EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/D023645/1
Title: IDEAS Factory - Chemical Craftwork: Directed Assembly of Functional Patterns (Brianchell)
Principal Investigator: Whitby, Professor RJ
Other Investigators:
Whitaker, Professor JBC Khlobystov, Professor A Robertson, Professor N
Cronin, Professor L Krasnogor, Professor N
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of Chemistry
Organisation: University of Southampton
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 2005 Ends: 31 March 2009 Value (£): 145,180
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Biological & Medicinal Chem. Bioprocess Engineering
Chemical Synthetic Methodology Complex fluids & soft solids
Fundamentals of Computing Light-Matter Interactions
Modelling & simul. of IT sys. Non-linear Systems Mathematics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals Healthcare
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
EP/D023777/1 EP/D023904/1
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Nature is uniquely good at constructing complex, versatile, self regulating systems from cells to us. Learning to manipulate complexity in a similar way should allow new solutions to many problems. In this project we are aiming to direct the assembly of conducting networks so that there is information (function) encoded in the structure of the product. This is very similar to the way in which the central nervous system both stores information and responds to stimuli, and our target is to physically realise a type of computational device known as a Neural net. To achieve function we have two approaches / 'learning' in which the net can be taught to have a function, and 'evolution' where the parameters used to construct the net act as a gene which can be evolved to code for nets with the required function. It is likely that a combination will be needed (evolution to establish a gross structure, and learning to 'fine tune' it) in much the same way as a our central nervous system develops.We will be using conducting polymers, nanoparticals, nanotubes, and dynamic chemical waves to construct our networks, mainly electrical potentials to direct formation, and conductance properties to characterise them.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk