NANOEFFECTS: Introduction

Inorganic-organic (hybrid) nanocomposites have become a new, versatile class of materials, exhibiting a vast application potential, due to their tailorable mechanical, optical and electrical properties. At the same time, there are still major drawbacks obstructing a broader exploitation of electrochromic technologies, e.g. high costs, poor colouration efficiency or lacking compatibility with plastic substrates.

The STReP NANOEFFECTS will realize a major step to overcome these limitations by a new, integrated approach, that utilizes the potential of chemical nanotechnology to create a technology of horizontal economic interest. The main project outputs will be novel multifunctional hybrid nanocomposite coatings with high colouration efficiency, and, based thereupon, smart all-plastic devices, with outstanding performance in terms of cost-effectiveness, durability and electrochromic switching characteristics. The pilot application will be smart sunglasses, the feasibility of smart textiles will be evaluated.

NANOEFFECTS is exploring the frontiers of knowledge in electrochromism and creates nanomaterials with yet unknown property profiles.

The project closely addresses main objectives of Thematic Priority NMP and important societal needs of the community (e.g. quality of life). A significant strategic impact (highly innovative products endowed with true competitive advantages, new avenues of research towards new potential applications) will result. The work is being performed by a well-balanced consortium (12 partners from 1 new member, 1 third, and 5 member states; 4 of them being SME, 2 of them being from less favoured regions), which is highly complementary in terms of scientific expertise, personal skills and uniqueness of equipment.