Projects

Reservoir Computing with Real-time Data for future IT
EC H2020 FET Open project

The aim of this project is to develop an intelligent biocompatible sensing device which detects complex behavioural
changes in ion concentrations. The sensor will use wet NOMFETs, coated Si nanowires, self-conjugated polymers, arrays of photocells, flow of lipids. The level of ions will be measured by monitoring changes in the response function of the system. The high sensitivity of the device will be achieved by ensuring a strong coupling between the environment and the device. The key research challenges will be: accessing the feasibility of the idea to use reservoir computing for sensing complex environmental changes, identifying suitable integration strategies for the components, optimizing the sets of input/output pairs (response functions) and the device components for enhanced sensitivity.

Start: September 2015

Charge Transfer versus Charge Transport in Molecular Systems
Swiss Nanoscience Institute PhD grant (PI: O. Wenger)

In this interdisciplinary research project, we want to help clarify the differences and similarities between electron
transfer (ET) and electron transport (ETp) in molecular junctions.

Start: August 2015
Basel: Svenja Neumann

Biochemical sensing
Industrial partnership

We collaborate with Avails Medical Inc. to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of its current sensor technology. Avails Medical is active in the diagnostics market with a unique platform that transforms biochemical reactions to electrical signals. Avails Medical initial product pipeline focuses on pathogen detection to improve patient care and will allow for a faster and more accurate treatment.

Start: February 2015
Basel: Axel Fanget
Avails Medical: Oren Knopfmacher, Meike Herget

Optoelectronic nanojunctions
Swiss Nanoscience Institute PhD grant

The interplay between electrical transport and optical stimulation in tunable nanoscale molecular junctions is
the focus of this project. Starting with metal contacts, the investigations will be extended to graphene contacts
where better mechanical stability and enhanced control and can be implemented.

Start: October 2014
Basel: Jan Overbeck

Hybrid Molecular Devices for Energy Conversion NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, Swiss National Science Foundation

When it comes to designing, interconnecting and testing functionality in molecular systems built from different molecular modules, interfaces between the different system elements play a critical role. It is essential to reach a fundamental understanding and control of the charge transfer processes involved in energy conversion devices.

Start: July 2014
Basel: Ralph Stoop, Axel Fanget

Molecular-scale Electronics (MOLESCO)
EU FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN)

The MOLESCO network creates a unique training and research environment to develop a pool of young researchers capable of achieving breakthroughs aimed at realising the immense potential of molecular electronics. In part this will involve the major challenges of design and fabrication of molecular-scale devices.

Start: January 2014
Basel: Maria El Abbassi

Metrology and QHE in graphene
Swiss Federal Office of Metrology

We combine our expertise on CVD graphene growth and patterning with METAS expertise in high precision measurement to work towards the realization of a new quantum standard of resistance based on graphene.

Start: October 2013
Basel: Kishan Thodkar
Metas: Blaise Jeanneret, F. Lüönd, F. Overney, B. Jeckelmann

Projects terminated

Synaptic Molecular Networks for Bio-inspired Information Processing (SYMONE)
EU FP7 Strep project

The SYMONE long-term vision is to build multi-scale bio-/neuro-inspired systems interfacing networks of locally-connected molecular-scale devices to macroscopic systems for unconventional information processing with scalable neuromorphic architectures. The SYMONE computational substrate is a memristive/synaptic network controlled by a multi-terminal structure of input/output ports and internal gates embedded in a classical digital CMOS environment. The SYMONE goal is the exploration of a multiscale platform connecting molecular-scale devices into networks for the development and testing of synaptic devices and scalable neuromorphic architectures, and for investigating materials and components with new functionalities. This may also open roads toward applications to intelligent sensors arrays, and to nano-devices integrated in a variety of hybrid systems, in particular biological systems.

Start: September 2012
End: August 2015
Basel: Anton Vladyka