| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D023904/1 |
| Title: |
IDEAS Factory - Chemical Craftwork: Directed Assembly of Functional Patterns (Brianchell) |
| Principal Investigator: |
Robertson, Professor N |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Edinburgh |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 September 2005 |
Ends: |
28 February 2009 |
Value (£): |
83,400
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| 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 |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Chemicals |
Healthcare |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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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 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.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ed.ac.uk |