Graphene nanoribbons, GNRs, – narrow stripes of graphene – are predicted to exhibit attractive electronic properties for the fabrication of nanoscale electronic devices. This 1D material shows semiconducting properties that can be tuned by modifying its length, width, or topology border; but also, with the presence of defects in form…
In the atmosphere of carbon-rich (C-rich) asymptotic giant branch stars (AGBs), silicon chemistry plays an important role as is revealed by the detection of silane (SiH4) and organosilicon compounds such as methyl silane (CH3SiH3) and sylil cyanide (SiH3CN). To deepen the understanding on the formation of silicon bearing molecules in…
Molecular chemisorption on metal surfaces has attracted great interest over the past decades. Both the characteristics of the adsorbed molecules and the surface properties govern the chemisorption processes. We have studied the role of the nature and symmetry of different metallic surfaces, Cu(110), Cu(111) and Pt(111), on the room-temperature adsorption…
In the last decade after graphene isolation in 2004, many methods have been developed for the synthesis of this material. The most used substrates have been metal surfaces, due to their catalytic action, which is helpful for the formation of graphene. However, the coupling of the graphene layer with the…
We have developed a simple method to reversibly decouple the graphene form a metal substrate by Na intercalation. This strategy is based on the photo-dissociation of a previously adsorbed NaCl layer on graphene. Upon a short exposure to an X-Ray beam, the NaCl molecules break, the chlorine desorbs and the…
The catalytic role of metallic substrates is a perfect starting point for growing high quality graphene layers by thermal decomposition of aromatics. However, metallic substrates quench the outstanding properties that make graphene the most promising material for future applications. Thus, protocols to transfer graphene to different technologically relevant substrates are…
New nanoarchitectures can be built from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) by exploiting the catalytic properties of some metal surfaces. Actually, this bottom-up approach allows the formation of nanostructures with different dimensionality from the same precursor as a consequence of the diffusion of the PAH on the surface. Thus, by selecting…
Functionalizing epitaxial graphene We are currently looking for a postdoc in the framework of the EC-Flagship program. The candidate should have proven experience in ultra high vacuum (UHV) and in some of the surface science characterization techniques (STM, LEED, XPS, synchrotron radiation…). IR experience in UHV will be advantageous. Your…
The bottom-up approach aims at forming tailored nanoarchitectures by manipulating organic molecules at atomic level and it is one of the most effective strategies used in nanotechnology. Catalytic surfaces are often used to prompt a particular reaction as they are very successful in modifying a particular molecule in selected ways.…
Full text in this link: Valence band electronic structure characterization of the rutile TiO2(110)-(1×2) reconstructed surface, Sanchez-Sanchez, C; Garnier, MG; Aebi, P; Blanco-Rey, M; de Andres, PL; Martin-Gago, JA; Lopez, MF; Surf. Sci., 608, 92 (2013). DOI: 10.1016/j.susc.2012.09.019 Full text in this link: Small Pt nanoparticles on the…