Power transformers play a crucial role in electric power transmission and distribution systems, being both expensive and strategically important. Their prolonged efficient operation is essential to prevent long-term power outages. With tens of thousands of transformers worldwide approaching the end of their typical 30-40 year lifespan, the question of recycling becomes significant. Remarkably, around 95% of a power transformer's materials could potentially be recycled. Recognizing the importance of a circular economy, the European Commission adopted a Circular Economy plan in 2020, aiming to shift from a linear "take, make, dispose" model to a circular one where waste becomes a new resource. While the initial focus was on energy efficiency in transformers, the impact of materials is not negligible. The upcoming revision of the eco-design regulation for transformers in 2023 will introduce new requirements on material efficiency. The proposed project will develop research on transformer retrofilling with alternative or recycled insulating liquids. This technique is based on the replacement of the mineral oil of a transformer in service with a biodegradable and less-flammable fluid. The procedure would lead to safer and more environmentally friendly transformers and could allow the application of higher loads, deferring the replacement of equipment in service. However, the technique has not been sufficiently studied, it is needed to evaluate the impact of retrofilling on the operation of the transformer and to assess its economic and technical feasibility. Project's researchers have applied the circular economy concept to power transformers in various ways during project definition: a) Evaluating the efficient use of materials throughout a transformer's life cycle (renewable or re-refined oils instead of conventional oils); b) Lifetime extension through dielectric and thermal design review and guidance on operation and maintenance.

Infectious zoonotic diseases that jump from animals to humans are on the rise, and the risk of a new pandemic is higher now than ever before. Future health models need to consider the close connection between human and animal health, and new technologies capable of continuously monitor places where the risk of pathogens transmission is higher (shared by animals and humans) are urgently needed to prevent the human, socio-political and economic cost from pandemics. Continuous monitoring and harmonized data collection of animal farms are required by the European Parliament. However, current methods are not suitable for an in-situ, continuous and automatic detection, so today only a limited number of specific pathogens are monitored. FLUFET will be the first automatized sensor able of continuously detecting a broad spectrum of viral targets, and with the unprecedent capability of detecting unknown viruses. This sensor will be based on graphene Field Effect Transistors (gFETs). FLUFET will detect infectious zoonotic threats before they spread to humans and create potential outbreaks, opening the door for a pandemic’s prevention continuum. It will bring the possibility to incorporate the long-distance external factors heavily affecting human health at worldwide level. FLUFET brings interesting opportunities for Health and pandemics experts and managers, Policymakers and regulatory/ standardization bodies, Animal farmers and their associations, Precision livestock farming solution providers, Investors and researchers in the multiple disciplines involved in the consortium. FLUFET requires an interdisciplinary consortium including partners from computational biophysics, graphene technology, nanotechnology, sensing, microfluidics, virology, surface engineering and sensor design and electronics.

Solid-state batteries can surpass the current Li-ion technology in terms of energy density, battery safety, specific power, as well as fast-charging capability. According to the Recommendations on energy storage of the European Commission, the development of next-generation batteries is a high priority. In this context, this project proposes novel cross-disciplinary approaches empowered by digital technologies that can accelerate research on the next generations of safe and high-performing batteries. The project presents three main goals: (a) train the young researcher Dr. Cristian Mendes-Felipe, in the design, development and optimisation of UV-curable materials with tailored made properties, including self-healing capabilities to develop solid-state electrolytes (SSEs); (b) assemble those SSEs in a battery, and (c) understand the role of materials and interfaces (hybrid materials interfaces and solid electrolyte/electrode interfaces) in the ionic transport in order to unravel a possible kinetic mechanism in solid-state batteries. The combination of photopolymerization technique of different materials containing ionic conductors with the in-situ analysis of the ongoing battery state envisage not only improve the cutting-edge technology of solid-state energy storage obtain a fundamental understanding of the SSEs structures. During his short research career, the fellow has gained expertise in the fabrication of nanostructured and composite photocurable materials, acquiring hands-on experience with both structural and electronic characterization techniques. Nonetheless, to further boost his career, the fellow needs to broaden his knowledge in the field of energy-storage at BCMaterials, to complement the already known characterization techniques with new ones and with computer simulations and modelling. This project will also increase his supervision experience, project and intellectual property management expertise, and research funding and proposal writing skills.

The main objective of this Marie Curie RISE action is to improve and exchange interdisciplinary knowledge of materials design by modelling, materials synthesis, characterization, and materials processing for permanent magnet development to be able to provide a critical raw free permanent magnet to the industry. Permanent magnets are indispensable for many commercial and military applications. Major commercial applications include the electric, electronic and automobile industries, communications, information technologies and automatic control engineering. Development and improvement of new technologies based on permanent magnets requires the joint effort of a multidisciplinary researcher collective, involving the expertise of participants on different disciplines including physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering. A consortium with such expertise is put together to undertake an integrative and concerted effort (via knowledge transfer) to provide the fundamental innovations and breakthroughs that are needed to fabricate/implement industrially new phases and microstructures required for the development and application of advanced permanent magnets without the use of critical materials. Results will be widely disseminated through publications, workshops, post-graduate courses to train new researchers, a dedicated webpage, and visits to companies working in the area. In that way, we will perform an important role in technology transfer between the most advanced hard and soft magnetic materials design and characterisation methods for the development of permanent magnets.

The goal of UNICORN is to develop unprecedented nanocomposite scintillator (SL) detectors based on engineered nanomaterials for transformative breakthroughs in strategic radiation detection areas spanning homeland security and medicine to industrial, nuclear, and environmental monitoring to cosmology and high energy/particle physics. Today, conventional inorganic SL crystals are prohibitively energy-intensive, fragile, heavy and cannot be produced in large quantities. Organic SLs are, in turn, affordable and scalable, but their low density and light yield reduce energy resolution. These shortcomings preclude progress in application areas of great importance and impose a technological bottleneck to the fundamental study of rare events. The most at risk of all is the study of neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (0νDBD), a so far undetected, rare nuclear process that represents the Holy Grail in particle physics, whose observation would provide long sought-after answers on the origin of the Universe and unlock unexplored scientific territories with unimaginable progress perspectives. UNICORN will tackle this urgent grand challenge by introducing revolutionary nanotechnology-based concepts combining high energy resolution, efficiency, and stability with unmatched mass scalability. The keystone of our disruptive approach are inorganic nanocrystals (NCs) that will be specifically designed to be both the source of 0νDBD and high-performance nano-SLs. The breakthrough will also consist in achieving perfect compatibility with (in)organic hosts to obtain unparalleled ultra-high density optical-grade nanocomposite detectors with maximized light output to be coupled to custom-made light sensors that will embody the archetype of advanced radiation detectors of the future. UNICORN combines world-leading institutions and companies with complementary interdisciplinary competences ensuring the pivotal synergy to reach the project goals and rapidly translate results into economic value.