Due to the uneven production of renewable energy, it is impossible to use these energy sources for transportation. The proposed research in the CEENEMA project will bridge the gap between renewable energy and electrical devices. Light, high-capacity, high-powered and safe Lithium Ion Batteries (LIBs) can power the needs of electric vehicles. Nanostructure-based energy storage offers high opportunities. In that sense, the performance of anode material can increase by making nanocomposites. Furthermore, there is an urgency to replace graphite anodes which limit today the power density of LIB. Our goal is two-fold to reach industrial transfer within a short period of time: 1°) In a model SnO2 based anode material, the lithium storage mechanism can be described by a first irreversible reaction where Li+ ions are oxidized by SnO2 into Li2O, which forms metallic Sn, followed by an alloying-dealloying reaction between Sn and Li+. In this case, one of the most efficient ways to increase the initial Coulombic Efficiency (CE) is to convert the metal Sn into SnO2 and promote the decomposition of Li2O during the charge process (vs. Li metal). This reaction can greatly improve the reversible capacity by increasing the theoretical lithium storage capacity from 4.4 Li+ per SnO2 (782 mAh/g) to 8.4 Li+ (1493 mAh/g). One aim of this project is to investigate the mechanism and conditions for catalytic effect to promote the reverse reaction of the allegedly irreversible first reaction during the process. Thanks to this model system, we plan to use SnO2/GeO2-graphene oxide nanocomposites as a platform for the catalytic mechanism study. Based on the SnO2/Ge or SnO2/GeO2system, we shall design and synthesize nanostructures that will enable high initial CE and ultra-stable high performance rate capability anode materials as well as further improve the battery efficiency, especially the stability at large current densities. In addition, the content proportion of SnO2, GeO2 and graphene will be optimized for accurate cost estimation of this process. Other possible catalysts including CuO, Co3O4, Fe2O3, MnO2, NiO, Au, Pt, etc. will be tested. Our joint research also targets at an innovative approach of incorporating hybrid-nanostructures with catalytic effect engineering (i.e. promote irreversible reaction) and improve the performance of anode materials beyond theoretical capacity. The design of metal oxide hybrid nanostructures will provide better understanding for metal oxide catalytic engineering. 2°) This approach of a new type will be declined in an enlarged vision which is market-oriented since high-rate production of nanoparticles with perfectly-designed features is mandatory to produce LIBs at low cost. An original process, based on discharges in dielectric liquids, is foreseen as the best answer to this issue in terms of innocuousness, environmentally-friendly processing and energy-saving. Chemically and structurally well-controlled nanoparticles with narrow size-distribution between 2 and 20 nm will be produced by discharges in water or liquid nitrogen in micrometric interelectrode gap distance. The production rate will be about 100 to 1000 times faster than nanosecond laser ablation in liquids. Surface functionalization of nanoparticles will be ensured by different means like adding acids (HCl or HNO3, e.g.) to water during discharges or microplasma jet at atmospheric pressure in contact with water, a new process discovered recently for surface engineering of nanomaterials. Coupled with plasma diagnostics like time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy and picosecond iCCD imaging, the most advanced materials characterizations will be used to optimize the nanoparticles design and properties. Our approach is unique and promising for low-cost high-efficient LIB applications. The proposed topics should generate capability and manpower development for Singapore and France.
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"Metallic FCC-BCC nanolayers, such as Cu/Nb, have received wide attention due to their extraordinary mechanical properties as well as the unique self-healing capacities due to the interface characteristics. Most recently, the materials have also been shown to exhibit significant and tunable interfacial sliding mechanisms (based on defect structures in the interface). The significant interfacial sliding is all along while maintaining full contact between the layers, and thus one could expect negligible resistance increase upon straining, which would be attractive for stretchable metallic conductor technology. The interfacial sliding has been modeled with some combination of diffusional and displacive mechanisms - the extreme extents of which are afforded by the nanoscale layering in the materials. The exact mechanisms continue to be fully investigated with in situ mechanical testing allowing the direct observation of the interfacial sliding events inside an SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) or on a synchrotron beamline, as well as many other characterization techniques. In this proposal, we aim to harness the unique capacity for atomic reconfigurations in the FCC/BCC nanolayers to enable stretchable metallic conductors. This approach of using atomic reconfigurations (instead of the structural reconfigurations in existing metallic stretchable technologies) is novel and, due to the associated diffusional and displacive mechanisms strictly in the interface (thus maintaining contact all the while), could lead to potentially new, breakthrough metallic stretchable materials - stretchable (and recoverable) without compromising the electrical conductivity upon significant mechanical deformation, as well as upon long operational duration (durability). Stretchable conductors are important part of stretchable electronics, which could lead to many important technologies such as artificial skin, muscle, limb as well as soft robotics and human-machine interfaces. To accomplish the goals of this project, one needs to make work together experts in mechanics, in situ mechanical testing in SEM or on synchrotron beamlines, characterizing crystal and interfacial defects and stretchable technology. The Street Art Nano project brings together these complementary expertise: "" Prof. Arief Budiman of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), in Singapore, has a strong background in fracture mechanics, deformation behaviors and microstructure evolution of novel (nanoscale) materials. "" Prof. Olivier Thomas of Aix Marseille Université (AMU) and CNRS (IM2NP UMR 7334), in Marseille, has a strong background on applying X-ray nano-diffraction techniques to understand the mechanics and defect structures of nanoscale materials. "" Prof. Pooi-See Lee of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), in Singapore, has a strong background in novel stretchable materials and technology, and especially in enabling metallic stretchable conductors technology."
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The optical properties of emitting nanoparticles such as quantum dots (QD) or NV centers in nanodiamonds (ND) have been extensively studied in solution or in vivo, isolated on dielectric or plasmonic substrates, coupled to metallic colloids or even attached to near-field scanning probes. Yet, optical studies have been performed with macroscopic or diffraction limited techniques. One noticeable exception is the cathodoluminescence (CL) study of isolated QD in the 1990s and recently of isolated nanodiamonds. The HYBNAP project proposes to study hybrid structures made by coupling gold nanoparticles with well-defined plasmonic modal properties to emitting nanoparticles with 1-nm probes of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), CL and photon scanning tunneling microscopy (PSTM) to locally excite and characterize their optical response. The project dedicates particular attention to build the hybrid emitter-metal structure with nanometer controlled geometries by combining colloidal synthesis and self-assembly with advanced templating effects of sub-10 nm patterned substrates structures. Theoretical modelling and numerical simulations is implemented to interpret the experimental data. In order to carry out this widely interdisciplinary research program and reach an unprecedented spatial precision combined with spectral insight, a flexible research platform is created for investigating and tuning nano-optical properties of hybrid emitter / metal nanoplasmonic systems. The work is realized by the joint force of a strong team that combines expertise in colloidal chemistry and self-assembly (CEMES Toulouse & SCR Rennes, Fr), ultimate nanofabrication (SUTD Singapore), nanoplasmonics modelling and simulations (IHPC Singapore & CEMES) and nano-optical characterization (IMRE Singapore & CEMES). The HybNaP partners first focus on acquiring, with nanometer precision, the mapping of surface plasmon (SP) modal distributions in a series of nanoparticles, 1D and 2D crystalline structures produced by CEMES and SCR by using TEM-based electron beams at IMRE. The results are benchmarked to linear and non-linear optical imaging that have been recently shown to probe the partial SP local density of states (LDOS) and confronted to theoretical models associated to numerical simulation tools based on finite element or 3D-Green Dyadic methods. Preliminary work has by IMRE and CEMES has led to a 2015 publication in Nature Mater. IMRE is one of the very few places worldwide where combined EELS / CL measurements are possible. CL is recorded to allow correlating local excitation and photon emission. In parallel, low energy electron excitation with similarly spatial confinement is developed at CEMES by recording luminescence under STM tip excitation. Data interpretation will be supported by STEM measurements and IHPC's modeling of SP emission spectra from a tunnel junction. Meanwhile, metal-emitter hybrid structures composed of gold colloids and QD or ND will be synthesized by CEMES and SCR and coupled by using molecular coupling approaches. Protocols to restrict the assembly to dimers and small oligomers are targeted. Alternatively, a colloidal epitaxy approach in which quantum nanorods are used as templates to grow metallic nanoparticles at the tips is explored. Hybrid structures of increasing complexity are obtained by doping plasmonic nanoparticle networks with QD or ND. Finally, hybrid plasmon-emitter with improved topology will be produced by combining colloidal chemistry with high resolution electron-beam lithography. Mix & matching will allow to tune the relative location of the emitter and the nodes of the SP modal distribution and to place it where the SP-LDOS is intense. Structures will be made that can be measured both in the near- and far-field. Simulation routines guide the design of efficient hybrid structures able to excite dark plasmon modes that are otherwise inaccessible, leading to hybrid materials with unique, tunable optical properties.
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In the last few years we have seen unprecedented advances in quantum information technologies. Already quantum key distribution systems are available commercially. In the near future we will see waves of new quantum devices, offering unparalleled benefits for security, communication, computation and sensing. A key question to the success of this technology is their verification and validation. Quantum technologies encounter an acute verification and validation problem: On one hand, since classical computations cannot scale-up to the computational power of quantum mechanics, verifying the correctness of a quantum-mediated computation is challenging. On the other hand, the underlying quantum structure resists classical certification analysis. Members of our consortium have shown, as a proof-of-principle, that one can bootstrap a small quantum device to test a larger one. The aim of VanQuTe is to adapt our generic techniques to the specific applications and constraints of photonic systems being developed within our consortium. Our ultimate goal is to develop techniques to unambiguously verify the presence of a quantum advantage in near future quantum technologies. We will develop experimental test beds and the theoretical framework for verification of diverse quantum technologies including sub-universal quantum computation (boson sampling and instantaneous quantum computation (IQP)), secure quantum communication and quantum sensing and imaging. We will use a three-layered approach to target the development and demonstration of quantum advantage for emerging near future quantum devices. In the core Verification layer we address the key challenge of certifying and verifying quantum information processing beyond the classical regime. This will provide us a crucial interface between our target Applications layer (secure communication, sensing and sub-universal quantum computation) and Implementations layer (photonics hardware). This ambitious project will call on expertise stretching across two groups in France (LIP6 and LORIA) and three in Singapore (SUTD, NUS, NTU), building on a strong history of collaboration. Indeed our French and Singaporean members together pioneered the verification methods we will be adapting and applying across our proposal. The consortium complements this with the expertise required in communication theory, foundational physics, quantum protocols and optical implementations. This project will inevitably forge stronger relations between Singapore and France in this exciting domain and more broadly as the work is disseminated through public engagement and outreach. The ability to communicate securely and compute efficiently is ever more important to society. Our approach to development of verifiable quantum hardware within our experimental testbeds will eventually be complemented with development of real-world applications geared towards industrial involvement.
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