Advanced Materials & Devices group
This group gathers resources and competences concerning the micro and nanofabrication of materials and devices and the development and dissemination of measurement science and standards related to their functional properties, including electrical, optical, thermal and chemical properties.
PAST events
Winter School on Metrology AND NanoMATERIALS for Clean Energy
Claviere, 28 January - 2 February 2024
Read the program and register here.
NETPORE Winter Workshop on Porous Semiconductors and Oxides
Claviere, 26-28 February 2024
Read the program and register here.
47th VAMAS Steering Committee Meeting, Charisma School on Raman Harmonisation and Workshop on the Measurement Needs for Microplastics. Read the program and register here.
The 19ENG05 NanoWires project sees the participation of 12 European Countries and 18 European partners including Metrological Institutes, Nanotechnology Laboratories and Universities.
Chiara Magosso, PhD student, lavora a stretto contatto con i Ricercatori INRiM, Federico Ferrarese Lupi e Gianluca Milano, all’implementazione di algoritmi di machine learning per l’ottimizzazione di materiali auto assemblati.
Gianluca Milano winner of the prize "Best young metrologist of COOMET 2021"
Eleonora Cara winner of the prize E-MRS 2021 "Young Researcher Award"
The 20FUN06 MEMQuD sees the participation of 15 European partners including Metrological Institutes, Research Centers, Universities and Industrial Companies.
Synaptic Plasticity and Visual Memory in a Neuromorphic 2D Memitter Based on WS2 Monolayers
In article number 2403158, Federico Ferrarese Lupi, GianlucaMilano, Carlo Grazianetti, and co-workers describes the concept of 2D memitter, which exploits the stimuli-responsive photoluminescence of a monolayer WS2 for neuromorphic-type of data processing.
Hybrid Metrology for Nanostructured Optical Metasurfaces
A cylindrical array of TiO2 nanostructures fabricated by sequential infiltration synthesis of block copolymers is used as a model system for the development of a hybrid metrology strategy. The implementation of complementary synchrotron-based and lab-scale analytical techniques allows for a comprehensive characterization of the nanostructures and extraction of the effective refractive index, shedding light on the resulting optical properties of metasurfaces. For further details, see article here.
In this cover art graphic we are depicting an artistic representation of the ex situ grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence quantification applied to polymers and block copolymers infiltrated with inorganic compounds in the sequential infiltration synthesis process. The X-ray beam impinging on the materials excites fluorescence in a particular target atom, e.g., aluminum atoms in alumina deposited using trimethyl aluminum and water as gas-phase precursors, that can be used for an absolute quantification of the mass concentration of the compound. For further details, see article here.
Quantum Conductance in Memristive Devices: Fundamentals, Developments, and Applications
In article number 2201248, Gianluca Milano, Ilia Valov, and co-workers review the state-of-the-art of quantum conductance effects in memristive devices. Besides analyzing fundamental physicochemical phenomena and electronic ballistic transport in nanofilaments, recent developments in experimental observation of quantum effects in memristive devices and related challenges are discussed. Representing suitable platforms for investigating quantum phenomena at room temperature, future perspectives of memristive devices in quantum and neuromorphic systems are envisioned.
Hyperbolic Metamaterials via Hierarchical Block Copolymer Nanostructures
The dewetting of lamellar phase block copolymer films over topographically defined substrates generates hierarchically aligned hyperbolic metamaterials (HMM) with in‐plane optical axis. Strong reduction in the fluorescence lifetime was observed in nanodiamonds coupled to the Au/air HMM. The analyzed system exhibits hyperbolic behavior in a broad wavelength range in the visible spectrum. For further details, see article number 2001933 by Federico Ferrarese Lupi and co‐workers.
In article number 2000096, Daniele Ielmini, Ilia Valov, Carlo Ricciardi, and co‐workers report a brain‐inspired complex system based on self‐organizing memristive nanowire networks with functional connectivity that exhibit structural plasticity including rewiring and reweighting effects. These neuromorphic systems allow the realization of neural networks with heterosynaptic plasticity able to learn and adapt when subjected to external stimuli, emulating the experience‐dependent plasticity of the nervous system.
Memristive Devices for Quantum Metrology
In the light of the revision of the International System of Units (SI), in article number 2000009 Gianluca Milano and co‐workers discuss on the possibility of using memristive devices for quantum metrology. Exhibiting quantized conductance phenomena in air at room temperature, memristive devices can be exploited for the realization of a resistance standard implementable on‐chip for self‐calibrating systems with zero‐chain traceability.
Tailored and Guided Dewetting of Block Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends
The morphological instability of lamellae forming PS-b-PMMA block copolymer blended with low molecular weight polystyrene and poly(methy lmethacrylate) homopolymers results in dewetting of relatively thick films and the formation of micrometric size droplets consisting of highly ordered and defect-free perpendicular lamellae monodomains.
