The goal of the project is to develop graphene-based integrated terahertz detector-interferometer technology toward applications in quality control at ICN2
The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the results of the second Proof of Concept (PoC) Grants 2025 call. In this second round, 136 projects have been awarded funding. In total, 300 projects have been funded in 2025 under the €45 million Horizon Europe programme. The grants aim to help move research results from the laboratory into commercial and real-world applications. One of the selected projects is THICOHERENTERA, led by Prof. Klaas-Jan Tielrooij, head of the ICN2 Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanoscale Systems Group.
THICOHERENTERA will explore the commercial potential of a new method for measuring the thickness of thin films using graphene-based detectors. The project addresses the need to ensure that materials used in everyday products and infrastructure perform as expected. This requires non-destructive quality control techniques, ideally without physical contact. A clear example is the accurate measurement of layers such as car paint and protective coatings on wind turbines.
The project proposes a new approach to contactless industrial quality control based on low-energy terahertz light. This type of radiation is very safe and does not damage materials. When combined with a graphene detector, this technology enables the precise measurement of layer thicknesses without interrupting the manufacturing process. Unlike existing systems, it does not rely on complex or costly laser technologies, facilitating its future industrial deployment.
With the support of this ERC Grant, the team led by Prof. Tielrooij will develop compact prototypes for real-world applications and explore business models to facilitate the future commercialisation of the technology. These goals will be pursued by an experienced multidisciplinary team of scientists, technologists, and business development specialists.