Connecting frontier research with industrial development : Lanthanide and Actinide Chemistry in the European f-Element Network (EUFEN)

摘要

The chemistry of f-elements, even thoughudoften not known to the general public, forms part ofudmany industrial processes, manufacturing and medicaludapplications, such as medical imaging (e.g. MRI scans),udstrong magnets, data storage media, superconducters,udLEDs, catalysis, as well as energy, and metal extraction.udIt plays a crucial role in the scientific and industrialudlandscape of the European Union (EU) in fields of energy,udsecurity, training, sustainability, and society. Theuduse of these elements widens the scope of synthetic possibilitiesudin chemistry, and materials with outstandingudelectromagnetic properties have already been realised.udThe synthesis of lanthanide containing supramolecularudmaterials with exceptional materials properties hasudalready been reported, e.g. the ability to bind andudrelease gases, high-temperature superconductivity, andudall-white light emitting diodes. The EUFEN (Europeanudf-Element Network) COST action provides cooperativeudmobility mechanisms for nationally funded f-elementudchemists pursuing fundamental frontier research to initiateudcollaborations, training, networking, and disseminationudamong each other. Novel developments and resultsudin terms of f-element crystal engineering carried out atudthe University of Malta are therefore part of EUFEN.