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, hosts researchers and students carrying out experiments 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 the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute funded within the PNRR. Since 2000 more than 80 students have carried out experimental work in the lab in preparation of their Master's degree thesis in Physics, as well as in the framework of the PhD in Nanotechnology and Physics. The Lab hosts also the Training Activity of the course Laboratory of Nanomaterials Physics for the undergraduate students in Physics of UniTS. |
Research Highlights | Publications
Coexisting 1D and 2D wave patterns in grapheneHighly anisotropic substrate induces coesixtence of double corrugation in epitaxial graphene. 
Ultra-fast atomic diffusion on grapheneUltra-low atomic diffusion barrier of Pt atoms on graphene was determined by combining High-Resolution XPS and DFT 
Challanges in the oxidation at the sub-nanoscaleAt the sub-nanometric scale, determining oxidation states becomes increasingly complex, as the properties of matter are strongly influenced by the discrete number of atoms involved. 
Oxygen on the top of the smallest mountainDue to the corrugation of graphene and the electronic structure of matter on the sub-nanometer scale, oxygen only adsorbs on top of very small size-selected Pt clusters 
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.
012345
|
Nanoscale Materials Lab News
We also contributed to the success of the SHARPER project – the European Researchers’ Night, which brings together all the city’s institutions and research centers in the shared challenge of making complexity accessible to everyone.
1 October
Creating the Infinitely Small: When Science Meets the Public
Deborah presented our machine that produces the infinitely small, with exactly the number of atoms we want.
Andrea Berti gave a talk on the growth mechanisms and properties of FeS₂ monolayers with different characteristics.
26 September
Andrea at the AVS71
We were also present overseas at the 71st International Symposium of the American Vacuum Society, which this year was held in September in Charlotte, North Carolina.
12 September
Una bella chiacchierata su RADIO CAPODISTRIA
Una bella e lunga chiacchierata insieme a Rosanna Bubola per "Calle degli Orti grandi" a parlare di Elettra e della nostra adorata ENAC, per trasmettere un po' l'amore in quel che facciamo e per quello che esploriamo.
(in italiano)
Nanoscale Materials Lab News Archive
