Nanoscale Materials Laboratory
Welcome to the Nanoscale Materials LabThe Nanoscale Materials Laboratory, established on the basis of an agreement by the Department of Physics of the University of Trieste (Department of Excellence 2023-2027) and Elettra - Sincrotrone Trieste, hosts researchers and students carrying out experimental activities in the fields of Surfaces, 2D Materials and Atomic Clusters Physics, in close collaboration with scientists from Elettra. Besides the other instruments the nmLab host the size-selected nanocluster source ENAC (Exact Number of Atoms in each Cluster). The nmLAB is associated to NQSTI, the National Qunantum Science and Technology Institute funded by the PNRR. Since 2000 more than 80 students have carried out experimental work at the Nanoscale Materials Laboratory in preparation of their Master's degree thesis in Physics, as well as in the framework of the PhD programs of the Doctoral Course of Nanotechnology and Physics. In addition the Laboratory hosts the Training Activity of the course Laboratorio di Fisica dei Nanomateriali for the undergraduate students in Physics of UniTS.
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Research Highlights | Publications
The smallest Silver oxideSurprisingly bulk-like structural motifs appear in Silver-oxides already in the sub-nanoscale regime. Thanks to the new size-selected cluster source developed in the Lab we measured at the SuperESCA beamline the unusual process of Ag oxidation at T=20 K. 
Unusual reversibility of molecular break-upPentacene molecules adsorbed on Ir(111) can undergo a reversible deydrogenation process that can be engineered to produce polyacenes, via on-surface synthesis. 
It's a matter of transparency to van der Waals forcesThe van der Waals interactions between light adsorbates with polar (Carbon Monoxide) and non-polar (Argon) character and a metal surface are partially screened by graphene which shows a translucency parameter equal to 0.507. 
Epitaxial graphene boosts photocatalysis in titania nanoparticlesThe choice of an interfacial layer of epitaxial graphene to support titania nanoparticles has been revealed as a key ingredient to dramatically increase their capability to split water and produce hydrogen. 
The role of carbon monomers and dimers in graphene growthWe show that the growth kinetics are controlled by a complex interplay between the diffusion of the carbon precursors on the growing graphene islands and their desorption. 
Molecular twisting, lifting and curlingCoronene molecules undergo major conformational changes during surface-assisted dissociation on Ir(111): they tilt upward, then they undergo a rotation and they settle to form a dome-shaped nanographene.
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Nanoscale Materials Lab News
Bravo Fede !!!
23 february
Federico Loi was awared the BEST PHD CAREER
Once more we are very proud of our PhD students.
Federico Loi, enrolled in the last year of the Phd In Nanotechnology, was awarded the Best PhD Career during the CrossNano 2023 congress which was held at the University of Trieste between 21 and 23 February 2023.
A relly well-deserved prize.
Nanoscale Materials Lab News Archive
