ERC Starting Grant awarded to Prof. Loredana Protesescu for pioneering research on metal boride nanomaterials

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious Starting Grant to Prof. Loredana Protesescu of the University of Groningen. With this €1.8 million grant, she will launch her project BORNANO, which focuses on developing a new class of nanomaterials—metal boride nanocrystals and their inks—that combine chemical stability, hardness, and resilience under extreme conditions.

Building blocks for next-generation materials

Technologies such as spacecraft, satellites, and deep-sea exploration equipment must operate in environments marked by intense radiation, corrosive chemicals, and extreme temperatures. Existing protective materials often fail or require costly, energy-intensive manufacturing.

BORNANO addresses this challenge from a chemistry perspective. Prof. Protesescu and her team will design, synthesize, and study colloidal metal boride nanocrystals—tiny building blocks only billionths of a meter in size. By understanding their growth mechanisms and surface chemistry, the project will enable the preparation of stable, processable inks. These inks can then be transformed into thin films that preserve the remarkable hardness and stability of bulk metal borides.

“Our main goal is to develop new nanomaterials and understand their chemistry in detail,” says Prof. Protesescu. “By controlling their structure and surfaces, we can create stable suspensions and eventually functional films that remain robust under extreme conditions.”

Scientific impact and applications

While the immediate focus is on the fundamental chemistry of these nanomaterials, their potential applications are wide-ranging. Metal boride inks could form the basis for coatings and functional layers in technologies that need to resist harsh environments—whether in aerospace, energy, or sensing devices.

ERC Starting Grants

ERC Starting Grants are among Europe’s most prestigious research awards, supporting talented early-career researchers who show great promise in leading innovative projects. The grants provide up to €1.5 million over five years, enabling scientists to build their teams and pursue ambitious ideas.

With the ERC’s support, Prof. Protesescu will establish a research program at the intersection of synthetic chemistry and materials science, advancing the development of metal boride nanomaterials and exploring their potential in real-world technologies.

Contact: Prof.dr. Loredana Protesescu

ERC press release