FLUXIONIC: Controlled transport of water and ions in nanoconfinement

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Controlling transport of liquid matter through channels with dimensions from Ångströms to nanometres is a key challenge in many areas of science and engineering. However, progress in this field is hampered by our lack of understanding, as the conventional macroscopic description of transport phenomena breaks down. Explaining the anomalous transport behaviour at the sub-nano scale necessitates close integration of experiments with atomistic model calculations. The emerging field promises huge technological and socio-economic impact. However, it is essential to train a new generation of early-stage researchers in the diverse skills that are needed to develop and apply precisely controlled nanofluidic mass transport. This, in a few words, is the aim of FLUXIONIC program: bridging Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, and emerging nanoscale technologies. We created the network comprising academic and private partners with the major objective to offer an integrated training and a strong program of secondments to young researchers. FLUXIONIC will provide a rigorous, balanced, and timely supra-disciplinary training delivered by internationally leading scientists, with seamless opportunities to move between industry and academia. Recent exciting developments in experimental and theoretical methods to study transport of fluids and charged particles at the nanoscale mean that we are now at a stage where exploration of key processes is viable and fundamental and applied breakthroughs can be expected from our research program. The additional impact of FLUXIONIC will be structuring the EU research environment through long-term collaborations, consolidating doctoral training programs, and bridging the R&D in academia and industry. We will train young researchers for future leadership in the rapidly growing fields of nanotechnology with strong impacts on core challenges of modern society: clean water, disease treatment, sustainable production, storage and usage of energy.