The 16th International Symposium on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters (ISSPIC XVI) took place in Leuven July 8-13, 2012.
Atomic scale dynamics of ultrasmall germanium clusters
Controlled nanostructuring of a gold film covered with alkanethiol SAM by low energy cluster implantation
Size matters in scandium doped copper clusters
Ostwald ripening - Movie
Doped AunX+ clustersVacancies
Postdoctoral Fellows
A post-doctoral position is available in the Clusters and Laser Spectroscopy group of the Laboratory of Solid State Physics and Magnetism, K.U.Leuven, in the field of laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry investigations of clusters. The envisaged research project focuses on studies of the geometric and electronic structure of binary clusters, and the influence of these properties on their chemistry, using laser spectroscopic techniques based on the dissociation of cluster - noble gas complexes (action spectroscopy), and reactivity investigations in the gas phase. The clusters are produced with a laser vaporization source and size-analyzed with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. With far infrared spectroscopy, vibrational transitions, characteristic for the cluster geometry, are identified, while visible or near-infrared spectroscopy is used to identify their electronic structure.Vibrational spectroscopy, in a frequency range from 50 cm-1 to 500 cm-1, is carried out at the free electron laser facility FELIX (Free Electron Laser for Infrared eXperiments) of the FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen (Nieuwegein, the Netherlands). The optical absorption spectroscopy is performed using nanosecond pulsed laser systems (based on optical parametric oscillators and dye lasers) with wavelengths tunable between 195 and 2000 nm. Their chemical properties as function of size and composition will be studied using mass spectrometry analysis of low pressure reactions of cluster beams in collision gas cells.
This research is embedded in various local, national and international research collaborations. For more information, see: http://fys.kuleuven.be/vsm/class/
Prerequisites: Ph.D. degree in physics or chemistry or related areas. The successful candidate is expected to have solid experiences in the use of pulsed lasers and UHV technology. The selected candidate will be the main responsible for running and maintaining the ns laser systems.
PhD Students
Every academic year we have a few new openings for doctoral students preparing a "doctor of science" degree, conducting research on one of the research topics of the group.Currently, two positions are available:
Physical properties of cluster assembled films
Metal clusters, defined as nanometer-sized entities made of a limited number of atoms of elements that are metallic in the bulk, show size-dependent physical properties due to their limited size. Nanoparticles and clusters are attractive research objects since their small size leads to very specific structural, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties, mainly determined by quantum physical effects. They are unique building blocks for new nanostructured functional materials, where the functionality is determined by the properties of the building blocks and by the influence of interactions between the building blocks on these properties. The deposition of gas-phase formed nanoclusters on substrates provides a unique tool for the growth of metastable phase nanostructured materials. Its major advantage is related to the ability to control the size, density, and in some cases also the morphology and composition of the deposited particles, allowing an unprecedented flexibility in the creation of new types of nanostructured films. These possibilities are further enhanced by introducing codeposition with a matrix material and/or cluster size selection prior to deposition. This doctoral research project envisages using the unique size scale and properties of clusters to investigate challenging topics in current solid-state physics, in particular in magnetism and superconductivity at the nanometer-scale. The candidate will focus on superconductivity in binary clusters, i.e., clusters composed of atoms from two different species, or on the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in hybrid cluster-assembled systems.
Size- and composition dependent properties of bimetallic clusters
Metal clusters, defined as nanometer-sized entities made of a limited number of atoms of elements that are metallic in the bulk, show size-dependent physical properties due to their limited size. Nanoparticles and clusters are attractive research objects since their small size leads to very specific structural, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties, mainly determined by quantum physical effects. They are unique building blocks for new nanostructured functional materials, where the functionality is determined by the properties of the building blocks and by the influence of interactions between the building blocks on these properties. Size and composition dependent physical and chemical properties of binary clusters will be investigated in the gas phase with techniques based on time-of-flight mass spectrometry and laser spectroscopy. In particular the enhanced stability of clusters with a specific composition will be investigated, e.g., with laser photoionization spectroscopy, IR-photoabsorption spectroscopy, and gas phase chemical reactivity. Also, in collaboration with quantum chemists, density functional theory computations of geometry and electronic structure will be carried out.
Contact Prof. Dr. Peter Lievens, Prof. Dr. Ewald Janssens, and Prof. Dr. Margriet Van Bael for more information.
