Advanced electron microscopy studies of metallic clusters and nanocomposites materials for photovoltaic applications

• Grant number: 14/01045-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Mario Ugarte
• Grantee: Daniel Mario Ugarte
• Host Investigator: Caterina Ducati
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Cambridge, England

Abstract

The full characterization of nanosized systems requires detailed knowledge of the atomic arrangement. The optical systems of the transmission electron microscopes (TEM) has made amazing progress in last 5 years with optimization and marketing of aberration correctors of chromatic and spherical aberrations, as well as, monochromators for the electron beam energy. Unfortunately, they are neither microscopes in the state of art operating in Brazil, norconsolidated groups with expertise in this area. A stay of 12 months in a prestigious laboratory as the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, University of Cambridge will allow efficient updating. This institution has all the material and human resources to work and collaborate for research at the frontier of present knowledge. The researcher will be welcomed by two world-renowned experts, such as Prof. Paul Midgley, a pioneer in the implementation of tomography electron (ET), and C. Ducati specialist in the application of TEM, STEM (scanning TEM) and FIB of the nanocharacterizationmaterials. We aim to apply modern and recent methodologies based AberrationCorrected TEM (ACTEM) for detailed and quantitative characterization of the structure and surfaces and interfaces of nanosystems utilizing the arsenal of analytical techniques available in a TEM/STEM (images, tomography, Rx spectroscopy and electron diffraction, etc.). Among the objects to be studied are heterogeneous catalysts, metal nanoparticles and hybrid photovoltaic cells. We intend to explore the electron tomography to study samples very sensitive to radiation as heterogeneous catalysts, including very small metal nanoparticles (~ nm). Also, we will study hybrid nanostructures containing organic and inorganic materials (solar cells) with electron tomography to characterize interfaces quantitatively and statistically. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

UGARTE, DANIEL; DUCATI, CATERINA. Controlling multipolar surface plasmon excitation through the azimuthal phase structure of electron vortex beams. Physical Review B, v. 93, n. 20, MAY 11 2016. (14/01045-0)

CORREA, LEONARDO M.; MOREIRA, MURILO; RODRIGUES, VARLEI; UGARTE, DANIEL. uantitative Structural Analysis of AuAg Nanoparticles Using a Pair Distribution Function Based on Precession Electron Diffraction: Implications for Catalysi. ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS, v. 4, n. 11, p. 12541-12551, NOV 26 2021. (07/01722-9, 14/01045-0)

MOREIRA, MURILO; HILLENKAMP, MATTHIAS; DIVITINI, GIORGIO; TIZEI, LUIZ H. G.; DUCATI, CATERINA; COTTA, MONICA A.; RODRIGUES, VARLEI; UGARTE, DANIEL. Improving Quantitative EDS Chemical Analysis of Alloy Nanoparticles by PCA Denoising: Part II. Uncertainty Intervals. Microscopy and Microanalysis, v. 28, n. 3, p. 9-pg., 2022-04-18. (14/01045-0, 13/10957-0, 16/12807-4, 07/01722-9, 13/02300-1)

UGARTE, DANIEL; DUCATI, CATERINA. Controlling multipolar surface plasmon excitation through the azimuthal phase structure of electron vortex beams. PHYSICAL REVIEW B, v. 93, n. 20, p. 9-pg., 2016-05-11. (14/01045-0)

MOREIRA, MURILO; HILLENKAMP, MATTHIAS; DIVITINI, GIORGIO; TIZEI, LUIZ H. G.; DUCATI, CATERINA; COTTA, MONICA A.; RODRIGUES, VARLEI; UGARTE, DANIEL. Improving Quantitative EDS Chemical Analysis of Alloy Nanoparticles by PCA Denoising: Part I, Reducing Reconstruction Bias. Microscopy and Microanalysis, JAN 2022. (13/02300-1, 13/10957-0, 16/12807-4, 07/01722-9, 14/01045-0)

MOREIRA, MURILO; FELIX, LEVI C.; COTTANCIN, EMMANUEL; PELLARIN, MICHEL; UGARTE, DANIEL; HILLENKAMP, MATTHIAS; GALVAO, DOUGLAS S.; RODRIGUES, VARLEI. Influence of Cluster Sources on the Growth Mechanisms and Chemical Composition of Bimetallic Nanoparticles. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2023-01-23. (07/01722-9, 14/01045-0)