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
Oxygen on the top of the smallest mountain Due 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. 
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
Andrea: one of those who truly love this work and always give their very best! Well done Andrea !
1 September
Proud of our PhD students !
Andrea is back from the ECOSS 38 Conference, which this year was held in Braga, Portugal, with a wonderful gift: the special recgnition of “Honorable Mention” for the seminar he gave, presenting our very latest results on FeS₂ growth.
27 July
Press Highlights
Our latest results, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, concerning the limitations in understanding the oxidation state of matter at the sub-nanometric scale, have also been highlighted in the Press in recent days.
20-25 July
ICESS-16 in Berkley: we are present !
In the vibrant and captivating atmosphere of Berkeley, the 16th edition of the ICESS conference took place, where Deborah Perco presented the results of our recent work published in JACS, dedicated to the study of the oxidation process of sub-nanometric clusters and entitled "Limitations in Determining Oxidation States in Condensed Matter at the Sub-Nanometric Scale"
22-27 June
Best Poster Award for Deborah
At the Cluster Meeting 2025 held in Prague, Deborah Perco was awarded the Best Poster Award. Another success for Deborah, who seems to have become a regular winner of best poster prizes at conferences!
14-16 May
"2D Materials Workshop at the Scuola Normale Superiore"
Set in the historic city of Pisa, Italy, at the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore—a renowned center of academic excellence—and the scenic Domus Comeliana, overlooking the iconic Leaning Tower, Andrea Berti took part in the “2D Vision – Workshop on Innovative Microscopy and Spectroscopy of 2D and Related Materials” presenting our latest results on the growth of novel two-dimensional materials.
31 March - 31 May
ERASMUS experience in Graz
A wonderful training and research experience for Gabriele Coltrioli at the prestigious Institute of Physics of the Karl-Franzens University of Graz, under the expert and generous guidance of Francesco Presel. In the heat of Central Europe, liquid helium is always very cold!
Nanoscale Materials Lab News Archive
