EU: Bottom-Up Generation of atomicalLy Precise syntheTIc 2D MATerials for High Performance in Energy and Electronic Applications – A Multi-Site Innovative Training Action (ULTIMATE)

The “graphene rush” has triggered a great interest in the design and fabrication of synthetic 2D materials (S2DMs) excelling in their chemical and physical properties for future emerging technologies addressing numerous societal needs, such as faster and better performing electronics, as well as energy storage and conversion. To match the societal benefits of being at the forefront of new technological and scientific developments, the EC requires a highly skilled scientific and technical workforce that can efficiently finalize the shift to a true knowledge-based society. ULTIMATE will provide to 15 talented young researchers a well-structured training in the burgeoning field of S2DMs by developing their knowledge and understanding on: i) how to generate novel atomically precise 2D materials with defined structure and composition, and ii) how to best exploit their unique and tunable properties for electronics and energy applications. This training-through-research requires an intersectoral approach by specialized and skilled scientists from different (sub-)disciplines including molecular modeling (TUD), organic, macro-/supramolecular synthesis (TUD, HUB, UAM), production of S2DMs (GRA, TUD, UNISTRA, IIT), hierarchical self-assembly (UNISTRA, KUL, HUB, CNR), surface and interface studies (KUL, EMPA, IBM, KFUG, CNR, APE, IIT, UNISTRA), photochemistry and photophysics (UNIME, HUB, UNISTRA, IIT), device fabrication and characterization (IIT, TUD, UNISTRA), and other skills, as well as a strong commitment to the training of young talents with the ultimate goal of achieving scientific breakthroughs in this very topical area of science and technology. The ULTIMATE network will strengthen the EC training efforts by delivering 540 person-months of unprecedented cross-disciplinary and supra-sectoral training that is carefully structured in local, network-wide, and beyond-network training activities, as well as complementary and transferable skills.