NanoCharm at a Glance

NanoCharM at a Glance

Ellipsometry/polarimetry characterization is a vital tool for nanomaterial scientists, producers and end-users to address the complexity of a large variety of multifunctional nanostructures. The ellipsometry/polarimetry community in Europe has demonstrated the early capability to characterize nanostructures, nanocomposites, hybrid systems, interface behaviour, surface-related phenomena and molecular self-assembling. For all those systems, ellipsometry/polarimetry characterization can yield information on compositional, optical, electrical and magnetic characteristics associated with specific nanostructures.

This Coordination Action aims to identify European expertise and establish a platform on ellipsometry and polarimetry for:

1. the coordination of research activities on ellipsometric characterization of a large variety of nanomaterials and related devices and processes

2. the dissemination and development of actions to allow nanomaterials scientists, students, SMEs and end-users to develop and exploit ellipsometry and polarimetry for further nanomaterials development, in particular, for the design of novel nanomaterials and nanodevices with unexplored functionalities, and for controlling/implementing related production technologies.

The advantages that this Coordination Action will bring over the state-of-art in characterization to scientists, producers and users dealing with multifunctional nanomaterials include:

1. an improvement in the knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials

2. new, controlled procedures of production

3. more sustainable products.

Finally, the technological impact and potential of excellence in ellipsometry and polarimetry characterization is immense in terms of Europe’s economic and social future, since it impacts on all the major production areas and industries of a developed economy. These include healthcare (nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology), environment (hazardous gas sensing and monitoring), energy (photovoltaics), hardware/components (semiconductor, coating industries), which are all increasingly producing and using multifunctional nanostructures.