One of the driving forces of the ongoing nanotechnology revolution is the ever-improving ability to understand and control the properties of quantum matter even down to the atomic scale. Key drivers of this revolution are layered materials like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD). The realisation of novel TMD-based electronic devices relies heavily on understanding the relation between structural and electrical properties at the nanoscale. Crucially, one-dimensional (1D) TMDs have been predicted to exhibit striking functionalities including metallic edge states, ferromagnetic behaviour, and mobilities that are not suppressed as compared to their 2D counterparts. Indeed, in the 1D nanoscale limit, the lateral edges of TMDs become dominant, opening novel opportunities to tune edge-induced electrical properties leading to i.e. enhanced charge carrier mobility. However, these predictions for novel phenomena in 1D TMDs lack experimental verification, due to the challenge in accessing the relevant information at the nanoscale. I propose to unravel the interplay between structural and electrical edge-induced properties by exploiting recent breakthroughs in electron microscopy (EM) allowing simultaneous unprecedented spatial and spectral resolution. I will focus on MoS2 nanoribbons, and use electron-energy loss spectroscopy to map the electronic properties at the nanometer-scale. Beyond the optimization of EM for 1D TMD characterization, I will investigate semiconducting-to-metal and ferromagnetic transitions by realising controllable edge structures. I have an extensive track record in pushing the frontier of EM characterization and growing nanostructures. I recently demonstrated the feasibility of pinning down the interplay between structure and electronic properties at the edges of 2D MoS2. This proposal will provide input towards novel quantum technologies for developing low-energy-consumption tunable electronics, efficient signal processing and quantum computation.

Building facades are currently designed targeting high levels of energy efficiency, due to the urgent need for more resilient and sustainable communities, often driving the socio-political and economic priorities. However, environmentally sustainable facades are insufficient to create resilient societies. In seismic hazard zones, façade performance and serviceability can be severely impacted by earthquakes. Façade damage can occur even at low seismic intensities, leading to potential life-safety threat and substantial socio-economic losses. Safer façade systems are thus urgently needed, and SAFE-FACE addresses this need. Damage-control details and sustainable techniques are integrated to develop earthquake-proof sustainable facades for mid-rise new/built residential/office buildings. Moreover, the common façade design is advanced by integrating the seismic study. Multi-criteria performance-based tools/frameworks, including seismic safety as a decisive criterion, are developed (or enhanced) to support the design of façade systems: a novel practice-oriented tool; an advanced optimization-based tool; an innovative probabilistic-based approach. The project is built on the integration of the strength of the Participating Organizations in façade design and the Fellow’s expertise in seismic design. Involving parallel disciplines (Façade Engineering, Earthquake Engineering) and industrial/academic collaboration, the research is topical and represents both a scientific problem and a socio-political priority; it aims at the resilient and sustainable development of the European Community, and timely responds to the safety and socio-economic needs of our modern society. The action will be beneficial for the Fellow’s career, by expanding the applicant’s skills and opening up exciting collaboration opportunities. Being of interest to building industry/practitioners/decision-makers, the research will initiate a virtuous cycle through research-development-education-dissemination.