Laserlab-Europe, the Integrated Initiative of European Laser Research Infrastructures, understands itself as the central place in Europe where new developments in laser research take place in a flexible and co-ordinated fashion beyond the potential of a national scale. The Consortium currently brings together 35 leading organizations in laser-based inter-disciplinary research from 18 countries. Its main objectives are to maintain a sustainable inter-disciplinary network of European national laboratories; to strengthen the European leading role in laser research through Joint Research Activities; and to offer access to state-of-the-art laser research facilities to researchers from all fields of science and from any laboratory in order to perform world-class research.
Lasers and photonics, one of only five key enabling technologies identified by the European Union, are not only essential for the scientific future but also for the socio-economic security of any country. Given the importance of lasers and their applications in all areas of sciences, life sciences and technologies, the main objectives of the consortium are:
- To maintain a competitive, inter-disciplinary network of European national laser laboratories;
- To strengthen the European leading role in laser research through Joint Research Activities (JRA), pushing the laser concept into new directions and opening up new applications of key importance in research and innovation;
- To offer transnational access to top-quality laser research facilities in a highly co-ordinated fashion for the benefit of the European research community;
- To increase the European basis in laser research and applications by reaching out to neighboring scientific communities and by assisting in the development of Laser Research Infrastructures on both the national and the European level
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This project aims at gaining scientific insight on how fundamental electronic processes at the microcosmos of metal/metal-oxide nanostructures are influencing the catalytic properties of nanoparticle-based catalysts in the model catalytic oxidation of CO and VOCs. The growth and synthesis parameters of the nanoparticles control their structural and optical characteristics. They will be grown using the method of citric acid complexation in possible combination with hydrothermal treatment. Laser-surface nanostructuring and laser ablation in liquid environments will also be employed as an alternative nanoparticle growth/fabrication route. The growth parameters are in turn expected to strongly influence the ultrafast electronic interactions of the resulting nanostructures. These will be studied by employing time-resolved ultrafast laser spectroscopy. This method is chosen due to its unique ability to investigate the very short timescales in which ultrafast electronic interactions take place, i.e. of the order of 10^-15 - 10^-12 s. Finally, the catalytic performance will be studied using the oxidation of and VOCs as probe reactions. Thus, we will employ complementary techniques in order to interrogate both the microscopic (ultrafast electron dynamics) and the macroscopic (catalytic performance) properties of the grown systems. In this way, we expect to acquire a deeper and spherical understanding of the physics leading to the catalytic properties of metal/metal-oxide nanostructures and explore the optimal conditions to control and enhance their catalytic properties.
Catalysis has benefited greatly from major developments in analytical sciences and new instrumentation, which have provided new insights on the structure of a (model) catalytic surface with up to atomic resolution. Nevertheless, the need to enhance our knowledge about the dynamics of heterogeneous catalytic reactions is still valid. In addition, new advanced techniques for catalyst synthesis and/or modification are being explored in order to create highly dispersed phases or specific growth and exposure of highly active facets of the catalytic phase. Catalysis science and technology is experiencing renewed interest and attention because of its ability to provide solutions in the transition to the new energy era (production of renewable/sustainable fuels) and environmental protection (emissions control, water quality). We propose to initiate a new collaboration, within which we will study the ultrafast electron dynamics of grown and laser fabricated metal oxide catalysts and how these in turn control the performance of the final catalysts. Time permitting and depending on the achieved progress we will proceed with an in-situ study of the ultrafast dynamics during the catalytic process which will greatly enhance our knowledge about the underlying physics. The project is of interdisciplinary character because it brings together expertise from physics, chemistry, optics, physical chemistry, chemical physics and material science in a combined effort to extend our knowledge in an environmentally crucial technology, i.e. heterogeneous catalysis.
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Abstract
Το Ινστιτούτο Ηλεκτρονικής Δομής και Λέιζερ του Ιδρύματος Τεχνολογίας και Έρευνας (ΙΤΕ-ΙΗΔΛ), στο πλαίσιο του εργου DYNASTY, Project Number 101079179, προτίθεται να προχωρήσει στην επισκευή του laser PHAROS, Model: SP-1.5mJ-200-PP, S/N: L13230.
Technical Characteristics
Tecnical Description attached (pdf file).
