STM under SEM observation with laser excitation of the specimen

A home made piezoscanner, designed for xy scanning of the sample, is hosted on the sample stage of a modified Cambridge S200 scanning electron microscope, while the STM tip is positioned on the desired feature under study by a ρ,θ,φ nanomanipulator. This configuration is the most suitable to minimize mechanical vibration of the STM; alternatively, a particularly low weight scanner is mounted on the nanomanipulator while the sample is fixed. Laser beams can be directed to the interaction zone through an optical port at the back of the SEM chamber, which also serves for microscopic observation of the laser beam alignment on the STM junction. Directing the Laser beam onto the tip allows tip enhanced localised laser nanostructuring (ablation or multiphoton deposition) and localised spectroscopy.

A scheme of the STM-SEM facility is reported below (left). The images on the right show an optical microscope view of the laser irradiated STM tip on the sample, and an SEM scan of the STM tip operating to deposit material on the tips of a couple of lithographic nanoelectrodes fabricated by A. Gerardino at the CNR-IFN electron beam facility.

This facility is particularly useful for precise positioning of the tip on the specific features or devices to be analyzed or operated upon. It allows STM electronic spectroscopy to be effected on features previously easily located on the basis of the difference in secondary electron emission. It allows a prompt characterization of both tip and sample surface damage. It supplies a first easy characterization of surface modifications, like nanometric pit formation or inorganic material depositions, when the sample is irradiated by laser beams. Finally it gives us the possibility to effect much shorter, and as a consequence slower and less damaging, STM scans for a complete characterization of the sample.

Comment

Nanomanipulated Piezoelectric Dynamometers (AFM and Piezoresistive Cantilevers)

Related Information – contact: Dr. P. Morales ENEA

Within the general issue of nanofabrication in our laboratory we are interested in controlling the applied forces during sharp probe interaction with the samples. We have purchased commercial piezoresistive cantilever based dynomometer probes and are planning to build more sensitive ones. Attaching this kind of piezoresistive or mechanical probes to a piezoelectric inertial nanomanipulator allows measurement of the stiffness and compliance of a wide range of materials. If the interaction is made under electron microscopy observation, we can easily gain a practical experience on the interaction of sharp tips with materials. We show here how a commercial AFM probe can be stressed and used to dig pits on a gold surface (movie), how we can measure the sensitivity of insects’ tactile hair sensors (movie), how we can measure the compliance of carbon nanotubes wool (movie), and even how we can accomplish a micrometric electrical switch based on a carbon nanotubes helical spring (movie).

Comment

UHV STM with microscopic spectral analysis capabilities

This facility based at the ENEA laboratories is hosted in a 35 l ionically pumped ultra-high vacuum vessel endowed with a home made STM, a Z inertial piezo slider for sample approach and a remotely controlled ρ,θ,φ nanomanipulator for sample movement with submicron precision. The vessel has two load-lock chambers for tip and sample load and a hand actuated wobbling pincer for manual operations. It also has optical ports for access to the tip region by two different laser beams.

Above on the left is the scheme of the UHV STM system coupled to the available laser sources and to the spectroscopic analysis system devoted to “tip-enhanced” photoluminescence studies. On the right, a photograph of the UHV vacuum vessel with its lid lifted shows details of the optical microscope case and of the STM. Below, an optical microscope image of the STM tip over a layer of Rhodamine 6G fluorescent dye in white light (left) and excited by a green laser (540 nm) as recorded through a long wavelength pass filter with cutoff at 560 nm with the tip within tunnelling distance (center) and 5 μm away from the surface (right). Light from the tip-enhancement area is spatially selected by a moveable pinhole and analyzed by a monochromator producing the R6G emission spectrum reported below.

Comment

Bottom-up Nanofabrication by Lasers and Scanning Probes

The idea that bottom up nanofabrication can be achieved by the joint use of nanometrically controlled sharp tips and electromagnetic radiation. If we think of an irradiated STM tip as an electromagnetic antenna operating at optical rather than radio frequencies, we can understand how, in the vicinity of its highly curved apex,…

Comment

Prof. Giovanni Ciccotti

Contact Details

Professor in Structure of Matter

Department of Physics,

University of Rome La Sapienza,

Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome ITALY

Tel: +39 06 49914378

Fax: +39 06 4957697

Research Outline

Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo of Statistical Mechanical Systems

The focus of my research activity is on developing algorithms fro Molecular Dynamics simulation of complex systems in condensed matter phases. From the from now ancient SHAKE algorithm (a procedure to introduce holonomic constraints in MD) or the Subtraction Technique (a noise reducing approach to compute the response to weak external fields in Nonequilibrium MD) to the introduction of the Blue Moon’s ensemble (to simulate in MD rare events) and techniques to simulate Brownian motion to the most recent, and still very active, field of rigorous algorithms to compute nonadiabatic quantum-classical dynamics, the attempt is to widen the domain of computer simulation in condensed matter with a particular emphasis on MD (as distinguished from the very close but different MC- Monte Carlo). Together with that, I have been, and still am, also interested in challenging applications od atomistic MD simulations ranging from surface/interface physics problems in Materials sciences to simulations of biological molecules to find atomistic level explanations of their behavior or functioning mechanisms. More generally, I am interested in considering a variety of developments/applications in the simulation of systems of Statistical Mechanics interest.

Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum

Full List of Publications

Most Recent Publications

[135] E.Vanden Eijnden, and G. Ciccotti, “Second-order integrators for Langevin equations with holonomic constraints”, Chem. Phys. Lett., 429, 310, (2006)

[134] M. S. Causo, G. Ciccotti, S.Bonella, and R. Vuilleumier, “An adiabatic linearized path integral approach for quantum time correlation functions II: A cumulant expansion method for improving convergence”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 3638, (2006)

[135] V. Marry, and G. Ciccotti, “Trotter derived algorithms for molecular dynamics with constraints : Velocity Verlet revisited”, J. Comp. Phys., 222, 428, (2007)

[132] L. Maragliano, A. Fischer, E. Vanden Eijnden, and G. Ciccotti, “String method in collective variables: minimum free energy paths and isocommittor surfaces”, J. Chem. Phys., 125, 024106, (2006).

[131_B] R. Kapral, and G. Ciccotti, “Transport Coefficients of Quantum-Classical Systems”, in “Computer Simulations in Condensed Matter: From Materials to Chemical Biology (The Erice Lectures)”, M. Ferrario, G. Ciccotti, and K. Binder Eds, LNP, Springer Verlag, (2006).

[130_B] G. Ciccotti, D. Coker, and R. Kapral, “Quantum statistical dynamics with trajectories”, in Quantum Dynamics of Complex Molecular Systems, p. 275-294, I. Burghardt and D. Micha Eds, Springer Verlag, Berlin, (2007)

[129] G. Kalibaeva, R. Vuilleumier, S.Meloni, A. Alavi, G. Ciccotti, and R. Rosei, “Ab initio simulation of carbon clustering on Ni(111) surface: a model of the poisoning of nickel based catalysts”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 3638, (2006)

[128] F. Pizzitutti, A. Giansanti, P. Ballario, P. Ornaghi, P. Torreri, G. Ciccotti, and P. Filetici, “Relevant role of loop ZA and Pro371 in the function of yeast Gcn5p bromodomain: evidences from Molecular Dynamics and experiments”, Journal of Molecular Recognition, 19, 1, (2006)

Books

B1) “Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Statistical Mechanical Systems.”, ‘E. Fermi’ 1985 Summer School. G.Ciccotti and W.G.Hoover, Eds., North Holland 1986.

B2) “Simulation of Liquids and Solids. Molecular Dynamics and MonteCarlo methods in Statistical Mechanics. A reprint book.”, G. Ciccotti, D. Frenkel and I. R. Mc Donald, Eds. North Holland, 1987.

B3) “MC and MD of condensed matter systems”, Euroconference 1995, K. Binder and G. Ciccotti, Eds., SIF 1996.

B4) “Simulation of classical and quantum dynamics in condensed phase”, Euroconference 1997, B. J. Berne, G. Ciccotti and D. F. Coker, Eds., World Scientific, 1998.

B5) “Bridging time scales: Molecular simulations for the next decade”, SIMU Conference, Konstanz 2001, P. Nielaba, M. Mareschal, and G. Ciccotti, Eds., Springer, Berlin, 2003

B6) “Computer Simulations in Condensed Matter: From Materials to Chemical Biology (The Erice Lectures)”, M. Ferrario, G. Ciccotti, and K. Binder, Eds, LNP, Springer Verlag, Berlin, (2006)

1 Comment

Laser assisted fabrication of biomolecular sensing microarrays

The Pulsed Laser Deposition technique is used in these experiments in conjunction with micro and nanopatterning techniques to produce very high density arrays of localized active biomolecular layers. Such patterned layers of homogeneous or heterogeneous biomolecules are particularly interesting for the accomplishment of high density biosensing arrays.

Comment

Dr Pietro Morales

Contact Details

Sezione FIM MATNANO
Bldg. F65, Centro Ricerche della Casaccia, ENEA
Via Anguillarese km 1.3
00123 S.Maria di Galeria, Roma
Tel: +39 06 30486350
Lab: +39 06 30486082

Research Activity

From his first interest in molecular spectroscopy, which he pursued at the University La Sapienza in Roma, at the University of Venice and at the University of Kent UK, PM moved to spectroscopic applications in the field of uranium isotope separation, on which he worked up to the end of the italian laser isotope separation project led by ENEA. More recently he developed an interest in micro and nanobioscience and in nanotechnologies. From 1997 to 2000 he was the european coordinator of the LASMEDS project, devoted to the development of a molecular electronics technology that exploits vapour phase photoionization in the near field of STM probes. Later he coordinated and was involved in other national projects on nanotechnology, nanobioscience and organic devices. His present interests are in nanofabrication following both the inorganic, machine assisted, and the biological selfassembling approaches.

Recent Publications

[1] S. Gagliardi, B. Rapone, L. Mosiello, D. Luciani, A. Gerardino, P. Morales, Laser-Assisted Fabrication of Biomolecular Sensing Microarrays, IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience, 6 (3): 242 – 248 (2007)

[2] A. Dell’Aquila, P. Mastrorilli, C.F. Nobile, G. Romanazzi, G.P. Suranna, L. Torsi, M.C. Tanese, D. Acierno, E. Amendola, P. Morales, Synthesis and field-effect properties of alpha,omega-disubstituted sexithiophenes bearing polar groups, Journal of Materials Chemistry, 16 (12): 1183-1191 (2006)

[3] S. Gagliardi, S. Nufris B. Rapone, P. Morales, G. D’Agostaro, Laser techniques for the fabrication of nanobiodevices, Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering, 5850, pp. 271-279 (2004)

[4] T. Di Luccio, G. Scalia, L. Tapfer, P. Morales, M. Traversa, P. Prete, N. Lovergine, Microstructural and morphological properties of homoepitaxial (001) ZnTe layers investigated by x-ray diffuse scattering,
Journal of Applied Physics, 97 (8): Art. No. 083540 (Apr 15 2005).

[5] I. Dierking, G. Scalia, P. Morales, Liquid crystal-carbon nanotube dispersions, Journal of Applied Physics, 97 (4): Art. No. 044309 (Feb 15 2005).

[6] M. Traversa, N. Lovergine, P. Prete, G. Scalia, M. Pentimalli, L. Tapfer, P. Morales, A.M. Mancini, Effects of substrate treatment and growth conditions on structure, morphology, and luminescence of homoepitaxial ZnTe deposited by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy, Journal of Applied Physics, 96 (2): 1230-1237 (Jul 15 2004).

[7] P. Morales, Laser assisted SPM nanofabrication, in Encyclopaedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, American Scientific Publishers, (Jan. 2004).

[8] I. Dierking, G. Scalia, P. Morales, D. LeClere, Aligning and reorienting carbon nanotubes by nematic liquid crystals, Advanced Materials, 16 (11) 865-869 (Jun 4 2004).

[9] A. Gerardino, A. Notargiacomo, P. Morales, Laser assisted deposition of nanopatterned biomolecular layers, Microelectronic Engineering, 67-8: 923-929 (Jun 2003).

6 Comments

3D Polymeric Scaffolds For Soft Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering emerged in the early 1990s to address limitations of organ transplantation and synthetic tissue replacements, focusing on coupling cells and a biocompatible matrix known as a scaffold [1]. Since then, some clinical success has been obtained for hard tissues, such as bones and cartilages [2], and for bidimensional soft tissue, such as…

Comment

Nanocomposites Electrolytes for Intermediate Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Among the possible systems investigated for energy production with low environmental impact, fuel cells are very promising as electrochemical power sources both for stationary energy production and application in portable technology and electric vehicles. Polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are the most promising candidates for the latter application.

1 Comment

Wetting Layer erosion during formation of InAs/GaAs(001) Quantum Dots

One of the puzzling aspects of the self-assembled QDs is that the nucleated 3D volume is far larger than that being deposited in the narrow coverage range where the entire nucleation process is completed. Resercher from NAST Centre have studied a peculiar feature, recently discovered [1], at the origin of this phenomenon, which is associated with mature 3D QDs,…

Comment

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS)

LEO 35 Field Emission by Zeiss©

Characteristics

• GEMINI® based Field emission e-beam column capable of ultra high resolution SEM up to 25 KV.
• Achieves a similar low energy spread compared to a cold field emission source, but with a much higher emission current and much higher beam stability.
• Featuring a TV camera and three detectors, i.e. (i) secondary electrons detector, (ii) back-scatter electrons detector (EBSD) , (iii) In-lens detector for ultra high resolution imaging (<10nm).

• Equipped with an energy dispersive x-Ray spectrometer (EDS) from Oxford INCA© allowing for acquisition of sample emitted x-rays. Accompanying software with embedded database of reference spectra for elements identification/recognition, compositional nano-analysis and x-ray mapping.

• Automated stage controlled by a joystick with x-y-z translations, z rotation (full 360° range) and x tilting (up to 90° tilt) for ultra high precision sample positioning.
• Vacuum system (a rotary pump plus a turbo pump) to achieve chamber vacuum of less than 2 x 10^-6 mbar.
• Dynamic vibration-damper.
• Several stubs settings and adaptors for mounting samples on the stage.
• Sample preparation desk.
• Sputter-coater to metallize non-conductive samples (with gold or other target).

Some Results

SEM is a common tool to address a variety of aspects in material research and nanotechnology. For illustrative purposes, some examples of SEM work in a variety of research areas (e.g energy, environment, biotechnology and nanotechnology in general) are reported here. As far as energy and environment are concerned, ceramics and nanostructured materials are key in applications such as fuel cells and chemical sensors. Fig.1 shows a surface micrograph of a composite porous electrode (cathode) designed for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell applications and fabricated by Pulsed Laser Deposition technique. Pd-Au metal droplets have been deposited and condensed on a continuous open La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ network, previously grown on a dense polycrystalline stabilized ZrO₂. Mixed ionic and electronic properties of La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ assisted by the electrical properties of metal droplets at high temperature, reduce the cathode polarization in SOFCs.

Figure 1. Surface of a composite porous electrode (cathode) designed for SOFC applications and fabricated by Pulsed Laser Deposition technique. Pd-Au metal droplets were deposited onto a continuous open La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ network grown on dense polycrystalline stabilized ZrO₂.
Another class of fuel cells are based on the usage of polymeric “Proton Exchange Membranes” (PEM) as the fuel cell electrolyte. Nafion is the best performing polymer currently available for this application but, amongst other drawbacks, suffers of a marked drop in conductivity for working temperatures above 90°C due to morphological transitional and de-hydration. A variety of composite membrane, i.e. hybrid structures of Nafion with dispersed fillers, are under investigation to overcome this problem. Figure 2 shows an example of Nafion mixed with an inorganic phase “sulfonate diphenyl silane diol” (SDPSD), appearing as “bright” islands in the photos. The PEM performances improve based on the content and distribution of the SDPSD. Thermal treatment is one way of controlling the microstructure of the composite structure. SEM micrographs clearly shows that heating the samples at 170 °C induces a finer dispersion of the filler, yielding more minute SDPSD clusters. The limited electronic conductivity of this material makes it difficult to analyze with the SEM.

Figure 2. Two SEM pictures of the Nafion/SDPSD 70:30 composite membrane for PEM fuel cells. Photos selected demonstrate the effect of the thermal treatment at 170°C on the dispersion SDPSD in the microstructure. Sample “as-prepared” (far left) and the “heat-treated” one (left) exhibit different dispersion of SDPSD islands within the Nafion matrix, highlighting a size reduction of the SDPSD clusters induced by the thermal treatment.

SEM imaging is also crucial for the characterization of nanostructured materials for biological applications. Within biotechnology, tissue engineering combines the fields of engineering, chemistry, biology, and medicine to fabricate replacement tissues able to restore, maintain, or improve structurally and functionally damaged organs. Polymeric scaffolds for stem cells growth and differentiation represent an active research topic. Some scaffolds are fabricated by electrospinning as highly interconnected porous polymeric networks. Figure 3 shows a SEM image of nanostructured PLA electrospun nanofibers endowed with nanopores. Such fibres are multiscale features, having lengths in the centimetre range, micrometric and sub-micrometric diameters and nanoscale roughness/porosity. The various length-scales can be largely tuned and tailored through processing parameters.
Figure 3. SEM image of PLA electrospun nanofibers with nanopores. The fibres have a multiscale geometry with lengths in the centimetre range, diameters between few tens of nanometers and few micrometers, and nanoscale porosity. Length-scales can be tuned and tailored through processing parameters. Controlled porosity is important also for drug delivery.

The topics briefly highlighted in the examples are discussed in greater details in several papers. The interested reader can consult the selected papers cited in the reference.

SEM capabilities go beyond pure geometrical and morphological information, highlighted in the previous examples. In fact backscattered electrons and EDS can be used to obtain compositional data. In the next example in Figure 4, a carbon nanoparticle of about 400 nm deposited from the environment onto a substrate made of nanoporous Si. The X-ray spectra shown on the left were collected with the EDS at two different locations pointed out in the SEM micrograph, i.e. at point (1) centered on the nanoparticle and at point (2) away from it. From comparison, the missing peak in the spectrum collected at site (2) is characteristic of C, which reveals the chemical nature of the nanoparticle.

Figure 4: Micro-analisys by EDS of a 400nm carbon particle (site 1) deposited from the environment onto a nanoporous Si substrate. The nature of the nanoparticle is highlighted as a “difference”, because the yellow spectrum at site (2) is missing a peak characteristic of carbon and present in the red spectrum at site (1).

References on SOFC and PEM

[1] D. Z. de Florio, R. Muccillo, V. Esposito, E. Di Bartolomeo and E. Traversa, “Preparation and Electrochemical Characterization of Perovskite/YSZ Ceramic Films”, J. Electrochem. Soc., 152 (1), A88, (2005).

[2] V. Esposito, D. Z. de Florio, F.C. Fonseca, E.N.S. Muccillo, R. Muccillo and E. Traversa, “Electrical properties of YSZ/NiO composites prepared by a liquid mixture technique”, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 25, 2637, (2005).

[3] Deganello, V. Esposito, E. Traversa and M. Miyayama. “Cathode performance of nostructured La1-aSraCo1-bFebO3-d on a Ce0.8Sm0.2O2 electrolyte prepared by citrate-nitrate auto-combustion”, F J. Electrochem. Soc., 154 (2), A89, (2007).
[4] Barbara Mecheri, Alessandra D’Epifanio, Enrico Traversa, Silvia Licoccia. “Effect of an ormosil-based filler on the physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of Nafion membranes”, J. Power Sources, 169 (2007) 247–252.

References on Chemical Sensors

[5] M.L. Grilli, E. Di Bartolomeo, A. Lunardi, L. Chevallier, S. Cordiner and E. Traversa, “Planar Non-Nernstian electrochemical sensors: field test in the exhaust of a spark ignition engine”. Sensors and Actuators B, 108 (2005) 319-325

[6] L. Chevallier, M.L. Grilli, E. Di Bartolomeo and E. Traversa. “Non-Nernstian planar sensors based on YSZ with Ta (10 at.%)-doped nanosized titania as sensing electrode for high temperature applications”. International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 3 [5] 393-400 (2006)

References on Tissue Engineering

[7] E. Traversa, B. Mecheri, C. Mandoli, S. Soliman, A. Rinaldi, S. Licoccia, G. Forte, F. Pagliari, S. Pagliari, F. Carotenuto, M. Minieri, P. Di Nardo. “Tuning Hierarchical Architecture of 3D Polymeric Scaffolds for Cardiac Tissue Engineering”, J. Exp. Nanoscience, (accepted sept. 2007).

1 Comment

Prof. Silvia Morante

Contact Details

Office: Physics Department
Tel: +39 06 72594554
Fax: +39 06 2023507

Research Activity

Folding versus misfolding: physiological and pathological role of metal

The role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases – Alzheimer, BSE and Parkinson

Structural studies of biomolecules by XAS (X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy)

Numerical simulation based approaches (Molecular Dynamics, Monte Carlo, Car-Parrinello)

Recent Publications

[1] V. Minicozzi, S. Morante, G.C. Rossi, F. Stellato, K. Jansen, The role of metals in misfolding and aggregation processes: X-ray spectroscopy and numerical simulations, in From Computational Biophysics to System Biology (CBSB07), Proceedings of the NIC Workshop 2007, 36: 223

[2] S. Furlan, F. Guerrieri, G. La Penna, S. Morante, G.C. Rossi, Studying the Cu binding sites in the PrP N-terminal region. A test case for ab initio simulations, European Biophysics Journal, 36: 841-845 (2007)

[3] S. Furlan, G.La Penna, F. Guerrieri, S. Morante, G.C.Rossi, Ab initio simulations of Cu binding sites on the N-terminal region of PrP, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 12(4), 571-583, (2007)

[4] S. Furlan, F. Guerrieri, G.La Penna, S. Morante, G.C. Rossi, Ab initio simulations of Cu binding sites in the N-terminal region of PrP, in From Computational Biophysics to System Biology, J. Meinke, O. Zimmermann, S. Mohanty, U.H.E.Hansmann (Editors) John von Neumann Institute for Computing, Juelich, NIC Series, 34, 153-156, (2006).

[5] S. Morante, G. C. Rossi, M. Testa, The stress tensor of a discrete system: an exercise in Statistical Mechanics, J. Chem. Phys., 125, 034101 (2006).

[6] F. Stellato, G. Menestrina, M. Dalla Serra, C. Potrich, R. Tomazzolli, W. Meyer-Klaucke, S. Morante, Metal binding in amyloids beta peptides shows both intra- and inter-peptide coordination modes, European Biophysics Journal, 35(4), 340 (2006).

[7] S. Morante, C. Poltrich, R. González-Iglesias, C. Meneghini,W. Meyer-Klaucke, G. Menestrina, M. A. Pajares, M. Gasset, Inter- and Intra-octarepeat Cu(II) Site Geometries in the Prion Protein. Implication in Cu(II) binding cooperativity and Cu(II)-mediated assemblies, J. Biol. Chem. 279, 11753 (2004).

[8] G. La Penna, S. Morante, A. Perico, G.C. Rossi, Designing generalized statistical ensembles for numerical simulations of biopolymers, J. Chem. Phys., 121, 10725 (2004).

[9] M. Benfatto, S. Della Longa, Z. Wu, Y. Qin, G. Pan, S. Morante, The role of Zn in the interplay among Langmuir-Blodgett Multi-Layer and Myelin Basic Protein: a quantitative analysis of XANES spectra, Biophysical Chemistry, 110, 191 (2004).

[10] G. La Penna, V. Minicozzi, S. Morante, G.C. Rossi, Tuning force-field parameters by pressure measurements in micro-canonical simulations, International Journal of Modern Physics C., 15, 205 (2004).

2 Comments

Prof. Lorenzo Stella

Contact Details

Office: Department of Science and Chemical Technologies
Tel: +39 06 72594463
Fax: +39 06 72594328

Research Activity

3-D structures of peptides in solution
Peptide-membrane interactions
Biomolecular electronics
Molecular recognition and chiral discrimination
Computational chemistry and molecular modeling

Recent Publications

[1] L. Stella, G. Bocchinfuso, E. Gatto, C. Mazzuca, M. Venanzi, F. Formaggio, C. Toniolo, A. Palleschi and B. Pispisa.  “Peptide foldamers: from spectroscopic studies to applications”.  Reviews in Fluorescence 2007. C. D. Geddes and J. R. Lakowicz (Eds.), Springer, New York, (2007).

2] E. Gatto, C. Mazzuca, L. Stella, M. Venanzi, C. Toniolo, B. Pispisa.  “Effect of peptide lipidation on membrane perturbing activity: a comparative study on two trichogin analogues”.  J. Phys Chem. B., 110: 22813 (2006).

3] M. Venanzi, E. Gatto, G. Bocchinfuso, A. Palleschi, L. Stella, C. Baldini, F. Formaggio, C. Toniolo.  ”Peptide folding dynamics: a time-resolved study from the nanosecond to the microsecond time regime”.  J. Phys. Chem. B, 110: 22834 (2006).

4] B. Pispisa, L. Stella, C. Mazzuca, M. Venanzi.  “Trichogin topology and activity in model membranes as determined by fluorescence spectroscopy” .  Reviews in fluorescence 2006, C. D. Geddes and J. R. Lakowicz (Eds.), Springer, New York, pp. 47 (2006).

5] E. Gatto, M. Venanzi, A. Palleschi, L. Stella, B. Pispisa, L. Lorenzelli, C. Toniolo, F. Formaggio, G. Marletta.  ”Self-assembled peptide monolayers on interdigitated gold microelectrodes” .  Mat. Sci. Eng. C., 26: 918 (2006).

6] C. Carta, F. Pantaleoni, G. Bocchinfuso, L. Stella, I. Vasta, A. Sarkozy, C. Digilio, A. Palleschi, A. Pizzuti, P. Grammatico, G. Zampino, B. Dallapiccola, B. D. Gelb, M, Tartaglia.  “Germline missense mutations affecting KRAS isoform B are associated with a severe Noonan syndrome phenotype” .  Am. J. Hum. Gen., 79: 129 (2006).

1 Comment

Prof. Nicola Rosato

Contact Details

Office: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences
Tel: +39 06 72596471
Fax: +39 06 72596465

Research Activity

Fields of interest: structure and function of biological macromolecules under high pressure and electromagnetic field. Application of optical spectroscopy and Near Infrared Spectroscopy “in vivo”. Smart nanomaterials in biology and medicine. From 1991 is a member of the commission for the medical application of informatics at the Medical School of the “Tor Vergata” University. From March 2000, is Full Professor in Biochemistry in the Faculty of Medical EngineeringFrom December 2002 is director of the Medical Engineering Service in the “Tor Vergata” University Hospital.N. Rosato is author of about 70 scientific publications (60 on international journals) in the fields of optical spectroscopy of biological molecules, fluorescence instrumentation and medical informatics.

Recent Publications

[1] Bottini M, D’Annibale F, Magrini A, Cerignoli F, Arimura Y, Dawson MI, Bergamaschi E, Rosato N, Bergamaschi A, Mustelin T., “Quantum dot-doped silica nanoparticles as probes for targeting of T-lymphocytes”, Int. J. Nanomedicine, 2(2):227-33, (2007)

[2] Bottini M, Cerignoli F, Tautz L, Rosato N, Bergamaschi A, Mustelin T., “Adsorption of streptavidin onto single-walled carbon nanotubes: application in fluorescent supramolecular nanoassemblies”, J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 6(12), 3693-8 (2006)

[3] Nicolai E, Di Venere A, Rosato N, Rossi A, Finazzi Agro’ A, Mei G., “Physico-chemical properties of molten dimer ascorbate oxidase”, FEBS J. , 273(22):5194-204. (2006)

[4] Iucci G, Rossi L, Rosato N, Savini I, Duranti G, Polzonetti G., “The interaction of the polyphenylacetylene surface with biological environments studied by XPS, RAIRS and biological tests”, J Mater Sci Mater Med. 17(9):779-87, (2006)

[5] Bottini M, Cerignoli F, Dawson MI, Magrini A, Rosato N, Mustelin T., “Full-length single-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with streptavidin-conjugated quantum dots as multivalent intracellular fluorescent nanoprobes”, Biomacromolecules, 7(8):2259-63, (2006)

[6] Bottini M, Magrini A, Rosato N, Bergamaschi A, Mustelin T., “Dispersion of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes in water by a thiolated organosilane: application in supramolecular nnoassemblies”, J Phys Chem B.,20; 110 (28) : 13685-8, (2006)

[7] Bottini M, Magrini A, Di Venere A, Bellucci S, Dawson MI, Rosato N, Bergamaschi A, Mustelin T. “Synthesis and characterization of supramolecular nanostructures of carbon nanotubes and ruthenium-complex Luminophores”, J Nanosci Nanotechnol., 6(5):1381-6, (2006)

[8] Mei G, Di Venere A, Rosato N, Finazzi-Agro A., “The importance of being dimeric”, FEBS J., 272(1):16-27, (2005), Review.

[9] Iucci G, Infante G, Rossi L, Polzonetti G, Rosato N, Avigliano L, Savini I, Catani MV, Palacios AC., “Albumin-containing sol-gel glasses: chemical and biological study”, J Mater Sci Mater Med., 15(5):601-6, (2004)

1 Comment

Education

The NAST mission is to serve the next generation of researchers in nanotechnology at the Bachelor, Master, PhD, and Postdoctoral levels.

PhD Schools

PhD Program in Nanostrucutres and Nanotechnologies
a Joint Program between Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca and Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata

Ph.D. Program in Materials for Environment and Energy (PDF)
a Joint Ph.D. Program with The University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology and The University of Florida, Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

PhD Program in Physics
in collaboration with Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata

Schools

1^stDoctorate School in Nano – Materials & Biomaterials (May 2007) Group Photo

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Prof. Giuseppe Gorini

Contact Details

Office: Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, Milano
Tel: +39 02 6448 2312

Academic career

1986 – 1988 Phd student, Scuola Normale Superiore – Pisa
1989 – 1990 Researcher, IFP-CNR, Milan
1990 – 1998 Researcher, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano
1998 – 2000 Researcher, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
2000 – present Associate Professor, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca

Research Activity

Neutron spectroscopy in thermonuclear plasmas.
Neutron spectroscopy for materials science
Physics of high temperature plasmas
Application of neutron-based techniques to Cultural Heritage research

Teaching

Electromagnetism and optics, degree in Environmental Science.
Physics of Plasmas, degree in Physics.
Supervisor of undergraduate and Ph D students in Physics.

Recent Publications

[1] G. Gorini et al, The resonant detector and its application to epithermal neutron spectroscopy, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A, 529, 293 (2004).
[2] C. Andreani, G. Gorini, E. Perelli-Cippo, A. Pietropaolo, N. Rhodes, E. S. Schooneveld, R. Senesi, M. Tardocchi, A resonant detector for high-energy inelastic neutron scattering experiments, Appl. Phys. Lett., 85, 5454 (2004).
[3] J Källne, L Ballabio, J Frenje, S Conroy, G Ericsson, M Tardocchi, E Traneus, G.Gorini, Observation of the Alpha Particle “Knock-On” Neutron Emission from Magnetically Confined DT Fusion Plasmas, Phys Rev Lett., 85, 1246 (2000).
[4] G.Gorini, P.Mantica, G.M.D.Hogeweij, F.De Luca, A.Jacchia, J.A.Konings, N.J.Lopes Cardozo, M.Peters, Simultaneous Propagation of Heat Waves Induced by Sawteeth and ECH Power Modulation in the RTP Tokamak, Phys. Rev. Lett., 47, 2038 (1993).

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Prof. Silvia Licoccia

Contact details

Office: Department of Chemical Science and Technology
Tel: +39 06 72594386
Lab: +39 06 72594479
Fax: +39 06 72594328

Research Activity

SL is Professor of Chemistry in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

President of AICIng (Italian Association Chemistry for Engineering)
Deputy Director of NAST, Center for Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Innovative Instrumentation at Tor Vergata
Director of the Teaching Supervising Committee of the International Ph.D. Program in Materials for Health, Environment and Energy
Associate Editor of the International Journal of Nanoscience
Manager responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of Natural Sciences Teaching Activities of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata
Director of the Italy-Quebec Joint Laboratory on Nanostructured Materials for Energy, Catalysis and Biomedical Applications.

Professional Memberships

Executive Committee of the European Section of The Electrochemical Society (web site)

Materials Research Society (web site)

Royal Society of Chemistry (web site)

American Chemical Society (web site)

Interuniversity Consortium for Materials Science and Technology (web site)

Italian Association Chemistry for Engineering (AICIng) (web site)

Italian Chemical Society (SCI) (web site)

Director of a research group comprising 2 Research Associates, 1 Technician, 4 Post-docs and 11 Graduate Students.

The research activity is mainly focused on the following topics:

Development of nanostructured materials for Polymeric, Solid Oxide and Microbial Fuel Cells and for gas sensors for environmental monitoring.
Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new materials for energy, environmental and biomedical applications.
Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and its application to kinetic and structural studies. Investigation of the electronic and molecular structure of paramagnetic derivatives by means of NMR spectroscopy.
Nanomechanics.

SL is co-author of over 250 scientific publications (175 on international refereed Journals) and about 250 scientific oral contributions at international conferences, meetings and schools.

Active Research Programs

CARISMA Coordination Action for Research on Intermediate and high temperature Specialised Membrane electrode Assemblies. (EU; € 15,000; Local PI).
Italy-Quebec Joint Laboratory on Nanostructured Materials for Energy, Catalysis and Biomedical Applications (MAE , Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs; € 320,000; Director).
Cooperation program with the University of Uppsala (Sweden): Novel methods for characterization of the properties of functional interfaces and nanostructured materials. (MiUR, Italian Ministry for University and Research; € 10,000; Local PI).
Cooperation between the NAST Center and the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) at the National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba (Japan): Materials for Energy (€ 10,000; Local PI).
Development of MEC-based devices for the production of bio-hydrogen. (MATTM, Italian Ministry for the Environment; € 456.000, PI).
PC-SOFCs, Protonic Conductors Solid Oxide Fuel Cells based on nanostructured proton conductors: from materials synthesis to prototype fabrication. (MiUR PRIN, Italian Ministry for University and Research; € 130,000; PI).
Sustainable hydrogen production and waste treatment via MEC technology. (FILAS; € 138,000; Local PI).
Valorization of winemaking by-products and waste by application of innovative technologies for extraction of natural products of high added value (AGER; € 100,000, Local PI)

Other Activities

Co-organizer of different conferences and symposia under the frame of the Material Research Society, Electrochemical Society, AICIng, European Ceramic Society.

Teaching:

Chemistry, BEng in Medical and Energetic Engineering (90 hours/average 150 students/year)

Chemistry 1, BEng in Informatic Engineering (60 hours/average 50 students/year)

Environmental monitoring, MSc in Environmental Engineering (50 hours/average 25 students/year)

Recent Publications (selected)

♦ S. Pagliari, A. C. Vilela-Silva, G. Forte, F. Pagliari, C. Mandoli, G. Vozzi, S. Pietronave, M. Prat, S. Licoccia, A. Ahluwalia, E. Traversa, M. Minieri, P. Di Nardo: Cooperation of biological and mechanical signals in cardiac progenitor cell differentiation. Advanced Materials, 2011, 23, 514-518

♦ A. Rinaldi, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa: Nanomechanics for MEMS: A Structural Design Perspective. Nanoscale, 2011, 3, 811-824

♦ C. P. Brown, F. Rosei, E. Traversa, S. Licoccia: Spider Silk as a biomaterial: tailoring mechanical properties via structural modifications. Nanoscale, feature article, 2011, 3, 870-876

♦ M. Stefanelli, S. Nardis, L. Tortora, F. R. Fronczeck, K. M. Smith, S. Licoccia, R. Paolesse: Nitration of iron corrolates: further evidence for non-innocence of the corrole ligand. Chemical Communications, 2011, 47, 4255-4257

♦ D. Pergolesi, E. Fabbri, A. D’Epifanio, E. Di Bartolomeo, A. Tebano, S. Sanna, S. Licoccia, G. Balestrino, E. Traversa: High Proton Conduction in Grain Boundary Free Yttrium-Doped Barium Zirconate Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition. Nature Materials 2010, 9, 846 – 852

♦ S. Sanna, V. Esposito, A. Tebano, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa, G. Balestrino: Enhancement of ionic conductivity in DSC/YSZ heteroepitaxial structures. Small 2010, 6, 1863-1867

♦ E. Fabbri, A. D’Epifanio, S. Sanna, E. Di Bartolomeo, G. Balestrino, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa: A novel single chamber solid oxide fuel cell based on chemically stable thin films of Y-doped BaZrO₃ proton conducting electrolyte. Energy and Environmental Science 2010, 3, 618-621

♦ A. Rinaldi, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa, K. Sieradzki, P. Peralta, A. Davila-Ibanez, M. Correa-Duarte, V. Salgueirino: Radial Inner Morphology Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Amorphous Composite Cobalt Boride Nanoparticles. The Journal of Physical Chemistry 2010, 114, 13451-13458

♦ E. Fabbri, D. Pergolesi, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa: Does the Increase in Y-Dopant Concentration Improve the Proton Conductivity of BaZr_1-xY_xO_3-δ Fuel Cell Electrolytes? Solid State Ionics, 2010, 181, 1043-1051

♦ C. Mandoli, F. Pagliari, S. Pagliari, G. Forte, P. Di Nardo, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa: Stem cell aligned growth induced by CeO₂ nanoparticles in PLGA scaffolds with improved bioactivity for regenerative medicine. Advanced Functional Materials 2010, 20, 1617-1624

♦ D. Marani, A. D’Epifanio, E. Traversa, M. Miyayama, S. Licoccia: Titania Nanosheets (TNS)/Sulfonated Poly Ether Ether Ketone (SPEEK) Nanocomposite Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells. Chemistry of Materials, 2010, 22 1126-1133

♦ A. D’Epifanio, M. A. Navarra, F. C. Weise, B. Mecheri, J. Farrington, S. Licoccia, S. Greenbaum: Composite Nafion/sulfonated zirconia membranes: effect of the filler surface properties on proton transport characteristics. Chemistry of Materials 2010, 22, 813-821

♦ C. de Bonis, A. D’Epifanio, M. L. Di Vona, B. Mecheri, E. Traversa, M. Trombetta, S. Licoccia: Proton Conducting Electrolytes based on Silylated and Sulfonated Polyetheretherketone: Synthesis and Characterization. Journal of Polymer Science, Part A, Polymer Chemistry 2010. 33, 2178-2186

♦ A. Rinaldi, P. Peralta, C. Friesen, D. Nahar, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa, K. Sieradzki: Super-hard nanobuttons: constraining crystal plasticity and dealing with extrinsic effects at the nanoscale. Small 2010, 6, 528-536

♦ A. Rainer, M. Centola, C. Spadaccio, G. Gherardi, J. A.Genovese, S. Licoccia, M. Trombetta: Comparative study of different techniques for the sterilization of poly-L-lactide electrospun microfibers: effectiveness vs. material degradation. International Journal of Artificial Organs 2010, 33, 76-85

♦ C. Mandoli, B. Mecheri, G. Forte, F. Pagliari, S. Pagliari, F. Carotenuto, R. Fiaccavento, A. Rinaldi, P. Di Nardo, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa: Thick soft tissue reconstruction on highly perfusive biodegradable scaffolds. Macromolecular Bioscience 2010, 10, 127-138

♦ S. Soliman, S. Pagliari, A. Rinaldi, G. Forte, R. Fiaccavento, F. Pagliari, O. Franzese, M. Minieri, P. Di Nardo, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa: Multiscale three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering via multimodal electron spinning. Acta Biomaterialia 2010, 6, 1227-1237

♦ D. Mirabile Gattia, M. Vittori Antisari, L. Giorgi, R. Marazzi, E. Piscopiello, A. Montone, S. Bellitto, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa: Study of different carbon supports for catalysts: Fuel Cells application. Journal of Power Sources 2009, 194¸243-251

♦ B. Mecheri, A. D’Epifanio, L. Pisani, F. Chen, E. Traversa, F. C. Weise, S. Greenbaum, S. Licoccia: Effect of a proton conducting filler on the physico-chemical properties of SPEEK-based membranes. Fuel Cells 2009, 9, 372-380

♦ C. de Bonis, A. D’Epifanio, M. L. Di Vona, C. D’Ottavi, B. Mecheri, E. Traversa, M. Trombetta, S. Licoccia: Proton conducting hybrid membranes based on aromatic polymers for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications. Fuel Cells 2009, 9, 387-393

♦ E. Fabbri, T. Oh, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa, E. D. Wachsman: Mixed Protonic-Electronic Conductors as Cathode Materials for Proton Conducting Electrolytes in Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs) Journal of The Electrochemical Society 2009, 156, B38-B45

♦ S. Sanna, V. Esposito, D. Pergolesi, A. Orsini, A. Tebano, S. Licoccia, G. Balestrino, E. Traversa: Fabrication and Electrical Properties of Epitaxial Samarium-Doped Ceria Films Onto SrTiO₃-Buffered MgO Substrates. Advanced Functional Materials 2009, 19, 1713-1719

♦ E. Fabbri, S. Licoccia, E. Traversa, E. D. Wachsman: Composite Cathodes for Application in Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs) Based on Proton Conducting Electrolytes. Fuel Cells 2009, 9, 128-138

♦ M. Zunic, L.Chevallier, F. Deganello, A. D’Epifanio, S. Licoccia, E. Di Bartolomeo, E. Traversa: Electrophoretic deposition of dense Ba Ce_0.9Y_0.1O_3-x electrolyte thick-films on Ni-based anodes for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT_SOFCs). Journal of Power Sources 2009, 190, 417-422

♦ A. Orsini, P.G. Medaglia, S. Sanna, E. Traversa, S. Licoccia, A. Tebano, G. Balestrino: Epitaxial Superlattices of Ionic Conductor Oxides. Superlattices and Microstructures 2009, 46, 223-226

♦ A. Rinaldi, B. Mecheri, V. Garavaglia, S. Licoccia, P. Di Nardo, E. Traversa: Engineering materials and biology to boost performance of microbial fuel cells: a critical review. Energy and Environmental Science 2008, 1, 417-429

2 Comments

Ultra-high dense growth of germanium nanodots on SiO2 thin films

The use of self-organization phenomena at semiconducting surfaces allows fabricating quantum dot structures for producing novel nanodevices with unprecedented applications not only in optoelectronics, but also for room temperature operating single electron transistors and/or resonant tunneling structures. Fabrication of ultra-dense Ge dots on silicon surfaces still presents a series of problems far …

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The Icing on the Cake – Combining X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy with Protein Crystallography (18th September 2007)

Dr. W. Meyer-Klaucke

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Nanoengineered silica nanoparticles as intracellular nanoprobes

Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular level to obtain materials with specifically enhanced chemical and physical properties. Collaborative research among scientists from Italy – the Nast Centre for Nanoscience Nanotechnology and Innovative Instrumentation, are working in the emerging challanging field of nanomedicine…

Comment

Prof. Maurizio De Crescenzi

Contact details

Office: Physics Department

Tel: +39 06 72594547

Lab: +39 06 72594532

Fax: +39+06 2023507

web page

Research Activity

From 1979 his research activity has been focused on the study of the structural and electronic properties of surfaces (clean and interacting with chemisorbed species), and of metal/semiconductor interfaces by means of spectroscopic techniques such as Auger, XPS and Energy Loss in reflection and STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy) microscope.
During these years he has contributed actively to the development of some electron spectroscopic techniques as local surface structural tool, as the EELFS (Extended Energy Loss Fine Structure) and the EXFAS (Extended Fine Auger Structure). He has received for this several invited talks and oral presentations at topic Surface Science Conferences.
He has investigated the growth of nanostructures of Germanium/Silicon and Fe/Cu/Si ultrathin films through MBE process. Recently he has synthetized nanotubes of carbon and other materials, such as silicon, and they have been visualized through STM and AFM microscopy.He has been co-author or author of more than 200 international publications concerning electronic and structural properties of the condensed matter and applications of different electron scattering and absorption spectroscopies. He has written a book entitled: ”Electron Scattering and Related Spectroscopies” (World Scientific 1996) providing an overview of all spectroscopic techniques related to electron scattering phenomena. He is in the board of editors of the following international reviews: Journal of Physics (Condensed Matter), Surface Review and Letters, Journal of Electron Spectroscopy.

Recent Publication

[1] P. Castrucci, N. Pinto, L. Morresi, R. Gunnella, R. Murri, M. Scarselli, M. De Crescenzi, “Magnetic properties of thin MnGe films investigated by magnetic force microscopy”, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 272-276, 1541 (2004).

[2] F. Ratto, F. Rosei, A. Locatelli, S. Cherifi, S. Fontana, S. Heun, P.-D. Szkutnik, A. Sgarlata, M. De Crescenzi, N. Motta, “Composition of Ge(Si) islands in the growth of Ge on Si(111) by x-ray spectromicroscopy”, Journal of Applied Physics 97, 043516 (2005).

[3] M. De Crescenzi, P. Castrucci, M. Scarselli, M. Diociaiuti, P. S. Chaudari, C. Balasubramanian, T. M. Bhave, S. V. Bhoraskar, “Experimental images of silicon nanotubes”, Applied Physics Letters 86, 231901 (2005). Paper selected to appear on June 1, 2005 of “Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology“.

[4] P. Castrucci, M. Scarselli, M. De Crescenzi, M. Diociaiuti, P. Chistolini, M. A. El Khakani, F. Rosei, “Packing-induced electronic structure changes in bundled single-wall carbon nanotubes”, Applied Physics Letters 87, 103106 (2005).

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Cell Sheet Tissue Engineering and Their Clinical Applications (10th September 2007)

Prof. Teruo Okano

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Mean Kinetic Energy in Helium mixtures and nanoporous confinement

Collaborative research among scientists from Italy – the Nast Centre for Nanoscience Nanotechnology and Innovative Instrumentation, UK – ISIS Spallation Neutron Source – have studied the single particle microscopic dynamics of helium atoms (3He, 4He) in bulk and confined in silica nanopores, using Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering (DINS) at the ISIS…

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Dr. Roberto Senesi

R. Senesi

Contact details

Office: Department of Physics

Tel: +39 06 72594549

Fax: +39 06 2023507

R. Senesi is an experimental physicist with a background in condensed matter and material science. The main Research Topics are: Neutron Scattering, Monoatomic and Molecular Quantum Fluids and solids in bulk and confinement. Experimental determination of the atomic momentum distributions and microscopic structure and dynamics of these systems are carried out using neutron scattering and x-ray and techniques. Relevant examples are: 1) Momentum distribution and kinetic energy in fluid and solid He-3, He-4 and He-3/He-4 mixtures; 2) Kinetic energy of He-4 in nanoporous xerogels; 3) Static structure factor of binary fluid mixtures. R. Senesi has been involved in the design and construction of neutron scattering instruments at the ISIS pulsed neutron facility (UK), such as VESUVIO and e.VERDI, as well as research and development of neutron detection systems for neutrons in the energy range 1- 100 eV. R. Senesi has published more than 60 papers on international journals and presented about 20 scientific contributions at international conferences and schools.

Recent Publications

R. Senesi, A. Pietropaolo, A. Bocedi, S. E. Pagnotta, F. Bruni, Proton Momentum distribution in a protein hydration shell, Physical Review Letters, 98, 138102 (2007), also in Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research, 13, issue 7 (2007).
R. Senesi, D. Colognesi, A. Pietropaolo, T. Abdul-Redah, Deep inelastic neutron scattering from orthorhombic ordered HCl: short-time proton dynamics and anomalous neutron cross-sections, Physical Review B, 72, 054119 (2005).
C. Andreani, D. Colognesi, J. Mayers, G. Reiter, R. Senesi, Measurement of Momentum Distribution of Light Atoms and Molecules in Condensed Matter Systems Using Inelastic Neutron Scattering, Advances in Physics, 54, 377 (2005).
C. Andreani, G. Gorini, E. Perelli-Cippo, A. Pietropaolo, N. Rhodes, E. M. Schooneveld, R. Senesi, M. Tarocchi, A resonant detector for high-energy inelastic neutron scattering experiments, Applied Physics Letters, 85, 5454, (2004).
C. Andreani, C. Pantalei, R. Senesi, Mean kinetic energy of helium atoms in fluid 3He and 3He-4He mixtures, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 18, 5587 (2006).
R. Senesi, C. Andreani, A. L. Fielding, J. Mayers, W. G. Stirling, Kinetic energy of He atoms in liquid 4He-3He mixtures, Physical Review B, 68, 214522 (2003).
R. Senesi, C. Andreani, D. Colognesi, A. Cunsolo, M. Nardone, Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering determination of the single particle kinetic energy in solid and liquid 3He Physical Review Letters, 86, 4584, (2001).

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Dr Antonino Pietropaolo

A. Pietropaolo

Contact details

Physics Department “G. Occhialini”

University of Milan “Bicocca”

Tel: +39 02 6448 2302

Research activity

AP is an experimental physicist whose research interests concern the dynamics of condensed matter systems and the investigation of the high energy neutron-induced soft errors in electronics, using neutron scattering techniques, and the development of instrumentation for epithermal neutron scattering for applications on materials of cultural heritages interest (epithermal neutron imaging). As far as neutron instrumentation is concerned, AP worked on the development of gamma detectors for the Resonance Detector configuration at the VESUVIO spectrometer at ISIS spallation neutron source and the design and realization of the Very Low Angle Detector (VLAD) bang for High-energy Inelastic Neutron Scattering (HINS) on VESUVIO. In the field of condensed matter, recent experimental studies concerned the short time proton dynamics in bulk and confined water at different thermodynamic states, as well as the sub-femtosecond dynamical properties of the structural hydrogen (silanols) in porous silica xerogels of different porosity. Within the EU-funded ANCIENT CHARM project, AP is developing ancillary equipment and gamma detectors to be used for Neutron Resonance Capture Imaging (NRCI) and neutron tomography on objects of cultural and archaeological interest. A recent experimental activity is related to the test of the new Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to YAP scintillators crystals. Very recently AP, within a joint collaboration of Italian academic institutions and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), performed the first irradiation experiments on silicon-based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) on the VESUVIO beam line, that assessed the suitability of the ISIS source for this kind of investigation.

Recent publications

R.Senesi, A. Pietropaolo, A. Bocedi, S.E. Pagnotta, F. Bruni, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 138102 (2007);
M. Violante, L. Sterpone, A. Manuzzato, S. Gerardin, P. Rech, M. Bagatin, A. Paccagnella, C. Andreani, G. Gorini , A. Pietropaolo, G. Cardarilli, S. Pontarelli, C. Frost, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 54, 1184 (2007);
E. M. Schooneveld, J. Mayers, N. J. Rhodes, A. Pietropaolo, C. Andreani, G. Gorini, E. Perelli-Cippo, R. Senesi, M. Tardocchi, Rev. Sci. Instr. 77, 095103 (2006);
S. Imberti, C. andreani, V. Garbuio, G. Gorini, A. Pietropaolo, R. Senesi, M. Tarocchi, Nucl. Instr. Meth. A 552, 463 (2005);
C. Andreani, G. Gorini, E. Perelli-Cippo, A. Pietropaolo, N. Rhodes, E. M. Schooneveld, R.Senesi, M. Tardocchi, Appl. Phys. Lett. 75, 5454 (2004).

Notes: AP is author of about 40 publications on international journals and presented about 20 scientific contributions at international conferences and meetings.

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NAST Report

Scientific Report 2007 Read more »

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Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) & Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM)

Related Information – AFM contact: Prof. Massimo Fanfoni – STM contact: Prof. Anna Sgarlata

The Variable Temperature STM/AFM

Characteristics

Stainless steel UHV system (Standard pressure 6 10-11mbar).Turbo molecular pump for roughing: 240 l/sec – Ionic pump: 500 l/sec – Titanium sublimator.X-Y-Z manipulator with direct current or resistive heating. Tmax=1500 K.STM/AFM (piezoresistive).Heating at the STM position: up to 1500 K.Cooling at the STM position: down to 25 K.E-beam evaporators at the STM position: Ge and Si.Reverse view LEED-Auger with LaB6 filament.

Some Results

Ge/Si(111) – experiments performed were related to the visualization of the growth by Physical Vapour Deposition of Ge nanostructures on 7×7 Si(111) reconstructed surfaces. By evaporating Ge on Si(111) at T=500°C the formation ofwetting layers have been studied by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy in situ. The evolution of the Ge islands appearing after the wetting layer (completed at 3 ML). The 3D islands appear as truncated tetrahedrons (7×7 reconstructed on the top) and evolves into rounded shape, flat islands with a central hole. An erosion of the substrate around the islands has been also evidenced and measured. The island have lateral dimensions in the range 200 – 500 nm. The statistical distribution of the islands shapes and contact angles has been analysed. On Si step bunched surfaces (obtained by flashing at 1200°C in proper condition the Si substrate) the self aggregation and ordering of the islands has been evidenced. These results have been published in several papers and conference or school proceedings [1-6].

Fig 1. Ge islands grown on Si(111) observed by STM and AFM at various stages of evolution. Top left, a) an island after the nucleation (STM: 236x236x8 nm), top rigth, b) new facets (100 and 117) appear (STM: 230x230x38 nm); bottom left, c). First stage of ripening. (STM: 527x527x12 nm) bottom rigth, d) final stage of ripening (AFM image: 527x527x10 nm). Ge flux was 1 Å/min. The substrate temperature was 530 °C for a), 450 °C for b) and 500 °C for c) and d).

Fig 2. Organization of the Ge islands on a Si(111) step-bunched substrate a) STM image of 2.5 nm Ge deposition on Si(111) at T=450 °C 2.7×3.7 μm2. The total height of the image is 56 nm. b) STM image of 6 nm Ge deposition on Si(111) at T=450 °C 10×10 μm2. The total height of the image is 82 nm.InAs/GaAs quantum dotsThe InAs quantum dots on GaAs were prepared ex-situ by MBE as follows: the GaAs(001) wafer was initially deoxidized in As flux at 640 °C until a weak 2×4 RHEED pattern appeared. Afterwards, the substrate temperature was lowered to 590 °C and an epitaxial GaAs buffer layer of approximately 0.75 mm was grown at a rate of 1 μm/h. After 10 min of annealing, the temperature was further lowered to 500 °C for the InAs growth. The deposition rate was 0.028 ML/s with an In/As flux ratio of 1/15. The InAs coverage was 3 ML (the 2D-3D transition occurs at 1.6 ML). A 50 nm As capping layer is grown on top of the quantum dots, in order to protect the surface during the transfer to the AFM/STM chamber if atomic resolution and reconstruction have to be obtained by STM. The other samples are grown on intrinsic GaAs exhibiting a resistance too high to be imaged by STM, so the measurements are normally performed by AFM. Many samples, with different InAs coverages and growth modes have been prepared and measured. The size and distribution of the dots obtained in various growth conditions have been measured. Two main growth modes have been analysed: Continuous (the In flux was never interrupted) and Migration Enhanced (the In flux was interrupted at regular intervals, in order to increase the atomic movements ad aggregation on the surface). The island size increases in the Migration Enhanced mode. The onset of the quantum dot formation has been evidenced by also by STM, by imaging 2D islands after which act as precursors. The results have been published in two papers [7-8]Fig 3. STM images at 1.3 ML of InAs on GaAs(001); a) 2D-islands of average height 0.4 nm (precursors); b) high resolution image of the wetting layer. The RHEED image has been acquired in the MBE system at the end of the growth.Fig 4. Needle-Sensor AFM of self-assembled quantum dots of InAs on GaAs(001) imaged using the VT SPM; dimensions: 300×300 nm. Height: 10 nm. The typical dot size is around 25 nm, and the height is 7 nm.

References on Ge/Si

[1] F. Boscherini, G. Capellini, L. Di Gaspare, F. Rosei, N. Motta and S. Mobilio, “Ge-Si intermixing in Ge quantum dots on Si(001) and Si(111)”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 76, 682 (2000).[2] F. Rosei, N. Motta, A. Sgarlata, G. Capellini and F. Boscherini, “Formation of the Wetting Layer in Ge/Si(111) studied by STM and XAFS”, Thin Solid Films 369 p29 (2000).[3] F. Boscherini, G. Capellini, L. Di Gaspare, F. Rosei, N. Motta and S. Mobilio, “Atomic intermixing in Ge Quantum Dots”,“ESRF Highlights” 1999, Surfaces and Interfaces (may be visualized on the web site www.esrf.fr).[4] F. Boscherini, G. Capellini, L. Di Gaspare, M. De Seta, F. Rosei, N. Motta A. Sgarlata and S. Mobilio, “Ge-Si intermixing in Ge quantum dots on Si”, Thin Solid Films 380, 173 (2000).[5] A. Sgarlata, F. Rosei, M. Fanfoni, N. Motta and A. Balzarotti, “STM/AFM study of Ge Quantum Dots grown on Si(111)”, IEEE Proceedings of the 11th International Semiconducting and Insulating Materials Conference, February 2000.[6] F. Rosei, N. Motta, A. Sgarlata and A. Balzarotti, “Growth and characterization of Ge nanostructures on Si(111)”, submitted for publication to Lecture Notes in Physics. (February 2001).[7] Nunzio Motta Self-assembled Quantum Dots studied by scanning probes and other structural techniques. Proc. Workshop on Nanotubes and Nanostructures 2000, S.M.Pula (CA), Ed. S.Bellucci, (Editrice Compositori 2001)[8] N. Motta, F. Rosei, A. Sgarlata, G. Capellini, S. Mobilio, F. Boscherini, Evolution of the intermixing process in Ge/Si(111) Self-assembled islands, submitted to Materials Science B

References on InAs/GaAs

[1] F. Patella, M. Fanfoni, F. Arciprete, S. Nufris, E. Placidi, and A. Balzarotti; Kinetic aspects of the morphology of self-assembled InAs quantum dots on GaAs(001) Applied Physics Letters 76 (2001) 320.[2] Arciprete, A. Balzarotti, M. Fanfoni, N. Motta, F. Patella, A. Sgarlata; Morphology of self-assembled quantum dots of InAs on GaAs(001) and Ge on Si(111) in Recent Research developments in Vacuum Science & Technology. Publisher: Transworld Research Network (2001).

Comment

Molecular Beam Epitaxy & Electron Spectroscopy

Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Characteristics

(Mod.32; Riber)Stainless steel UHV system (Standard pressure 6 10-11 mbar). Turbo molecular pump for roughing: 240 l/sec – Ionic pump: 500 l/sec – Titanium sublimator. X-Y-Z manipulator with resistive heating.

Tmax=800 °C. Knudsen cells: Ga, As, In, Al, Si (as dopant). Rheed optics E= 10 KeV.

High Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

HREELS cross section

Characteristics

Stainless steel UHV system (Standard pressure 4×10-11mbar). Turbo molecular pump for roughing: 240 l/sec – Ionic pump: 200 l/sec – Titanium sublimator. X-Y-Z manipulator with resistive heating. T max=800 °C. Leed optics.

Comment

Prof. Carla Andrean

Carla ANDREANI

Contact details

Office: Physics Department

Tel: +39 06 72594441

Lab: +39 06 72594422

Fax: +39 06 72594089

webpage

Current Professional Positions

Full Professor in Condensed Matter at the Faculty of Science of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

Research Experience

Carla Andreani, experimental physicist, received a Laurea Cum Laude in Physics in 1977 at the Università di Roma “La Sapienza” and is presently full professor in Condensed Matter at Department of Physics – Faculty of Science – at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. From 1981 – 1987 she worked at the A.E.R.E Harwell Laboratory, at the ISIS Spallation neutron Source – Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in UK, and at the IPNS pulsed Neutron source – Argonne National Laboratory, in US. In those years she initiated a research program applying neutron spectroscopic methods to investigate structural and dynamical properties of quantum and molecular fluids and solids, complex systems and neutron science. These studies involved developing instrumental, technological and methodological tools for characterizing materials on a nanometer-length scale. These include:

quantum fluids and solids – liquid ⁴He, liquid and solid ³He, in bulk and confined geometry, and ³He-⁴He mixtures;
molecular fluids and solid – diatomic homonuclear fluids (Cl₂, Br₂, I₂, H₂, D₂) hydrogen halides (HCl, HBr, HI), H₂S and H₂O (in bulk – stable and metastable -and confined geometry);

CA employed a combination of diffraction and spectroscopy techniques (most notably, neutron and x-ray diffraction, neutron spectroscopy, combined with Raman spectroscopy). In particular neutron scattering represents an important tool for the study of the properties of matter at the nanoscale, the ideal probe of microscopic correlations in bulk sample in reciprocal space. Its provides relevant information for the understanding of microscopic physical properties of materials, which add and complement real space visualization and manipulation of matter on the nanometer scale.

CA has contributed to the design and realization of instrumentation for neutron diffraction and scattering: the DBSS diffractomer (PLUTO Reactor Harwell UK) - “Neutron diffraction methods for the study of residual stress fields“, A. J. Allen, M. T. Hutchings, C. G. Windsor, C. Andreani, Advances in Physics 34, 445 (1985) – the 2-axis diffractometer at TRIGA Reactor (ENEA Casaccia, I),the Constant Q spectrometer (CQS) at HELIOS Linac (Harwell, UK), the PRISMA spectrometer – “PRISMA – A unique phonon spectrometer”, C. Andreani, U. Steigenberger, C. G. Windsor Europhysics News 21, 147 (1990) and TOSCA spectrometer – “TOSCA: a world class inelastic neutron spectrometer”, S. F. Parker, C. J. Carlile, T. Pike, J. Tomkinson, R. J. Newport, C. Andreani, F. P. Ricci, F. Sacchetti, M. Zoppi, Physica B241, 154 (1998) - at ISIS pulsed neutron source (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory).

CA has designed and realized, with the ISIS team, the VESUVIO spectrometer – “VESUVIO: the double difference inverse geometry spectrometer at ISIS”, J. Mayers, J. Tomkinson, T. Abdul-Redah, W.G. Stirling, C. Andreani, R. Senesi, M. Nardone, D. Colognesi, E. Degiorgi, Physica B 350, 659 (2004), and the e.VERDI spectrometer at ISIS – “Recent developments of the e.VERDI Project at ISIS”, T. Abdul-Redah, C. Andreani, A. D’Angelo, G. Gorini, S. Imberti, J. Mayers, R. J. Newport, A. Pietropaolo, N. J. Rhodes, E. M. Schooneveld, R. Senesi, M. Tardocchi, J. Tomkinson, Physica B350, 837 (2004) – for Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering, to study of proton quantum dynamics (“Measurement of momentum distribution of light atoms and molecules in condensed matter systems using inelastic neutron scattering”).

She gave a significant contribution to the development of gamma detector concepts for DINS and neutron imaging.

She is currently studying the proton quantum effects in water – in normal and metastable phases – in bulk and confined geometry via the DINS measurement of the proton momentum distribution, n(p).

She is currently participating to the construction of CHIP instrument at the ISIS neutron source, TS2 (UK)– for accelerated test of ‘‘single event effects’’ in electronic devices (Facility for fast neutron irradiation tests of electronics at the ISIS spallation neutron source) – instrument at the ISIS neutron source (UK).

Example of applications of eV techniques CA has proposed and developed:

within the ANCIENT CHARM project the concepts and use of neutron spectroscopy at the eV energy to produce quantitative measurements and even 3D images of the elemental composition and physical structure of artefacts. This technique uses the “Neutron Resonant Capture Imaging” combined with “Neutron Resonance Transmission” (NRCI/NRT) as a non-invasive technique for 3D tomographic imaging and its use in cultural heritage research, i.e. http://ancient-charm.neutron-eu.net/ach, A non destructive stratigraphic and radiographic neutron study of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s reliefs from Paradise and North doors of Florence Baptistery This technique uses the “Neutron Resonant Capture Imaging” combined with “Neutron Resonance Transmission” (NRCI/NRT) as a non-invasive technique for producing quantitative measurements and even 3D images of the elemental composition and physical structure of artifacts.
the use of neutrons at the MeV for accelerated irradiation test on electronic devices.

Teaching Activities

CA is member of the Graduate School in Physics – PhD Program at the University of Roma Tor Vergata – and the Graduate School Nanostructure and Nanotechnology – a joint PhD program between University of Tor Vergata and University of Milano-Bicocca. CA has a long-standing interest in teaching improvements in undergraduate and graduate physics also providing the students with a modern introduction to spectroscopic techniques. Much of this work has concentrated on the use of modern technology to improve the student’s conceptual understanding of basic experimental physical concepts.

Management and organizational experience

Chairperson of the Area Panel for Physical Sciences, Italian Research Council, Italian Research Council CNR (2009-2010)

Chairperson of the Advisory Board for the Roadmap on Research Infrastructure, Italian Ministry of Research (2010)

Delegate of President of CNR for European Spallation Source project (2010-present)

Member of the Neutron Committee of Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) (1994-present)

Member of the Executive Board of University of Rome Tor Vergata (2005-2008).

Member of the International Advisory Board of the International Advisory Board ESS Bilbao Initiative (2008-present)

Member of the Novel Neutron Instrumentation Think Tank (2005-2009)

Member of the Science Advisory Board del Studsvik Neutron Research Laboratory (NFL) – Svezia (2000-2002 )

Member of the OECD MEGASCIENCE FORUM: NEUTRON SOURCES WORKING GROUP Panel B: International cooperation in the development of neutron instrumentation and data evaluation (1996-1999)

Member (scientific secretary) of the Scientific Advisory Board for Physical Sciences of the Italian national research Council CNR (1994-1998)

Member of the Round Table on Neutron Sources, http://neutron.neutron-eu.net/n nmi3/n (1994-present)

Peer Review

CA served as:

Referee for NSF (US), New Eurasia Foundation, Russia, European Commission FP7, Georgia National Science Foundation;
Referee American Physical Society journals, Phys. Rev. B e Phys. Rev. Letters) di J. Chem. Physics, Meas. Sci. Technology, ISRN Condensed Matter Physics.
member of evaluation Area panel Physical Science, CIVR for Italian Ministry of Research (MIUR) (2003-2009)
member of the ISIS Facility Access Panel (FAP 5), 2006-2008, 2011-present
member of peer review panel for Material science for Georgia National Science Fundation (2007-2008, 2011-present)
member of peer review panel for New Eurasia Foundation (FNE), Moscow, (2011-present)
Chairperson of the Area Panel for Physical Sciences, Italian Research Council, CNR Italy (2009-2010)
Chairperson of the Ministry of Research advisory board for the Italian Infrastructure Roadmap (2010)
member of review panel for research projects of Regione Lombardia (2010)
member of ISRN Condensed Matter Physics editorial board
member of SNS neutron scattering science proposal Review Panel (2008-2010)
chair board for ESS Italy (www.ess-italia.it)

I am currently supervising 6 scientists. I have significant experience in recruiting and interviewing. I have served as project scientist and, more recently, project sponsor in a variety of instrument development projects at ISIS (UK), SNS (US) and ESS Lund.

Membership of professional societies

Italian Physical Society
European Physical Society
American Chemical Society
School of Neutron Scattering “Francesco Paolo Ricci“
Sociedad Española de Tecnicas Neutronicas

Editorial Roles

Editor of Notiziario Neutroni e Luce di Sincrotrone, ISSN: 1592-7822m (from 1999), a journal supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)

Selected Publications

[1] Temperature Dependence of Neutron-induced Soft Errors in SRAMs, M. Bagatin, S. Gerardin, A. Paccagnella, C. Andreani, G. Gorini, C. D. Frost, Microelectronics Reliability (2011)

[2] Spherical momentum distribution of the protons in hexagonal ice from modeling of inelastic neutron scattering data, D. Flammini, A. Petropaolo, R. Senesi, C. Andreani, F. McBride, A. Hodgson, M. Adams, L. Lin, R. Car, accepted for publication on J. Chemical Physics, July (2011)

[3] Ground state proton dynamics in stable phases of water, C. Andreani, D. Colognesi, A Pietropaolo and R. Senesi, Chem Physics Letters Frontier Physics, doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2011.09.036 (2011)

[4] Comment on “High energy neutron scattering from hydrogen using a direct geometry spectrometer, J. Mayers, N. I. Gidopoulos, M. A. Adams, G. Reiter, C. Andreani and R. Senesi., r”, C Stock, R A Cowley, J W Taylor and S. M. Bennington, Phys Rev B, 84, 056301 (2011)

[5] Non destructive neutron diffraction measurements of cavities, inhomogeneities and residual strain in bronzes of Ghiberti’s relief from the Gates of Paradise, G. Festa, R. Senesi, M. Alessandroni, C. Andreani,G.Vitali, S. Porcinai, A. M. Giusti, T. Materna, A. M. Paradowska, Journal of Applied Physics 109, 064908 (2011)

[6] A non destructive stratigraphic and radiographic neutron study of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s reliefs from Paradise and North doors of Florence Baptistery G. Festa, C. Andreani, et al., J. Appl. Phys. 106, 074909 (2009)

[7] Characterization of the neutron field at the ISIS-VESUVIO facility by means of a bonner sphere spectrometer
R. Bedogni, A. Esposito, C. Andreani, R. Senesi, M. P. De Pascale, P. Picozza, A. Pietropaolo, G. Gorini, C. D. Frost, and S. Ansell, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 612, no. 1, pp. 143–148, (2009)

[8] Diamond detectors for fast neutron irradiation experiments L. Giacomelli, C. Andreani, A. Fazzi, C. D. Frost, G. Gorini, E. Perelli Cippo, A. Pietropaolo, M. Rebai, H. Schuhmachere M. Tardocchi, C. Verona, G. Verona Rinati and A. Zimbal, Nuclear Physics B (Proceedings Supplements), 215, 242-246 (2011)

[9] A silicon photomultiplier readout for time of flight neutron spectroscopy with γ -ray detectors
A. Pietropaolo, G. Gorini, G. Festa, C. Andreani, M. P. De Pascale, E. Reali, F. Grazzi, E. M. Schooneveld, Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 80, no. 9, (2009)

[10] γ-Ray background sources in the VESUVIO spectrometer at ISIS spallation neutron source
A. Pietropaolo, E. Perelli Cippo, G. Gorini, M. Tardocchi, E. M. Schooneveld, C. Andreani and R. Senesi, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 608, no. 1, pp. 121–124, (2009)

[11] Pietropaolo et al Reply, A. Pietropaolo, R. Senesi, C. Andreani, A. Botti, M. A. Ricci, and F. Bruni, Physical Review Letters, vol. 103, no. 6, (2009)

[12] Quantum effects in water: Proton kinetic energy maxima in stable and supercooled liquid
A. Pietropaolo, R. Senesi, C. Andreani, J. Mayers, Brazilian Journal of Physics, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 318–321, (2009)

[13] Prompt gamma activation analysis and time of flight neutron diffraction on ‘black boxes’ in the ‘Ancient Charm’ project
Zs. Kasztovszky, Z. Kis, T. Belgya, W. Kockelmann, S. Imberti, G. Festa, A. Filabozzi, C. Andreani, A. Kirfel, K. T. Biró, K. Dúzs, Zs. Hajnal, P. Kudejova, M. Tardocchi, and the Ancient Charm Collaboration Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, vol. 278, no. 3, pp. 661–664, (2008)

[14] Neutron-induced soft errors in advanced Flash memories
G.Cellere , S. Gerardin, M. Bagatin, A. Paccagnella, A.Visconti, M. Bonanomi, S. Beltrami, P. Roche, G. Gasiot, R. H. Sørensen, A. Virtanen, C. Frost, P. Fuochi, C. Andreani, G. Gorini, A. Pietropaolo, S. Platt, International Electron Devices Meeting, IEDM, (2008)

[15] Constant-q data representation in Neutron Compton scattering on the VESUVIO spectrometer
R. Senesi , A. Pietropaolo, C. Andreani, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 594, no. 2, pp. 244–252, (2008)

[16] The very low angle detector for high-energy inelastic neutron scattering on the VESUVIO spectrometer
Enrico Perelli Cippo, Giuseppe Gorini, Marco Tardocchi, Antonino Pietropaolo, Carla Andreani, Roberto Senesi, Nigel J Rhodes, Erik M Schooneveld, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 589, no. 2, pp. 296–303, (2008)

[17] Proton momentum distribution of liquid water from room temperature to the supercritical phase
C. Pantalei, A. Pietropaolo, R. Senesi, C. Andreani, S. Imberti, J. Mayers, C. Burnham, and G. Reiter, Physical Review Letters, vol. 100, no. 17, (2008)

[18] Advances on detectors for low-angle scattering of epithermal neutrons
E. Perelli Cippo, G. Gorini, M. Tardocchi, C. Andreani, A. Pietropaolo, R. Senesi, N. Rhodes, E. Schoonveld, Measurement Science and Technology, vol. 19, no. 4, (2008)

[19] Facility for fast neutron irradiation tests of electronics at the ISIS spallation neutron source , C. Andreani_,A. Pietropaolo, A. Salsano, G. Gorini,M. Tardocchi, A. Paccagnella,^,S. C. D. Frost, S. Ansell, S. P. Platt, Applied Physics Letters, vol. 92, no. 11, (2008)

[20] Excess of proton mean kinetic energy in supercooled water
A. Pietropaolo, R. Senesi, C. Andreani, A. Botti, M. A. Ricci, F. Bruni, Physical Review Letters, vol. 100, no. 12, (2008)

[21] Composition and corrosion phases of Etruscan Bronzes from Villanovan Age
G. Festa, P. A. Caroppi, A. Filabozzi, C. Andreani, M. L. Arancio, R. Triolo, F. Lo Celso, V. Benfante, S. Imberti, Measurement Science and Technology, vol. 19, no. 3, (2008)

[22] Structure and Single Proton Dynamics of Bulk Supercooled Water
A. Botti, F. Bruni, M. A. Ricci, A. Pietropaolo, R. Senesi, C. Andreani, Journal of Molecular Liquids, vol. 136, no. 3, pp. 236–240, (2007)

[23] Proton quantum coherence observed in water confined in silica nanopores
V. Garbuio, C. Andreani, S. Imberti, A. Pietropaolo, G. F. Reiter, R. Senesi, M. A. Ricci, Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 127, 154501, (2007)

[24] A new hardware/software platform and a new 1/E neutron source for soft error studies: Testing FPGAs at the ISIS facility
M. Violante, L. Sterpone, A. Manuzzato, S. Gerardin, P. Rech, M. Bagatin, A. Paccagnella, C. Andreani, G. Gorini , A. Pietropaolo, G. Cardarilli, S. Pontarelli, C. Frost, IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 54, no. 4, pp. 1184–1189, (2007)

[25] ⁴He adsorbed in cylindrical silica nanopores: Effect of size on the single-atom mean kinetic energy , C. Andreani, C. Pantalei, R. Senesi, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, vol. 75, no. 6, (2007)

[26] Resolution function in deep inelastic neutron scattering using the Foil Cycling Technique
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 570, no. 3, pp. 498–510, (2007)

[27] Mean kinetic energy of helium atoms in fluid 3He and 3He-4He mixtures
Journal of Physics Condensed Matter, 18, 5587 (2006)

[28] Advances in Physics, C. Andreani, D. Colognesi, J. Mayers, G. Reiter, R. Senesi, 54, 377 (2005)

[29] Measurement of momentum distribution of light atoms and molecules in condensed matter systems using inelastic neutron scattering
Advances in Physics, 54, 377 (2005)

[30] A resonant detector for high-energy inelastic neutron scattering experiments
Appl. Physics Letters, 85, 5454, (2004)

[31] Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering determination of the single particle kinetic energy in solid and liquid ³He, R. Senesi, C. Andreani, D. Colognesi, A. Cunsolo, M. Nardone, Phys. Rev. Letts. 86, 4584, (2001)

Notes. CA has authored about 150 publications on international journals and about 180 scientific oral contributions at international conferences, meetings and schools.

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Joint Laboratory for Advanced Nanostructured Materials for Energy, Catalysis and Biomedical Applications

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Sub-Femtoseconds proton dynamics in confined geometry and near proteins

Collaborative research among scientists from Italy – the Nast Centre for Nanoscience Nanotechnology and Innovative Instrumentation, UK – ISIS Spallation Neutron Source – and US, – University of Huston – have used Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering (DINS) to shows how the proton momentum distribution in liquid water monitors the changing occurring …

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New neutron facility for fast neutron irradiation tests of electronics

Collaborative research among Italian and British scientists and engineers from Nast Centre for Nanoscience Nanotechnology and Innovative Instrumentation, CNR (I), ISIS Spallation neutron Source (UK), Universities of Central Lancashire, Padova and Milano Bicocca, and from the avionics and aerospace industries have been using VESUVIO neutron flux…