Printed electronics reaching accuracy of one micrometre by VTT

SYNERGY partner VTT has just released an amazing video on “How to go on submicron level in printed electronics”.

It was demonstrated that printing of sub-micron lines and μm-scale alignment accuracy can be achieved with VTT’s unique reverse offset printing system. This µm-level printing accuracy will be a game changer for R&D in printed and flexible electronics by allowing to target the most challenging applications such as radio-frequency circuits and will eventually lead to the miniaturization of printed electronics for reduced environmental footprint.

Please check our short video on high-resolution printing at VTT: https://lnkd.in/ehFb9SRT

Sustainable battery development at VTT

SYNERGY partner VTT has just released an amazing video on ” Sustainable battery development”.

VTTs development environment for battery cell manufacturing offers possibility for fabrication of electrodes and solid electrolytes through various printing and coating capabilities in roll-to-roll and sheet-to-sheet processes. Further, we have facilities for coin cell and pouch cell assembly under argon atmosphere as well as for electrical and structural characterization. Our research focuses on next generation solid state batteries and sustainable energy storage concepts based on safe and abundant materials.

Please check our short video on Battery assembly: https://youtu.be/FmYx1PJqgHY

Rodrigo Martins is the winner of the 1st edition of the NOVA-Altice Research Award

Professor Rodrigo Martins, SYNERGY Coordinator, Professor at FCT|NOVA and Director of CEMOP-UNINOVA, is the first winner of the NOVA-Altice Research Award.

This recognition celebrates the work that Professor Martins has developed throughout his career and the impact of his research in the field of electronics.

Created in 2021, following a partnership between NOVA and Altice Labs, this award aims to acknowledge and recognise the merit of Professors/Researchers of NOVA from all areas of knowledge, at any stage of their career, and whose work has stood out nationally and internationally for its level of excellence and impact.

For more information click here.

Pedro Barquinha wins second ERC Grant

Pedro Barquinha, Associate Professor at the Department of Material Science and Researcher at Cenimat, NOVA School of Science and Technology, SYNERGY coordinating institution (FCT|NOVA), has just been awarded a Proof-of-Concept grant from the European Research Council (ERC), the most reputable institution for granting funds for scientific and technological research in Europe.

With a grant worth €150,000 for each researcher and covering a variety of fields and research issues, this funding is part of the European Union’s research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.

Pedro Barquinha was one of the two Portuguese researchers to receive this funding, with the project “FLETRAD: Flexible and transparent platform based on oxide transistors for detection and readout of ionizing radiation”, which aims to develop a detection platform completely flexible and transparent radiation.

Ionizing radiation poses well-known health risks but, if used in a controlled manner, can serve as the basis of relevant applications ranging from health to civil security. Whether it is the proper control of the dose received by patients in medical treatments or workers in hazardous radiation environments, or even for high resolution imaging devices – proper quantification of radiation doses is required.

FLETRAD, therefore, proposes the development of a platform that detects radiation in a completely flexible and transparent way, opening doors to an innovative market opportunity. This project employs the patented idea of oxide transistors as detectors of direct ionization radiation as well as the knowledge gained in the TREND project (ERC Starting Grant) focused on miniaturized oxide electronics using sustainable materials and processes.

This year’s edition of the Proof-of-Concept grants included two competitions, with the winners of the first round already being announced in February, with FCT NOVA researchers Elvira Fortunato and Cecília Roque being distinguished. With the grant now awarded to Pedro Barquinha, the School thus accumulates 12 ERC grants, reinforcing its leadership position in the number of grants awarded to its researchers.

The 55 projects now selected for the fellowships include researchers from the Netherlands (10), UK (7), Italy (6), Germany (5), Israel (5), Spain (4), France (5), Austria (3), Czech Republic (2), Finland (2), Portugal (2), Belgium (1), Turkey (1), Sweden (1), Romania (1) and Norway (1).

Upcoming: SYNERGY – 11th European School for Young Materials Scientists

September, 26th to 28th, 2022.

SYNERGY project is presenting the 11th European School for Young Materials Scientists. The event will be held at NOVA School of Science and Technology | FCT NOVA, Caparica (Portugal) from September 26th to 28th, 2022.

The 11th European School for Young Materials Scientists aims to bring together young scientists, mainly PhD students, working in the fields of Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Nanoscale Materials, Nanoanalysis and Multi-scale materials characterization. This year, a special focus will be put on flexible electronics.

The Summer School will be a two and a half days event, and will count with lectures from prominent scientists in the above-mentioned fields, as well as, the active participation of the PhD students. The event will create a live forum that brings together presentations of the PhD works (oral and posters), intensive discussions, and many opportunities for interaction and networking.

All PhD students are welcome to actively contribute to the event by submitting an abstract for a talk or a poster. Registration is free of charge, but with limited number of participants.

The submission will be open until June 19th. Upload your abstract here!

Confirmed Lecturers:

Prof. Pedro Barquinha – NOVA School of Science and Technology | FCT NOVA (Portugal)

Prof. Maciej Szczerba – Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland)

Template for Abstract:

Download here!

Location:

NOVA School of Science and Technology | FCT NOVA, Caparica, PORTUGAL

Language:

English

In case of any questions please feel free to contact us:

Dr. Diana Gaspar: dgaspar@uninova.pt

Mrs. Sara Oliveira: sec-cemop@uninova.pt

We are looking forward seeing you in Caparica!

Elvira Fortunato appointed Portuguese Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education

It was with great honour that we see named as Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, vice-Rector of NOVA, Director of CENIMA|i3N, and Professor and researcher at DCM and CEMOP. Elvira was a pioneer in European research on transparent electronics and has participated in several PS initiatives, such as the National Forum, where she asked for a “policy of more confidence” in Science investments.

In the media:

Comunicado oficial pela Presidência da Républica

Elvira Fortunato creates a vídeo for International Women’s Day

SYNERGY coordinator Elvira Fortunato was chosen, by the French Presidency of the EU, to join a group of 27 inspiring women from Europe for International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8th.

27 videos were made, in which these women talk about Europe and the very diverse activities in which they have excelled. They are physicists, songwriters, chefs, activists, police inspectors, top athletes, and they all have brilliant professional careers.

“I was surprised by the choice of my name made by the French Presidency of the EU in this very important initiative on International Women’s Day, and it is also worth mentioning the fact that science was the sector contemplated to represent Portugal”, says Elvira Fortunato to Expresso.

To read more and to watch Elvira Fortunato’s video contribution, click here.

Upcoming: SYNERGY Webinar ‘High-Resolution Printing for Active Components on Flexible Foils’

SYNERGY is hosting a virtual event that will be held on Tuesday 26th April, spanning from 11:00-12:30 CET, hosted by two speakers. Dr. Jaakko Leppäniemi, senior scientist and project manager at VTT, will speak from 11:00-12:00 on ‘An Introduction to High-Resolution Printing Methods’, followed by Liam Gillan MSc, research scientist at VTT, who will speak from 12:00-12:30 on ‘Strategies for Print-Patterned Electrodes with Metal Oxide Thin-Film Transistors’.

There are no participation requirements, however registration prior to the event is compulsory to attend. To register, click here.