Exciting News! Our Research Group Receives Prestigious European Grant

We are thrilled to announce that our research group has been awarded a significant grant under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks by the European Commission. The CHIRALNANOMAT project, a multidisciplinary initiative, will be conducted in collaboration with 7 research groups and 6 companies across 8 European countries

About CHIRALNANOMAT: CHIRALNANOMAT aims to advance the synthesis and characterization of chiral nanoclusters of noble metals (primarily gold and silver) and explore their applications in catalysis and biosensing. This innovative project will push the boundaries of current knowledge through:

•    Synthesis of chiral, atomically precise metal nanoclusters
•    Extensive characterization of their chiral properties, structure, and unique optical features
•    Catalytic and biomedical applications, including prototyping enantioselective catalysts and biomarkers
•    Development of new computational tools to study chiroptical and catalytic properties, integrating computational and experimental research

Our Role: Our team at the Institute of Advanced Materials, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, led by Prof. Joanna Olesiak-Banska, will play a pivotal role in this project. We will focus on the synthesis and characterization of nanoclusters, as well as their applications in bioimaging and catalysis.

Collaborators: The consortium includes esteemed institutions such as:
•    Technische Universität Wien  (Austria)
•    KU Leuven (Belgium)
•    CNR, Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici (ICCOM) (Italy)
•    University of Trieste (Italy)
•    CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, Lyon (France)
•    Software for Chemistry & Materials B.V. SCM (Netherlands)
•    University of Geneva (Switzerland)

Additionally, our doctoral students will receive training at leading companies like Prochimia Surfaces and NanoExpo, gaining valuable insights into the industrial applications of our research.

Impact: The CHIRALNANOMAT project will train 13 doctoral students, equipping them with expertise in chiral nanomaterials and preparing them for future challenges in academia and industry. The project aims to enhance our understanding of metal nanoclusters and develop nanoparticles optimized for bioimaging and catalysis.

Funding: The total grant amount for the consortium is €3,464,356.68, with approximately €550,000 allocated to our university.

Recruitment for the project's two PhD projects will begin in September 2025.

Stay tuned for more updates and follow our progress on social media!