Activity report No 1

Executive Summary

This (revised) version of the report takes into account the requests and comments made by the reviewers at the 2nd review meeting on July 4th, 2006.

The report covers the activities in the NANOSTAR project from the start, May 15th, 2005, to May 14th 2006. It includes the milestones, M3, M6, M9, and M12, and associated deliverables.

In WP2, Chalmers, Philips, and EPFL have successfully grown single layer nano-grained /nano-columnar Ba_xSr_1-xTiO₃ films and transferred to WP1 for structural and electrical characterizations and theoretical modelling. The main task in this stage was the selection of the materials/electrodes and careful study of growth processes of the ferroelectric films and the correlation of the film nanostructure growth mechanisms. Besides preliminary measurements of the dielectric properties (at low and microwave frequencies), preliminary measurements of piezoelectric transformations and nonlinearities are carried out using simple test structures. Using these early measurements and general theoretical knowledge, in WP1, ETU and EPFL have started theoretical modelling of the dielectric, nonlinear, and piezoelectric properties of the ferroelectric films. In WP3 preliminary versions of FBARs modelling tools are developed. The results are being analysed and used for developing controllable growth processes of the nanostructure ferroelectric films and devices planned in WP4. In WP4 Philips, Ericsson and Temex reviewed the initial specifications (Annex I), and developed targeted specifications using their internal company needs and available in the project information.

In WP 5 the partners derived their first use plans (D25.1). The university partners are quite successful in fulfilling the dissemination work. More than 25 papers are written, workshops and seminars were organised. A press release has been prepared and published.

All planned deliverables are completed, approved by the Technical Committee, and submitted to the Commission. The NANOSTAR web site (www.nanostar-eu.com) is launched.

In general, in all workpackages the work is proceeding according to Annex I (Description of Work, DoW). The results obtained in all workpackages and tasks are in line with the objectives.

Deviations in work program:

The work in Task 4.2 started ahead of the planned start date (T32). This change is moti-vated by the Description of Work, Task 4.2, requiring initial and intermediate evaluation of materials.