could be controlled between 4 and 9 volts.

• This deposition method also allows accurate variation of the exciton dissociation efficiency at modified organic/organic interfaces in photovoltaic (OPV) cells as the open-circuit voltage of a typical state-of-the-art organic photovoltaic cell can be accurately varied between 0.4 and 1.0 eV.

• Industrial scalable solution-based material fabrication processes producing 6” wafers.

NMP3-CT-2006-033197 – ICONTROLTotal cost: €2 220 180 | EC contribution: €1 650 000Project duration: 1 September 2006 – 31 August 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Prof. Jean-Jacques Pireaux, Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur, BelgiumWebsite: http://www.icontrol-strep.eu

Interface control for organic devices (2006-2009)

Adjustable energy levels make materials highly versatile


INTERCONY studied the formation of interfaces during nucleation and crystal growth in liquids. It targeted the prep-aration of nano-glass-ceramics as novel photonic materials, which are considered to be critical drivers for ICT.

When a crystal forms in a multicomponent liquid, its chemical composition differs from that of the liquid phase. In highly viscous liquids, the composition of the liquid also changes near to the emerging crystals. The resultant interface can form a diffusion barrier that leads to a decay in the speed of crystal growth and, conse-quently, to the formation of a high-volume concentration of nanocrystals with narrow size distribution.

The project developed a new approach taking account of the structure of the liquid, by combining percolation theory with a thermodynamic and kinetic theory for nucleation and crystal growth. From these fundamental studies, INTERCONY derived guidelines for the prepara-tion of multifunctional nano-glass-ceramics, primarily for photonic applications.


• Preparation and properties of glass-ceramics contain-ing large volume concentration of nano crystals with sizes in the range from 10 to 50 nm photonics and with a narrow size distribution, a prerequisite for pho-tonic material to avoid light scattering occurs.

• Extension of knowledge on interfaces in multifunction-al materials formed during nucleation and crystal growth by demonstrating the diffusion barriers exist-ence The effect of stress is a depletion of modifying components in a ’rigid‘ shell near the interface of the growing crystal, which changes the mode of growth.

• Correlations between the glass properties and struc-tural characteristics. In the glass systems considered, crystalline phase(s) formed, enriched in components acting as network modifiers the viscosity. Optimised thermal treatments for transparent glass-ceramics with high concentration nano-crystals.

• Glasses with crystalline phases of LaF3 and LaNaF4 for up-conversion solid state lasers. These owe their advanced properties to the fact that the crystals are hosts for rare earth ions.

NMP3-CT-2006-033200 – INTERCONYTotal cost: €2 074 878 | EC contribution: €1 400 000Project duration: 1 December 2006 – 30 November 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Prof. Christian Rüssel, University of Jena, Otto-Schott-Institut, GermanyWebsite: www.uni-jena.de/Intercony.html

Novel photonic nanomaterials created at interfaces during nucleation and crystallisation (2006-2009)

Interfaces in multicomponent liquids act as nanocrystal ‘factories’


The NANOXIDE project investigated the properties of interfaces between isostructural functional oxides for the realisation of new nano-sized electronic and optoelec-tronic devices. The project studied interfaces between transition metal oxides with mainly perovskite-type struc-ture, which can exhibit a wide variety of properties ranging from dielectric response to superconductivity.

Selected interfaces in bilayers and heterostructures made of oxides with different functional properties were pro-duced by epitaxial thin film deposition in state-of-the-art systems that permit growth control at atomic level.

Their structural, chemical and physical properties were characterised and modelled. Charge and spin transport across the interfaces, as well as induction of charge and strain near the interfaces, were investigated in detail.

Three types of interface were selected, on the basis of the physical mechanisms involved respectively in charge induction, strain induction and carrier injection. Particu-lar attention was paid to transport properties across the interfaces, with measurements carried out by a newly developed characterisation tool.

These materials offer new application possibilities with respect to conventional semiconductors. They will allow a completely new class of nanodevices such as memories, FETs and filters to be engineered by tailoring the physical properties at the interfaces between different oxides.


• Advanced techniques for materials deposition, charac-terisation and nanopatterning, allowing the induction of dynamic strain at interfaces; plus an etching proce-dure for all-oxide MEMS (submitted for patent).

• Nanostructured interfaces: high temperature supercon-ductors (HTS)/dielectric, semiconductor/dielectric, piezoelectric/piezoelectric (with different polarisation states), piezoelectric/magnetic, magnetic/magnetic and HTS/HTS.

• Discovery of superconducting transition in quasi-2D electron gases forming at the interfaces between insu-lating oxides.

• Modulation of conductivity in manganite oxides by pie-zoelectric strain effect, with a resistance change of about 1 % at room temperature.

• Reversible field-effect tuning of conductivity of high-gap semiconductors, HTS and of quasi-2D electron gases forming at the interface between insulating materials. A resistance change of more than three orders of magnitude was achieved at room tempera-ture in high-gap semiconductors and quasi-2D electron gases, while HTS resistance was modulated by 20 %. At low temperature, the switching from the supercon-ducting state to the insulating state in HTS and quasi-2D electron gases has also been demonstrated.

• Realisation of a YBCO single electron transistor to probe the symmetry of the high Tc superconducting order parameter.

• Suspended structures such as membranes and canti-levers, which can be deformed by applying electric and magnetic fields (the first demonstration of the realisa-tion of microelectromechanical systems based entirely on oxides).

NMP3-CT-2006-033191 – NANOXIDE Novel nanoscale devices based on functional oxide interfacesTotal cost: €3 924 375 | EC contribution: €2 971 997Project duration: 1 September 2006 – 31 August 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Dr. Daniele Marré, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia, ItalyWebsite: http://www.nanoxide.infm.it/

Nanoscale devices based on functional oxide interfaces (2006-2009)

Modulating interfaces between oxides provide spectrum of properties


To ensure the long-term advancement of information technology, radically new materials and processing meth-ods are required to circumvent the fundamental limitations of traditional, silicon-based electronics. One of the most promising approaches is to explicitly exploit the spin of charge carriers in spin electronics, or spintronics.

The objective of project OFSPIN was to develop desirable magnetic and transport properties for spintronics via con-trol of interfaces in hybrid materials and heterostructures consisting of films of inorganic ferromagnets on soft plas-tic materials.

Thin-film organic semiconductors, insulators and conduc-tors with low spin-scattering amplitudes were produced. The functional properties of these can be changed by electrical, magnetic and optical stimuli.

Deposition of magnetic films on organic semiconductor layers was a frontier development, the optimisation of which was a crucial task within the project. With under-standing of the growth mechanisms and the magnetic quality obtainable from different deposition techniques and organic bottom layers, the partners were able to determine the preferred materials and the best engineer-ing solutions for vertical geometry devices.

Magnetic electrodes with high spin polarisation were made possible by the high magnetic order achieved in the nano-contacts and at the surface. Adapting the prop-erties of the hybrid inorganic-organic interfaces then permitted reproducible charge/spin injection and transport.

Studies of diffusion processes during preparation and throughout device lifetimes were conducted, as was an investigation of the stability of magnetic and electronic properties of the hybrid interfaces.


• Room temperature operation in vertical spin valves with organic spacer of about 100 nm.

• Extremely high tunnelling magnetoresistance (TMR) ratios in nanoindentation-based devices: up to 300 w at low temperatures.

• Spin injection in high mobility (0.01-0.1 cm2V-1s-1) organic semiconductors.

• TMR stacks operating at room temperature on flexible substrates.

• Reproducibility of the resistance values and magnetore-sistance effects in Alq3-based giant magnetoresistance devices.

• Protocols for the control and modification of energy barriers in the range 0.4-1 eV at hybrid interfaces.

• Protocols for the growth of magnetic top electrodes – both directly on organic layers and with an intermediate oxide buffer – with reproducible coercive field and interface magnetism.

• Understanding of the basic chemical and physical inter-actions between selected organic semiconductors and various oxide and metallic ferromagnets.

• Gating effect demonstrated in organic field effect tran-sistors with magnetic electrodes.

• Proposed new mechanisms for spin polarised injection in OLEDs through ferromagnetic-organic hybrid interfaces.

• Advanced theoretical model emphasising the lattice effects on charge and spin dynamics at hybrid interfaces.

NMP3-CT-2006-033370 – OFSPINOrganic-ferromagnetic hybrid interfaces for spintronic applicationsTotal cost: €2 961 647 | EC contribution: €1 800 000Project duration: 1 October 2006 – 30 September 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Dr Valentin Dediu, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna, Italy

Organic-ferromagnetic hybrid interfaces boost spintronic performance (2006-2009)

Advances in the deposition of ferromagnetic nanoparticles on organic semiconductors bring reproducible spintronic properties


In order to develop thermally-sensitive tags for applica-tions such as monitoring the exposure of perishable products, the project STAG exploited irreversible supramo-lecular switching in solid-state organic multifunctional materials.

Appropriate conjugated and supra-molecular materials were designed, including rotaxanes, functional (co-) pol-ymers and discotic liquid crystals. These exhibit changes in optical and/or electrical properties upon exposure to heat. The threshold temperatures and characteristic switching times can be tuned, as molecules of different lengths reorganise over different timescales.

The consortium explored the self-organisation of thin films into spatially correlated nanostructures formed in response to thermal stimuli, as well as the mechanism of formation of the nanostructures. Time-dependent evo-lution of the correlation between molecular length and domain size, which determines the structure-property relationship, was quantitatively established.

The switching materials were investigated at interfaces with graphite and functionalised silicon surfaces. This involved the study of methods for their deposition as pat-terned surface films capable of sensing and storing information.

The final devices are inexpensive to produce, and easy to use as bar-codes with a time integration functionality.


• Understanding of the dynamic and energetic aspects of the switching process and a new sensing/transduc-tion paradigm based on irreversible non-equilibrium physical transformations.

• Organic and supramolecular materials for thermal switching with optical and electronic properties for readout.

• Methods for patterning the switching materials by sus-tainable nanofabrication.

• Metrological approaches for reading the exposure time, based on pattern recognition together with the optical and electronic response.

• A tag with information density of 2 MByte/cm2 and suited for exposure to temperatures in the range of 10-60 °C.

NMP3-CT-2006-033355 – STAGSwitch-able materials and their fabrication technology for multifunctional TAGTotal cost: €2 883 700 | EC contribution: €2 000 000Project duration: 1 December 2006 – 30 November 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Prof. Francesco Zerbetto, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Switchable multifunctional materials measure temperature exposure (2006-2009)

Solid-state organics form low-cost tags to monitor exposure of perishable goods

✲ Projects on materials processing and inspection

FLEXONICS 32UVTECH 33NOVOPOLY 34MULTIPOL 353D-DEMO 36MULTIFLEXIOXIDES 37SCINTAX 38STRING 39


FLEXONICS developed novel transparent and flexible material systems with ultra-high barrier properties, together with the related processing technologies for large-scale roll-to-roll (r2r) encapsulation of future flexi-ble optoelectronic and electronic devices (FEDs).

This project extended the knowledge on hybrid organic/inorganic systems, their interfaces, and the correlation between their optical and barrier properties. The concept was to use layer systems with laminar structures (prefer-ably one pair of layers) onto flexible polymer substrates. The combinations of inorganic and hybrid organic-inor-ganic materials significantly improve barrier properties and maintain high optical transparency in an extended spectral range from the NIR (near infrared) to the UV (ultraviolet).

In particular, FLEXONICS developed multilayers compris-ing one bilayer of hybrid and an inorganic layer (SiOx or AlOx) by r2r processes. These materials achieved repro-ducibly high barrier properties, with long-term stability.

To obtain the required properties in the multilayer sys-tem, the properties of each individual layer had to be monitored and controlled in-line. To this end, new opti-cal sensing techniques with sub-nm resolution were developed for high-speed probing of organic/inorganic layers and interfaces and product functionality; these were integrated into r2r processes.


• Materials and processes for single barrier layers, char-acterisation and testing of barrier materials and layers, both organic and inorganic, as single layers and in layer stacks on lab and r2r pilot scale.

• Barrier multilayers that consist of one pair of inorgan-ic/hybrid layers appliedby r2r processes, with barrier properties:

- for oxygen = 4x10-4cm3/m2.dbar (at 23 °C/50 %rh); - for water = 1x10-3g/m2d (at 40 °C/92 %rh).• Highly sensitive methods for measurement of water

and oxygen permeation, with 10-5 g/m2d (cc/m2d) detection limit.

• Theoretical understanding of the permeation mecha-nisms through the layer stacks, and evaluation of the barrier properties of multi-layer structures.

• R2r lab-scale production of multilayer stacks with the appropriate conditions to be commercialised.

• Very fast (less than 90ms) spectroscopic units to probe matter in the visible and far-UV range, including a mul-ti-wavelength unit for the energy range 3-6.5 eV for in-situ and real-time monitoring of the thickness and optical properties of the barrier layers.

• Small-scale demonstrators: fully flexible photovoltaic cell, semi-rigid and fully flexible OLED device, and fully flexible and semi-rigid organic photo detector.

NMP3-CT-2005-013883 – FLEXONICSUltra-high barrier films for r2r encapsulation of flexible electronicsTotal cost: €4 829 500 | EC contribution: €2 817 750Project duration: 1 February 2005 – 30 April 2008 (39 months)Coordinator: S. Logothetidis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GreeceWebsite: http://www.flexonics.org/

Roll-to-roll encapsulation protects flexible electronics (2005-2008)

High-barrier material systems efficiently exclude oxygen and moisture from low-cost devices


UVTECH delivered a new materials processing technol-ogy which co-deposits chemically-synthesised, size-controlled nanoparticles and the host by a photo-processing-enabled low-temperature chemical reaction pathway.

First, precursors and nanocrystal-based material clusters are designed, synthesised, and processed. The co-depo-sition of ligand-stabilised size-selected semiconductor or metal nanocrystals and of the host materials takes place in an aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor, customised with UV-assisted capability. This incorporates an excimer lamp radiation source and injec-tion lines for simultaneous delivery of the nanocrystals and the liquid host precursor.

The Si and Pt nanocrystal dispersions used in this project are not currently available commercially. Furthermore, a novel precursor was used to reduce the host matrix oxide growth temperature.


• Pt nanocrystals in the size range 2-5 nm and Si nanoc-rystals with 2 nm diameter have been synthesised, characterised. Pt nanoparticles were co-deposited in a SiO2 host, and Si nanoparticles in a ZnO host in a single process step.

• Achievement of a low temperature CVD oxide depo-sition process with new SiO2 precursor. The reactor, working at substrate temperatures from ambient to 1200 °C,. was able to deposit fully stochiometric, ultra-thin SiO2 layers over an area of 80 mm x 50 mm.

• CdSe nanoparticles were co-deposited in a ZnO host matrix by aerosol-assisted CVD. The particle dispersions are ligand-stabilised, and could only be produced in relatively low concentrations.

• The required concentration of CdSe nanoparticles was achieved by introducing them onto the surface of a pre-formed oxide layer in a dip-coating self-assembly process. A protective oxide coating of sol-gel was then placed on top in a further dip-coating step.

• Design study of Au nanoparticles in InSb host for mag-netic sensors.

• Fabrication of CdSe-loaded ZnO and SiO2 films for flu-orescent conversion, with potential for LED lighting.

• Fabrication of proof-of-concept memory structure con-sisting of semiconductor Si nanocrystals embedded in SiO2 films.

NMP3-CT-2005-013855 – UVTECHUV assisted technologies for multifunctional materials productionTotal cost: €3 445 993 | EC contribution: €2 260 000Project duration: 1 August 2005 – 31 July 2009 (48 months)Coordinator: R J Winfield, Tyndall National Institute, IrelandWebsite: http://www.tyndall.ie/projects/UVTech/index.html

Deposition of Nanoparticle dispersions shows promise as oxide source for ICT devices (2005-2009)

Innovative processing techniques developed for nanocrystal-based smart materials (2005-2009)


NOVOPOLY developed new functional materials for appli-cations in the fields of micro/nano electromechanical systems technology (MEMS and NEMS) by adding lumi-nescence and improved mechanical properties to existing photo-structurable polymers such as photostructruable SU-8, while also increasing electrical conductivity and high temperature stability. The goal was to combine organic polymer and inorganic nanocrystals to create materials with useful and improved properties arising from synergy between the two com-ponents. Crystalline nanoparticles add properties coming from the crystalline structure such as emission and con-ductivity and this provides many possibilities for introducing functional properties.Secondly novel ceramics from organic-inorganic hybrid precursors were developed.

In order to produce and use these materials, new and adapted methods of processing and micro/nano-pattern-ing were required. One challenge was to modify the processing parameters for UV-based patterning; another was to optimise innovative structuring methods like ink-jet printing or micro-moulding for hybrid and functional materials. Layer-by-layer build-up of polymer-based micro/nano-systems simplified the fabrication process, allowing a dramatic reduction in production cost.

This new set of materials and processes will serve a wide variety of applications in the areas of MEMS and NEMS.


• Synthesis and functionalisation of metal, oxide and semiconducting colloidal nanocrystals for incorpora-tion into polymers, while preserving their unique properties.

• Production of SU-8 based polymeric materials and of SiO2, TiO2, and Fe2O3 doped polymers, carbon-doped polymers and biofunctionalised polymers with photo-luminiscent and e-beam sensitive properties.

• New processing methods: polymer micro/nanostruc-turing of doped polymers based on uv-lithography with resolution of 2.5 μm and soft-lithography methods with resolution of 2 μm.

• Atomic force microscope (AFM) probes with the same resolution as commercial Si probes and integrated magnetic actuation capabilities if doped with Fe2O3. The photoplasts have a stability of more than a year.

• SU-8 cantilever sensors with simpler fabrication and with integrated Au resistors for improved sensitivity for surface stress measurements. These are still thick (5.5 μm), but already have a sensitivity equal to com-mercial Si-based cantilevers (500 nm thick). They can be used for label-free detection of cancer.

NMP3-CT-2005-013619 – NOVOPOLYNovel functional polymer materials for MEMS and NEMS applicationsTotal cost: €1 998 156 | EC contribution: €1 800 000Project duration: 1 February 2005 – 30 April 2008 (40 months)Coordinator: Francesc Pérez-Murano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, SpainWebsite: http://www.cnm.es/projects/novopoly/phpfiles/home.php

Functional polymers designed for MEMS and NEMS (2005-2008)

Probes and sensors enhanced by composites with tailored properties


In the MULTIPOL project, new organic polymers for elec-tronics applications were manufactured with solid-on-liquid deposition (SOLID) technology discovered just before the start of the initiative.

The solid layer of choice for the SOLID process is the pol-ymer poly-para-xylylene, commonly called parylene, which is a transparent biocompatible polymer with excel-lent mechanical and chemical properties. This is deposited on a liquid substrate (in the form of droplets or a film), in such a way that the liquid shapes the overgrowing solid polymer layer.

Two approaches were developed during the project. First, the encapsulation of functional liquids was employed to create complex systems. Secondly the properties of parylene itself were fine-tuned by physical entrapment or chemical reactions with the overgrown liquid, result-ing in a functionalisation of the polymer.

Modelling and tools were used to understand reactions at the substrate-liquid and liquid-parylene interfaces, and were used to select the most promising technique.

The novel multifunctional materials and systems devel-oped via the SOLID technology could form the basis of a huge variety of new micro-nano systems for ICT, rang-ing from organic electronics and flexible displays, to solar cells, sensors and actuators.


• Process to fabricate multilayer components by liquid dispensing and parylene deposition.

• Development of a process for chemical reactions as well as liquid patterning scenarios. Specific monomers, oligomers, and polymers such as photoresponsive poly-COOH polycarbazole conducting polymers and various acrylates were investigated, as well as nanotubes/mag-netic nanoparticles which add functionalities to the material.

• Provisional US patent application for the fabrication of polymeric UV-sensitive particles and their application to the surface functionalisation and micro/nanostruc-turation of various parylene films.

• Encapsulation of liquid crystals and parylene layers with added ferro-magnetic functionality (Ms = 0.0455 emu/mg, Hc = 18.5 Oe, Rm = 6.5 emu/mg) or conductivity (conductivity /length of 5 x 10-9 S/m, while non func-tionalized Parylene has 1017 S/m). Strategies for conducting, semiconducting and electroactive polymer production.

NMP3-CT-2006-033201 – MULTIPOLMultifunctional polymer materials and systems with tailored mechanical, electrical and optical propertiesTotal cost: €3 297 274 | EC contribution: €2 199 404Project duration: 1 January 2007 – 31 December 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Herbert Keppner, Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale, SwitzerlandWebsite: http://www.he-arc.ch/hearc/en/multipol/index.html

SOLID progress in organic polymers for electronics (2007-2009)

Solid-on-liquid deposition shapes properties for multiple applications


The 3D-DEMO project developed thin film deposition and structuring technologies for complex oxide materials with properties that make them widely applicable in the fields of electro-optics and electromechanical systems.

A new deposition technique – laser-assisted chemical beam deposition/epitaxy (LA-CBD/CBE) – offers a good combination of flexibility, cost effectiveness and sustain-ability, as required for next-generation devices. The LA-CBE method, which uses a new effusing gas source allowing unmatched control over deposition, provides the capabil-ity to deposit oxides consisting of different chemical elements in homogeneous thin films and compositionally graded films.

LA-CBE was applied to three ferroelectric oxide struc-tures. Lithium niobate (LN) and lithium tantalate (LT) films were investigated for active electro-optic and photonic applications such as waveguiding and second harmonic generation, as well as in devices like modulators, and photonic crystal filters.

For electro-mechanical applications, the lead-free piezo-elec-tric perovskite (K0.44 Na0.52Li0.04)(Nb0.84Ta0.10Sb0.06)O3 (KNLNT) was selected for production in the form of thin films. This material has the potential to replace lead-containing PZT ceramics. Strontium barium niobate (SBN) thin films with larger electro-optic coefficients than LN or LT were also investigated.

The laser-assisted process produces property-patterned films through local doping or crystallisation, allowing for increased functionalisation on standard substrates.


• LA-CBE equipment for thin film deposition of complex oxides, permitting growth of oxides at lower temper-atures than are possible with physical liquid deposition Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD).

• LN films deposited on LT substrates by CBE. Selective doping for linear waveguides and domain-engineered structures for second harmonic generation.

• New thin film materials (SBN and KNLNT) for next gen-eration electro-optical and bulk acoustic wave (BAW) applications synthesised by PLD, and their piezo-elec-tric and optical properties assessed.

• A first functional demonstrator featuring LN film on an MgO substrate, into which a photonic lattice was pat-terned by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) techniques. The photonic bandgap of this device showed steeper band edges than analogue structures etched into bulk LN crystals.

NMP3-CT-2006-033297 – 3D-DEMOSingle step 3D deposition of complex nanopatterned multifunctional oxide thin filmsTotal cost: €2 479 800 | EC contribution: €2 200 000Project duration: 1 November 2006 – 31 October 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Paul Muralt, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, SwitzerlandWebsite: http://www.3d-demo.org/

Multifunctional oxide thin films offer radical new properties (2006-2009)

New film deposition techniques permit production of complex oxide films


This project MULTIFLEXIOXIDES developed new process-ing techniques whereby ceramic thin films containing multi-component oxides in amorphous or nanostructured form can be custom-designed for various electronic func-tions. The methods allow tuning of the oxides into active semiconductors, as alternatives to silicon and emerging organic semiconductors. They can also be tailored to become flexible and conductive (TCOs), or high-k dielec-trics. The inorganic nature of the metal oxide materials means that the resultant devices will be durable and envi-ronmentally stable.

Due to the large number of combinations that are pos-sible with such materials, those exhibiting optimal properties were identified through a simulation study coupled with experimental feedback into the model. Once the design of these novel multicomponent oxide materials was completed in terms of electronic, mechan-ical, and optical properties, the central focus of the project turned to novel room-temperature deposition techniques and non-fab-based patterning.

Precursors suitable for the deposition routes, including low temperature chemical vapour deposition, chemical solution deposition and inkjet, were developed. In addi-tion, the deposition parameters for producing homogeneous films were defined, resulting in a low-cost non-fab continuous-write technology for high volume production of large area devices.


• Low-temperature sputtering deposition capable of pro-ducing amorphous transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) and thin film transistors (TFTs) with resistivity close to 2×10-4 Ω.cm and field effect mobility higher than 30 cm2V-1s-1 at temperatures below 150ºC, com-patible with flexible substrates.

• Chemical deposition procedures, with processing tem-perature below 150ºC, which allowed the creation of chemical deposited TCOs, although with electrical resistivity higher than that of sputtered oxides.

• Low-temperature processing of insulators to be used on TFTs, permitting the integration of these devices on an active matrix backplane processed at temperatures below 150ºC, aiming at a fully transparent and flexible display.

• Non-fab-based patterning of the oxide semiconductor films, with geometry dimensions below 50 microns.

• First passive LED chip having a similar performance to that of conventional materials processed at higher temperature.

• Entirely integrated active matrix processing, from the mask design to the final integration.

NMP3-CT-2006-032231 – MULTIFLEXIOXIDESMulti-component oxides for flexible and transparent electronicsTotal cost: €1 940 065 | EC contribution: €1 800 000Project duration: 1 September 2006 – February 2010 (40 months)Coordinator: Rodrigo Ferrão de Paiva Martins, UNINOVA/CEMOP, Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias, PortugalWebsite: http://www.uninova.pt/~multiflexioxides

New deposition of oxides allows tuning of properties for multiple device functionality (2006-2009)

New techniques permit sustainable, competitive production of high-value displays


High-resolution x-ray imaging devices based on a new thin scintillating layer developed in the SCINTAX project will form powerful tools to provide information about the inner structure of samples during non-destructive examination.

The SCINTAX scintillator was grown as a thin layer of modified Lu2SiO5 (LSO) produced by liquid phase epitaxy on a dedicated substrate. This material has high absorp-tion efficiency, high density and high light yield, leading to higher spatial resolution and detective quantum effi-ciency (DQE) compared with the scintillators commonly used in x-ray imaging.

New approaches to coating and microstructuring the thin layer have increased the performance of the new mate-rial. By varying its thickness during production, it is possible to tailor the properties of the scintillator to the needs of specific applications.

The results of this project will be used for the develop-ment of the next generation of lower-cost imaging systems, allowing the calculation of spectral distribution for each picture element, also in the higher energy range. By filling the gap between dual energy systems and x-ray imaging spectrometers, this technology will have an impact on the fields of non-destructive testing, safety, environment, life sciences and medical imaging.


• Tb-doped LSO (LSO:Tb) single crystal film scintillator in the x-ray energy ranges 0-51 keV and 63keV-100keV with a DQE three times larger than that of gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG:Eu). Spatial resolution values close to 0.5 μm were measured with a 7μm layer of LSO:Tb.

• Up-scaling of scintillator production with growth of the LSO:Tb films on dedicated substrates of low thick-nesses (< 30 μ).

• System integration, resulting in demonstrator for line scan radiographies.

• High-resolution microscope prototype with an optical system capable of 0.5 μm resolution, which will increase with thinner scintillators.

NMP3-CT-2006-033427 – SCINTAXNovel ceramic thin film based scintillator for high resolution x-ray imagingTotal cost: €2 300 000 | EC contribution: €1 450 000Project duration: 1 October 2006 – 30 September 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Tilo Baumbach, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, GermanyWebsite: http://www.scintax.eu/

High performance scintillator for materials inspection (2006-2009)

Nanostructured layer technology enhances detection efficiency of x-ray imaging devices


An innovative concept resulting from the STRING project promises significantly increased performance and lower costs for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, a non-invasive medical technique used to obtain detailed three-dimensional images of tissue.

Replacing conventional scintillator crystals with scintilla-tor stacks incorporating multifunctional ceramic thin films for spectral conversion provides faster emission and high conversion efficiency at a lower production cost.

The luminescence of Pr3+ and Nd3+ is being explored in a variety of host lattices to obtain new and faster scintil-lator materials than crystals doped with light emitting Ce3+ ions. Research led to models describing: • the energy flow in scintillating materials;• the initial build-up of the emission intensity, allowing

the build-up time to be reduced; • the undesired afterglow.

New ceramic thin films for spectral conversion from deep UV (DUV) to visible were also essential in this new concept.

The costly process of single crystal growth is replaced by the cheaper production of highly transparent ceramic scintillators via sintering of polycrystalline powders under high pressure. Design and production of the scintillator stacks required the resolution of a number of additional issues, such as preparing and introducing interference fil-ters with specific characteristics on top of the ceramic scintillator and the spectral conversion layer.

To understand and improve the performance of PET scan-ners, behaviour based on the characteristics of individual scintillator stacks was modelled and simulated.


• Inorganic oxidic luminescent materials doped with Pr3+ and Nd3+ with ultra fast emission (decay time shorter than about 30 ns) and a cubic crystal structure.

• Transparent scintillators with a high light yield (e.g. larger than 25 000 photons/MeV), a very low after-glow, absence of a signal build-up on the ns scale and a high energy resolution (e.g. 5 %).

• Preparation of the scintillator stack and testing using realistic PET conditions.

NMP3-CT-2006-032636 – STRINGStructured scintillators for medical imagingTotal cost: €2 570 768 | EC contribution: €2 300 000Project duration: 1 September 2006 – 31 August 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Cees Ronda, Philips Technologie GmbH Forschungslaboratorien, GermanyWebsite: http://www.hitech-projects.com/euprojects/string/

Structured scintillators cut positron emission tomography costs (2006-2009)

Performance of tissue imaging technique improved by scintillator stack concept

Host matrix Organic emitters

Interference filters

VISλ > 400 nm

DUV

✲ Projects on modelling of materials

INCEMS 42MULTIPRO 43MAGDOT 44


INCEMS explored the effect of nanoscale interface behav-iour with the goal of predicting the complex properties of multifunctional ceramics with nanometre-scaled inter-granular films.

The project investigated new materials for dielectric and ferroelectric functional oxides. The compositions select-ed permit the formation of disordered boundaries or intergranular films that allow activated sintering at a tem-perature low enough to permit, for instance, the use of non-precious-metal electrodes.

The actual material system investigated was the per-ovskite compound strontium titanate (SrTiO3 or STO) in a variety of structures and compositions (nominally pure, and chemically doped with impurity elements). This is a model system relevant for the much wider class of per-ovskite-type functional oxides. For STO, a non-wetting disorder transition occurs under certain conditions, offer-ing the possibility to use activated sintering for densification.

Modelling was developed to treat the influence of multi-component chemistry, space charge, and dispersion forces on the thermodynamic stability of interfaces. Coherent and incoherent grain boundaries were analysed with electron microscopy and electron spectroscopy – and experimental data were compared iteratively with modelling results, to yield a consistent description of the atomic and electronic structure of general boundaries.

A new type of interfacial phase diagram, including the equilibrium properties of defects was established as a general tool for designers of materials and processes.


• Development of predictive tools for the design of materials and processes with controlled microstructure. The tool-suite includes first-principles electronic-struc-ture and many-atom models, phase-field and vertex-dynamics simulation and Van der Waals disper-sion theory. The tools perform calculations at the atomic, microstructural and macroscopic scale and allowed the modelling of the time evolution of grain structures and statistical properties of microstructures from free energies of grain boundaries and dispersion interactions across grain boundaries.

• Demonstration of the capabilities of the combined the-oretical and experimental methodologies by accurately predicting grain coarsening in ceramics including the occurrence of abnormal grain growth.

• Preparation of materials with controlled compositions, grain boundaries and grain sizes where the model guided the processing parameters (linear shrinkage during sintering with constant heating rate for differ-ent Sr/Ti ratios as well as the microstructural evolution during densification). Simulations suggest origin of abnormal grain growth is anisotropy of grain bound-ary energy, which can be controlled through doping and segregation.

• Combined characterisation experiments using high res-olution electron microscopy and calculations based on density functional theory have established the detailed atomic structure of the (112) twin boundary in SrTiO3.

NMP3-CT-2005-013862 – INCEMSInterfacial materials – computational and experimental multi-scale studiesTotal cost: €2 309 911 | EC contribution: €2 112 800Project duration: 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2009 (36 months) Coordinator: Peter Gumbsch, University of Karlsruhe, GermanyWebsite: http://www.mf.mpg.de/INCEMS/index.html

Predictive modelling aids identification of functional ceramics (2005-2009)

Combined scale-bridging modelling of ceramics by computational theories and high-resolution experiments shows ways to higher functional performances and new applications


Nanostructured composite optoelectronic materials developed in the MULTIPRO project comprise embedded nanoparticles of metals or metal oxides (quantum dots) in an organic or hybrid matrix. These structures perform wavelength conversion of light emitted by solid state lighting sources, as necessary for the realisation of LEDs Thermal conductivity is enhanced by the nanoparticles, and electrical conductivity is optimised by making use of the tunnelling effect that can be influenced by the filling factor and dimensions of the particles.

The modelling, covering all aspects from pure component preparation and nanoparticle compatibility to the reac-tive deposition process, enabled new synthesis routes to be defined. Principal applications addressed were auto-motive head-up displays and lighting, public information displays, and general lighting.


• Reduction in materials used and of the number of proc-ess steps (one for optical extraction and one for thermal and electrical attachment of the die to the substrate).

• Multiscale modelling of nanostructure and chemistry at atomic level; direct correlation of results with synthesis procedures and material properties. The developed model combines Dissipative Particle Dynamics with a reactive procedure.

• Chemical route to nanoparticle synthesis, including an innovative reactive deposition technology integrated directly in the assembly of the final component. A 3D

mesoscale maskless direct writing technique yields high-aspect-ratio microstructures on large areas.

• Technique to functionalise and embed nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix. Ligands containing both amine and hydroxyl groups were used to disperse quantum dots homogeneously in the matrices. TiO2 nanoparti-cles did not need special additives.

• TiO2 nanocrystals of 4-5 nm diameter in a hybrid matrix material obtained through sol-gel processing of glyci-doxypropyltrimethoxisilane, obtaining thin-film deposition with easily tuneable refractive index in the range 1.5-1.89 and good transparency.

• Particles consisting of a CdSe core covered by a grad-ed-composition shell of CdS, CdZnS and Zns deliver high luminescence and optical property stability, for use in wavelength conversion devices producing tai-lored white light from standard LEDs.

• Inks with optimally-sized silver/copper nanometallic particles showing electrothermal conductivity down to 70 μΩ.cm. These particles are coated with organic materials to prevent agglomeration when dispersed in a liquid vehicle.

• Development of an innovative reactive packaging of SSLS that allows to successfully deposited multifunc-tional materials using an maskless aerosol printing technology. At first the materials are atomized with the help of a pneumatic or ultrasonic atomizer. The aero-sol is carried to the print head and focused with nitrogen. In a second step the printed materials are cured using an integrated UV curing light or furnace.

NMP3-CT-2006-033304 – MULTIPRODesign of «tailor to made» multifunctional organic materials by molecular modelling of structure property relationship, experimentation and processingTotal cost: €2 108 021,60 | EC contribution: €1 350 000Project duration: 1 November 2006 – 31 October 2009 (36 months)Coordinator: Sabino Sinesi, Centro Ricerche Plast-optica, ItalyWebsite: http://www.multipro-f6.eu

Tailored white light from standard LED sources (2006-2009)

Modelling guides the development of multifunctional materials for optoelectronic devices


To develop models that support the first-principles design of super-high-density magnetic storage materials such as FePt and CoPt, MAGDOT undertook computational study of the nanoscale self-assembly of magnetic dots during heteroepitaxy.

The aim of the project was to create a medium where the number of grains needed to store one bit of infor-mation is significantly reduced, allowing it to be contained on a single nano-sized island – and thus circumventing superparamagnetism. Research was conducted into spe-cific alloys with enhanced magnetic anisotropy, and into new writing concepts. The major problem to be over-come was the creation of a regular pattern of nano-sized magnetic dots.

Models of the fundamental phenomena occurring during heteroepitaxy calculated the evolution of nanostructural morphology and composition during deposition and annealing, resulting in self-assembly. These incorporated fundamental calculations of surface energies, surface stress, and surface diffusion coefficients, combined with calculations based on statistical mechanics and other mes-oscopic and continuum finite-element calculations.

Modern mathematical tools like phase-field models, homogenisation techniques, and asymptotic expansion were combined with state-of-the-art computational methods such as multigrid solvers, adaptive and compos-ite finite elements, parallel kinetic Monte Carlo simulation and intensive experimental validation on model systems of Fe/Mo and Fe/W.


• Qualitative investigation of temperature dependence of sub-monolayer island density and step instabilities.

• Relations between density functional theory and phase field crystal models determined.

• Amplitude formulation for phase-field crystal models with miscibility gap and ulterior development of phase field crystal models for vapour-solid systems.

• New method for modelling strongly anisotropic crystal and epitaxial growth using regularized, anisotropic Cahn-Hilliard-type equations.

• Efficient parallelisation approaches to solve phase-field equations on high-performance computers.

• Knowledge and research tools explaining the growth of metallic nanoscale patterns such as islands, mounds, and step structures.

• Nanopatterns for various applications (including super-high-density magnetic storage media) and nanopatterns serving as templates for additional processing (e.g. mag-netic nanowires).

NMP3-CT-2005-016447 – MAGDOTBridging atomistic to continuum – multiscale investigation of self-assembling magnetic dots during epitaxial growthTotal cost: €2 253 756 | EC contribution: €800 000Project duration: 1 January 2006 – 31 December 2009 (48 months)Coordinator: Axel Voigt, Technische Universität Dresden, GermanyWebsite: www.eunsfproject-magdot.eu

Nanoscale structures designed for super-high-density memories (2006-2009)

Modelling explains the fundamental phenomena occurring during heteroepitaxial self-assembly

✲ Further information


Useful LinksThe following brochures can be downloaded from the Industrial Technologies website: http://ec.europa.eu/research/industrial_technologies/index_en.htmlA printed version can be ordered from the EU Bookshop: http://bookshop.europa.eu/eubookshop/index.action

Networks of ExcellenceKey for the future of EU research

Materials are addressed by 14 Networks of Excel-

lence supported under FP6, involving a total EU finan-

cing of €103 million and covering important thematic

sub-areas.

This brochure describes their diverse experiences,

and the impressive progress in durable integration

already achieved in the most advanced cases.

Success stories in the materials fieldA decade of EU-funded research

During the Fifth Framework Programme a total of 301

projects in Materials Research received EC funding

of €350 million.

While in FP6 budget was nearly 31 % larger, with

a Community contribution of €458 million to 142

generally larger-scale Materials projects.

This brochure outlines a selection of success stories

from these two periods.

Biomaterials for healthcare A decade of EU-funded research

The European Union has funded biomaterials

research projects under its Fifth and Sixth Framework

Programmes for almost a decade.

This brochure traces the progress of this work,

illustrated by examples of projects that have achieved

significant advances or highlighted fruitful areas for

continuing investigation.


Novel materials and sustainable chemistryA decade of EU-funded research

The European Union is a strong supporter of research

for the development of innovative materials, in

particular of those for use in sustainable chemical

technologies or produced thanks to them.

This brochure shows a few examples of successful

projects funded within this research area by the NMP

Theme during FP5 and FP6.

Novel materials for energy applicationsA decade of EU-funded research

Materials research is expected to play an increasing

role in sustainable technologies for energy conver-

sion, storage and savings. Principal areas of interest

are: solar cells, batteries and supercapacitors; fuel

cells, thermoelectrics, superconductors, more efficient

lighting and hydrogen technologies.

This brochure highlights successful projects funded

within these research areas by the NMP Theme.

FP7 NMP on Cordis

For general information on the EC research programmes see

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/cooperation/

For more information on NMP, including information about calls for proposals,

see http://cordis.europa.eu/nmp

and http://ec.europa.eu/research/industrial_technologies

Enquiry service

A service provide by the Europe Direct Contact Center answers

questions about any aspect of European research in general,

and the EU research Framework Programmes in particular-including NMP

at http://ec.europa.eu/research/enquiries

European Commission

EUR 24057 – Will computers of tomorrow still be made of silicon?

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

2009 – 52 pp. – 21 x 29.7 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-13435-7doi: 10.2777/51990ISSN 1018-5593

Acknowledgements

Initial information was compiled by Joao dos Santos Simões Torres, while Anna Masalon has been of great assistance in preparing this publication. Prof. Sergei Tretyakov, from Helsinki, University of Technology, has proof-read the text as an end-user. The editor would like to thank them for their valuable help.

HOW TO OBTAIN EU PUBLICATIONS

Publications for sale:• via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu);

• from your bookseller by quoting the title, publisher and/or ISBN number;

• by contacting one of our sales agents directly. You can obtain their contact details on the Internet

(http://bookshop.europa.eu) or by sending a fax to +352 2929-42758.

Free publications:• via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu);

• at the European Commission’s representations or delegations. You can obtain their contact details

on the Internet (http://ec.europa.eu) or by sending a fax to +352 2929-42758.

In this brochure some selected NMP projects that have been supported under FP6 (2003-2006) in the field of materials science and technology (Materials S&T) for ICT devices.

We hope the content of this brochure will stimulate further useful ideas for application in industry.

KI-N

A-2

40

57

-EN

-C

Will computers of tomorrow still be made of silicon?

Documents