TEMPORE | Self-Regulating Porous Nano-Oscillators: from Nanoscale Homeostasis to Time-Programmable Devices

Summary
Living systems exhibit unique autonomous behaviors such as homeostasis, self-regulation or spontaneous oscillations, not existing in conventional materials. Designing artificial systems with life-like functionalities is a long-standing challenge in chemistry and material science. This groundbreaking research field has been developed exclusively at the molecular and supramolecular level, through chemical self-regulation based on interconnected networks of reactions in solution.

In this project, I will explore a conceptually new and different approach based on interconnected nanomaterials in open atmosphere; I will design a new family of autonomous systems, called porous Nano-Oscillators, exhibiting a “physical” self-regulation mechanism at the nanoscale. To do so, I will engineer nanoparticles, nanoporous materials and light in a very specific way in order to activate artificial feedback loops; self-oscillatory behavior will be time-programmed by exploiting the sorption dynamics of the nanoporous materials.

I will exploit a multidisciplinary approach based on nanochemistry, nanofabrication and optics to fabricate isolated and groups of nano-oscillators and to investigate their dynamic behaviors. By analogy with cells, communication, synchronization and collective response will be investigated by a new methodology able to describe the spatiotemporal evolutions of self-oscillating nano-objects in controlled environments. Themo-optical simulations will support the experimental work by providing thermodynamic and kinetic guidelines.

Inspired by examples from nature, I will provide proof-of-concept of time-programmable, autonomous devices, working in open atmosphere with unprecedented functionalities.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/803220
Start date: 01-10-2018
End date: 31-12-2024
Total budget - Public funding: 1 496 225,00 Euro - 1 496 225,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Living systems exhibit unique autonomous behaviors such as homeostasis, self-regulation or spontaneous oscillations, not existing in conventional materials. Designing artificial systems with life-like functionalities is a long-standing challenge in chemistry and material science. This groundbreaking research field has been developed exclusively at the molecular and supramolecular level, through chemical self-regulation based on interconnected networks of reactions in solution.

In this project, I will explore a conceptually new and different approach based on interconnected nanomaterials in open atmosphere; I will design a new family of autonomous systems, called porous Nano-Oscillators, exhibiting a “physical” self-regulation mechanism at the nanoscale. To do so, I will engineer nanoparticles, nanoporous materials and light in a very specific way in order to activate artificial feedback loops; self-oscillatory behavior will be time-programmed by exploiting the sorption dynamics of the nanoporous materials.

I will exploit a multidisciplinary approach based on nanochemistry, nanofabrication and optics to fabricate isolated and groups of nano-oscillators and to investigate their dynamic behaviors. By analogy with cells, communication, synchronization and collective response will be investigated by a new methodology able to describe the spatiotemporal evolutions of self-oscillating nano-objects in controlled environments. Themo-optical simulations will support the experimental work by providing thermodynamic and kinetic guidelines.

Inspired by examples from nature, I will provide proof-of-concept of time-programmable, autonomous devices, working in open atmosphere with unprecedented functionalities.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

ERC-2018-STG

Update Date

27-04-2024
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
ERC-2018
ERC-2018-STG