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PD Dr. Thilo Glatzel

Department of Physics
Profiles & Affiliations

Projects & Collaborations

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Nanoscale friction control of layered transition metal dichalcogenides

Research Project  | 4 Project Members

Layered 2D materials have a wide range of tunable physical properties that offer many potential applications in areas such as photovoltaics, hydrogen evolution catalysis, transistors, DNA detection, nanoelectromechanical systems and tribological applications. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are particularly useful in this regard due to their flexible chemistry and stoichiometry. However, the manipulation and assembly of free-standing TMD layers into devices requires a deep understanding and control of their frictional properties at the nanoscale. To address this challenge, the aim of this project is to develop a thorough theoretical and experimental understanding of how to control friction in TMD-based systems at the nanoscale. This will involve identifying the most promising TMD-based heterostructures with targeted functionalities and establishing protocols for designing new tribological materials with tailored frictional properties. The specific scientific objectives of this project are to develop a deep understanding of how to control friction in TMD-based systems on demand, and to identify the best electrical and optical stimuli that can be used as external 'knobs' for users to control friction.

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Optical beam-deflection atomic force microscopy system at low temperature

Research Project  | 2 Project Members

This project aims to develop an advanced optical beam-deflection atomic force microscope (AFM) integrated in a low-temperature cryostat and an ultra-high vacuum system. The system will enable precise study of individual molecules and complex 2D molecular systems. The cryostat, optimized for low helium consumption and long hold times, will support extended experiments, while the vacuum environment will allow in-situ preparation of samples through methods like thermal evaporation and electrospray deposition. The AFM, built at the University of Basel, will include a preamplifier to extend bandwidth and enable faster data acquisition, supporting advanced AFM modes such as multimode AFM. The system will also feature precise positioning of the AFM probe on 2D materials and quantum dot devices, using optical microscopy and large-area scanning. Controlled electrostatic potentials and back-gate voltages will allow for quantum dot confinement and charge density manipulation, facilitating experiments like 2D or 3D force spectroscopy. Molecules will be studied at submolecular resolution, allowing for manipulation and measurement of lateral forces. Examples include investigating molecular knots and nanographene, with a focus on processes like dehydrogenation. Frictional forces on different substrates will also be explored. Finally, high-resolution AFM and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) will be used to map charge distributions in electron donor-acceptor systems, including those in excited states, offering new insights into molecular interactions and dynamics.

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Q-AFM / Quantum Limited Atomic Force Microscopy

Research Project  | 2 Project Members

We aim to make a radical improvement in the speed of acquisition and information content of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) images by developing a new type of resonant mechanical force sensor. By the end of the project we realize a Quantum-limited Atomic Force Microscope (Q-AFM), where the force sensor is working at the fundamental limit of action and reaction set by quantum physics. Achieving this limit will result in three orders of magnitude improvement in force sensitivity and five orders of magnitude in measurement bandwidth, beyond the current state-of-the-art. This huge gain in performance will translate to a radical increase in imaging speed and in the information content of images. Our sensor will lead to a revolution in SPM, where multi-dimensional data sets are acquired in seconds, as opposed to several days as is the current practice. The key to reaching quantum-limited sensitivity lies in the the electro-mechanical coupling between the resonant mechanical force transducer and the readout circuit. While our ideas are based on well-established theories and some proof-of-concept measurements, but there is still a high risk that we can not reach the desired strong-coupling regime with an appropriate SPM sensor design. To mitigate this high risk we will pursue two different sensor designs, one based on electrostatic coupling and the other based on piezoelectric coupling. Our work plan includes medium and low risk stages of development, each of will result in major gains in performance SPM. The project brings together three university research groups from KTH, Uni Basel and TU Wien, with one SME Intermodulation Products. Together they bring the diverse and complementary expertise necessary to carry out this project such as: superconducting quantum circuits, low temperature AFM, piezoelectric MEMS, and advanced analog and digital electronic design and low-level programming.

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Local work function determination of HOPG dendronized with amino-aryl/nitro-aryl structures

Research Project  | 2 Project Members

The molecular self-assembly is known to offer a strong tool for creating functional and ordered structures, controlled by the interaction molecule-molecule and molecule-substrate. Self-assembly of dendrons onto a surface is a simple synthetic methodology that offers significant advantages over other polymers to modify the surface. The multi-functionality and versatility achieved by the use of dendritic molecules in molecular arrangements are extremely useful features in the design of new devices, as well as the subject of the study of many scientific fields ranging from heterogeneous catalysis to energy sciences. The large number of chemical groups that these structures expose on their surface offers the unique opportunity of tailor the interfacial properties, thus changing the identity of metal and semiconductors. In that regard, the nature of the peripheral groups alters the interfacial behaviour of the film depending on the interactions that take place: hydrogen-bond, hydrophobic interactions, π-π stacking, etc. As a consequence, controlled differences in features can be obtained. The study of electrical properties of HOPG modified with dendrons containing a peripheral acceptor or donor-electron group could provide valuable information on the chemical reactivity. It may also lead to understand the phase aggregation process of HOPG modified with both dendrons and therefore to the development of surfaces with customized chemical potentials. The technique called Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) has emerged as a versatile and robust tool to study the electrical properties of an important variety of nanomaterials. This technique offers valuable information such as a mapping of the local surface potential of nanostructured materials at surfaces and interfaces. In the case of metallic samples, the measured contact potential difference (CPD) is the work function difference between the tip and the sample. For self-assembly monolayers (SAMs) or thin films (TFs), instead, it measures an effective work function that is the sum of that of the substrate and the dipole moment of the SAM or TF. Importantly, the work function depends on intrinsic properties of the surface arrangement such as its conformation, the chain lengths of its organic skeleton, but also on extrinsic variables such as the density and the packing of the chemisorbed or physisorbed molecules, humidity conditions, etc. The main objective of this project is the study of the electrical properties of HOPG surfaces modified by G1-NH2 and G1-NO2 dendrons at fully controlled humidity conditions. A comparative study of the variation of local CPD according to the type of peripheral functional group is proposed. Moreover, a morphological and electrical study of HOPG surfaces modified by both dendrons to study the possible formation of phase segregated structures and its effect on the variation of the CPD.

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Microscopic electronic properties of diamond nanoparticles (MEDIAN)

Research Project  | 2 Project Members

In this project we want to study electronic properties of diamond nanoparticles (DNPs) on microscopic level. Specific surface chemistry has been shown to influence the electronic properties of bulk diamonds. Investigation of DNPs with different surface chemistry is thus of particular importance where surface and size related effects are expected more pronounced. Thus Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) in different regimes and setups will be used to study electronic properties of DNPs of different origin and with different surface chemistry (H-, O-ternination, organic molecules functionalizations). The DNPs will be deposited as individual particles as well as very thin layers prepared by electrophoretic deposition on Si substrate partially coated by Au. The Si (semiconducting) and Au (metallic) substrates will be used in order to study their influence on surface potential of DNPs. Surface potential will be characterized mainly by UHV-KPFM to avoid influence of ambient humidity which can modify (on H-DNPs) and may also partially screen surface potential of DNPs. Using the above fundamental data and understanding, the surface photovoltage of DNPs with different surface chemistry will be further explored on Au/Si substrates. Mainly a high power supercontinuum laser combined with KPFM systems under various environmental conditions will be used. The data will be compared with KPFM head having infrared detection diode (1300 nm) and band pass filter illumination using Xe lamp source under ambient condition. Thereby we will contribute to better understanding of the DNPs specific properties that are crucial for their applications.

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Molecular assemblies on semiconductors and insulating surfaces

Research Project  | 2 Project Members

The main aim of the project is to investigate processes taking place around the molecular assemblies formed on insulating and semiconducting substrate under irradiation by photons. The molecular assemblies grown either by evaporation or by electro-spray deposition will be examined by scanning probe methods, especially non contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) in order to determine dependence of the electrical properties of the assemblies of their morphology, and exploit that dependence to control the electrical properties of the assemblies. Within the project a number of molecule/substrate systems will be tested in order to find the most suitable ones for examination of the evolution of excitation in the assemblies induced by the incoming light. As the result we hope to gain deeper understanding of charge evolution and transport in the assembly which is crucial in many fields of the nanotechnology and research related to development of light-harvesting media.

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Molecular assemblies on semiconductors and insulating surfaces

Research Project  | 5 Project Members

The main aim of the project is to investigate processes taking place around the molecular assemblies formed on insulating and semiconducting substrate under irradiation by photons. The molecular assemblies grown either by evaporation or by electro-spray deposition will be examined by scanning probe methods, especially non contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) in order to determine dependence of the electrical properties of the assemblies of their morphology, and exploit that dependence to control the electrical properties of the assemblies. Within the project a number of molecule/substrate systems will be tested in order to find the most suitable ones for examination of the evolution of excitation in the assemblies induced by the incoming light. As the result we hope to gain deeper understanding of charge evolution and transport in the assembly which is crucial in many fields of the nanotechnology and research related to development of light-harvesting media.