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Magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) technology is one of the current methods for memory storage.   Its advantages over earlier storage devices lie in the fact that here high speed, high density as well as low power consumption are combined to provide a nonvolatile robust mechanism for data storage.   Unlike earlier memory devices, MRAM technology uses magnetic information to store data. Basically, the structure consists of two ferromagnetic thin layers separated by an ultrathin insulating dielectric layer which usually is MgO. This results in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The device makes use of the fact that electrons also carry a spin beside a current.   Put simply, in a ferromagnetic layer, the electrons align their spins parallel to the direction of magnetization. Electrons with their corresponding spin of this layer can pass through the insulating layer easily if the magnetic alignment of the second ferromagnetic layer is parallel to the first layer. This results in...

Why are Standards important?   Standards form a common language that allows researchers, people, public institutions and industry to communicate, produce and commercialize products and services. This is especially important in the European single market. The European Green Deal and the Industrial Strategy for Europe make clear that developing new standards will be essential to boost industry’s competitiveness, build a sustainable future and shape a Europe fit for the digital age. The New Standardization Strategy presented in 2022 by the European Commission highlights the importance of standardization in promoting the uptake of results from EU research and innovation projects, allowing new technologies to scale–up and enter into the market.   How R&I can contribute to Standardization and vice versa?   Standards are a crucial tool to valorize research results.   They help researchers bring their innovation to the market and spread technological advances by making their results transparent and ensuring high quality. Standards give confidence to consumers...

Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (PEM FCs) have gathered significant attention in the field of energy conversion due to their numerous advantages over other types of fuel cells. Among them:   Performance: PEM FCs have high efficiency in converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Operating at relatively low temperatures (around 60-80°C) and high temperatures (over 160oC) and the proton-conducting membrane in PEM FCs enables quick proton transport, resulting in high power density and excellent performance. This is particularly advantageous for applications requiring rapid and dynamic response, such as automotive and portable electronic devices. Durability and Longevity: The good durability and longevity of PEM FCs make them suitable for various applications. The advances in materials science and manufacturing processes have contributed to improved membrane durability and enhanced resistance to degradation over time. Environmental footprint: By using hydrogen as the fuel source and producing water and heat makes them environmentally friendly but also...

On the 12nd and 13rd of December, all NICKEFFECT partners got together at the Matgenix offices, located in A6K, in Charleroi, Belgium, to held the last Consortium Meeting of this year and go through the first Review Meeting of the project, in a moment that marks the first year and a half since its beginning.   The multidisciplinary NICKEFFECT team, composed by 12 partners from 7 different EU and HEU-associated countries, had the opportunity to, on the 12nd of December, have a full day meeting with fruitful discussions about the current state of the NICKEFFECT project. Click here to get to know all the entities participating in this HE (Horizon Europe) Project.   The objectives of the project as a whole (as well as the different goals of each of the work packages) were reviewed, a status assessment was carried out on the work done by the several partners since June 2022 and the...

Chemicals are ubiquitous in the workplace (glues, resins, processing fluids, cleaning and bleaching agents, degreasers, paints…). They are used intentionally as substances or, more frequently, as preparations (mixtures). They may also be emitted from a process (combustion, degradation...

Functional materials are at the center of most technologies of our everyday life: cell phones, solar cells, batteries, thermoelectric devices, digital storage, catalysis, and many other applications need at least one material fulfilling a task through its intrinsic physical properties. Finding a material well-suited for a given application is far from trivial. Indeed, even though close to 300 000 crystal structures have been reported today, less than 1 percent of those materials have been characterized for any measurable property.    The mapping between crystal structures and physical properties is very far from completely known. Such mapping has to be constructed by characterizing known (or even unknown) materials. The traditional approach is to try and synthetize materials in lab conditions and measure their properties. When looking for a new material for a given application, the next step is to assess whether it is worth pursuing with this material or if another one should...

On November 21, 2023, Elena Jubete, representing CIDETEC partner, attended the Workshop on Sustainable Materials, organised by AMI2030 & EMIRI in San Sebastián, Spain. This event brought together experts, researchers, and industry professionals to discuss and showcase advancements in sustainable materials.   Elena Jubete's contribution to the workshop was marked by her presentation on "Greener Pathways for Surface Treatments and Composite Materials." The speech provided valuable insights into CIDETEC's involvement in the NICKEFFECT project. The audience gained a deeper understanding of environmentally friendly approaches to surface treatments and composite materials, aligning with the broader theme of circularity in materials research.   In addition to the speech, a roll-up display featuring key information about the NICKEFFECT project was showcased, capturing the attention of attendees and fostering engagement with the project's objectives and outcomes. The NICKEFFECT activities related to Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) were also highlighted during the round table discussions, underlining the project's...

Nickel plating processes, while widely used, come with their own set of challenges, especially when it comes to upscaling from laboratory setups to larger plating cells. The NICKEFFECT project, aimed at developing Ni-alloy plated electrodes, faces not only the inherent limitations of nickel plating but also the complexities introduced by the porous structures.   Addressing Throwing Power Limitations:   One notable challenge in nickel plating processes is the limited throwing power compared to other methods, leading to edge effects with uneven deposit thickness near substrate borders. The NICKEFFECT project acknowledges this hurdle and seeks to overcome it during the upscaling process.   Managing Current Density Variations:   Ni-alloy plating introduces an additional layer of complexity, as the alloy content in the deposit strongly depends on current density. Factor in the three-dimensional structures, and you face varying current density and deposit thickness throughout the substrate. Achieving uniformity in thickness and alloy content becomes a formidable task, especially when upscaling...

Whether we realize it or not, we use Nickel every day in our lives. Nickel can be found in household appliances and products, electronics, jewelry, coins, buildings, stainless steel, magnets, and even in our bodies, as a trace element. Nickel also has several important industrial applications as a catalyst, in both oxidation and reduction reactions, used for example in oil refining and hydrogenation reactions. An important application of Nickel towards the transition to carbon-neutral energy is its catalytic activity for Hydrogen production. Can Nickel be part of the solution for clean energy production in the future?   We believe it can. Researchers involved in the NICKEFFECT project are developing Nickel-based coatings for several applications, including the catalytic production of Hydrogen. While this reaction is already applied on a commercial scale, it typically uses Platinum as the catalyst, a scarce and expensive element. Instead, the researchers involved in NICKEFFECT aim to develop Platinum-free...

Last Friday, November 10th 2023, the IRISS Workshop was organised, and dedicated to Horizon Europe (HE) projects that are adopting the SSbD (Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design) approach and/or will foster collaboration among SSbD projects.   This workshop featured presentations from IRISS, the Joint Research Center (JRC), the NanoSafety Cluster (NSC), and PARC, providing insights into the SSbD framework, the evolving SSbD roadmap at IRISS, and the ongoing development of the SSbD toolbox at PARC. Joséphine Steck, Chemical Risk Engineer and SSbD Project Manager in CEA, was present at the Workshop, as representative for NICKEFFECT’s Work Package focused on “Decision Support Tool including sustainable by design approach”.   Additionally, several HE projects, including the NICKEFFECT project, (such as MACRAME, ACCORDs, POTENTIAL, NanoPass, iCARE, SURPASS, RE-PURPOSE, REDONDO, ESTELLA) had the opportunity to present their cases and explain their SSbD strategy, in order to involve the community and present best practices within this topic.   NICKEFFECT develops and will validate at least...

This Friday, November 10th, the NICKEFFECT project will be present at the IRISS online workshop, focused on the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) approach.   This workshop will showcase how Horizon Europe (HE) projects are adopting the SSbD approach and will foster collaboration among SSbD projects. The event will commence with presentations from IRISS, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the NanoSafety Cluster (NSC), and PARC, providing insights into the SSbD framework, the evolving SSbD roadmap at IRISS, and the ongoing development of the SSbD toolbox at PARC. Subsequently, HE projects, including NICKEFFECT, will present their SSbD implementation efforts, followed by a panel discussion featuring selected representatives, aimed at gathering input and suggestions for aligning and focusing SSbD efforts and IRISS support.    Especially aimed at Horizon Europe projects that want or are implementing this approach, overall this workshop will serve to strengthen the impact of the SSbD community and also showcase best practices from different projects.   Representing NICKEFFECT...

Platinum is the rock star as a water reduction electrocatalyst, particularly in acidic media. However, its low abundance and high price makes it necessary to envision new platinum-free electrocatalysts. The same holds when we look at the oxygen reduction reaction side in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Options are not so obvious when it comes to transition metals and full replacement of platinum is often accompanied by a decrease of the catalytic activity. While some alternatives in the form of alloys or composites show promising results, their long-term durability is often compromised. Corrosion-related issues appear and profound leaching of the material catalyst is unavoidable.   Playing with the catalyst architecture while keeping its composition free from platinum is a convenient strategy to couple high electrocatalytic performance and good durability in acidic media. The introduction of porosity in the catalyst material has been the focus of intense research in the last years....

Achieving optimal efficiency in electrodeposition coating is utmost important for high-quality and high-performance outcomes across a broad spectrum of applications, including but not limited to fuel-cell, catalysis, magnetic storage devices, corrosion protection and many others. The foundation of this efficiency/performance lies in the careful selection of the right electrolyte bath and coating parameters. While the wisdom gained from experienced researchers and extensive literature reviews is undoubtedly valuable, the complexity of real-world application often necessitates a deeper exploration into the multifaceted factors that exert influence on the coating process.   Modelling, by unraveling the complex coating mechanisms across a diverse spectrum of factors, including electrolytes, concentration, working environments, equips us with the ability to assess coating efficiency and predict the highest attainable level of performance. Notably, this is accomplished without incurring extra cost and with a relatively short timeframe. The ultimate validation of modeling results comes through a comparative analysis with experimental laboratory...

The energy sector is currently experiencing a continuous and unprecedented growth. Driven by demand for cleaner, more sustainable, and efficient solutions, it has produced a critical need for the development of new materials and innovative processes. From advanced fuel cells for new-generation vehicles to highly energy-efficient magnetic devices and beyond, materials science took the central role in shaping the future of the energy landscape.    One of the fundamental challenges lying between the innovative ideas of better materials and their integration in real-world applications is a transition from laboratory-scale synthesis to industrial-scale production. While the laboratory serves as a cradle of innovation, enabling researchers to explore novel materials and processes, it operates within controlled environments, often producing small quantities for experimental purposes. Industrial-scale production, on the other hand, demands a leap from grams to tons and even megatons. This transition in scale not only strains the resources but can also impact the...

Materials and their environmental impact are paramount for addressing sustainability challenges and ensuring the safety of both the environment and society.   Despite the urgent need to address end-of-life practices, material supply risks to ensure sustainable resource availability, the assessment of these requirements is a multifaceted and complex challenge. It requires comprehensive data on materials' environmental performance, manufacturing processes, safety considerations, and their implications for the circular economy. Integrating material intelligence into decision support tools assists in considering not only environmental factors and safety attributes but also their role in fostering a circular and sustainable economy.   Traditionally, information for material selection has been provided by physical characterization approaches. However, more and more organizations are looking at integrating computational models and physical experiment to drastically accelerate the material characterization, design and optimization in terms of performance; nevertheless this comes with additional complexity and challenges which will need to be tackled.   All the involved actors in...

Advent Technologies SA is an advanced materials and systems development company operating in the competitive fuel cell and hydrogen technology sectors. Advent specializes in the development, manufacturing, and assembly of complete fuel cell systems and critical components that determine the performance of multi-fuel cells and other energy systems such as water electrolyzers.    Advent’s recently reported Ion-Pair Technology (or protonated HT-PEM) uses a superior PEM with a phosphonated functionalized ionomer binder for HT-PEMFCs based on a phosphoric acid (PA) imbibed polycation. This technology improves fuel cell performance at a wider temperature and humidity range and is already proven at lower-mid TRL levels. Moreover, this technology mitigates phosphoric acid evaporation and leaching through stronger electrostatic interaction of the PA with the inherent polymer functionality. The proof of concept of the ion-pair technology is already developed by Advent and provides excellent results.   Pt is the state-of-the-art electrocatalyst for HER in PEM-WE and PEM-FC followed by...