The experimental setup to understand how cosmic dust is formed is ready to use (Sci. Rep. 2018)
The Stardust machine constitutes a unique experimental setup designed for simulating in the laboratory cosmic dust formation and its evolution towards the ISM. Stardust consists of six UHV modules assembled together specially designed to mimic the conditions found in the atmosphere of AGBs. We have succeeded to scale-up a…
Decoupling epitaxial graphene from metals by electrochemical oxidation (Carbon 2018)
The catalytic role of metallic substrates is a perfect starting point for growing high quality graphene layers by thermal decomposition of aromatics. However, metallic substrates quench the outstanding properties that make graphene the most promising material for future applications. Thus, protocols to transfer graphene to different technologically relevant substrates are…
An atomic-scale look to graphene edge states (Nanoscale 2017)
Graphene edges are known to present localized electronic states that depend on the exact atomic configuration of the graphene border. It has been predicted that zigzag-ended and chiral-ended graphene nanostructures develop spatially and spectrally localized edge states around the Fermi level. However, experimental evidence remains scarce as atomic-scale investigations of…
On-surface chemistry: (cyclo)dehydrogenation of PAH catalysed by coinage metal surfaces (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2017)
New nanoarchitectures can be built from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) by exploiting the catalytic properties of some metal surfaces. Actually, this bottom-up approach allows the formation of nanostructures with different dimensionality from the same precursor as a consequence of the diffusion of the PAH on the surface. Thus, by selecting…
New method to synthesize graphene by using C60 as carbon source (Carbon 2017)
In this work, we describe a new protocol to grow high-quality graphene by physical vapour deposition (PVD) using C60 molecules evaporated in ultra high vacuum conditions (UHV) on Cu foils substrates. The quality of the resulting graphene layer has been assessed by the combination of complementary surface characterization techniques. Additionally,…
Highly selective covalent organic functionalization of epitaxial graphene (Nat. Commun. 2017)
Recently, we have published a new work in Nature Communications: Highly Selective Covalent Organic Functionalization of Epitaxial Graphene. R. Bueno; José I. Martínez; R. Luccas; N. Ruiz del Árbol; C. Munuera; I. Palacio; F. J. Palomares; S. Thakur; J. M. Baranowski; W. Strupinski; M. F. López; F. Mompean; M. García-Hernández;…
Abstract call for the Iberian Vacuum Conference, RIVA-X
A new edition of the Iberian Vacuum Conference, RIVA-X, will be held in Bilbao in the Bizkaia Aretoa centre from 4-6 October 2017. The RIVA Conference is a join meeting of the Spanish Vacuum Society (ASEVA) and the Portuguese Vacuum Society (SOPORVAC), and covers the fields of vacuum and its applications, particularly…
Characterization of thin film growth and processing by in-situ time-resolved GISAXS
The increase in hard X-ray brightness in third generation synchrotron sources together with the development of fast two-dimensional X-ray detectors has enabled to perform time-resolved X-ray scattering experiments in the millisecond regime. Thus, the evolution of the thin film morphology at the nanoscale can be continuously monitored employing Grazing Incidence…
4-aminophenol on Pt(111): adsorption and coupling
Recently, we have published a new work in a special issue of the Surface Science journal in Honour of Richard Lambert. “Adsorption and coupling of 4-aminophenol on Pt(111) surfaces” Surf. Sci. 646 (2016) 5-12 by G. Otero-Irurueta, J.I. Martínez, R.A. Bueno, F.J. Palomares, H.J. Salavagione, M.K. Singh, J. Méndez, G.J.…
Unveiling the structural and electronic properties of epitaxial graphene superstructures on Pt(111): the role of the pinning points
Graphene growth on metal surfaces is one of the most promising routes towards scalable production of high-quality graphene suitable for industrial applications. Conventionally, the growth of graphene is carried out on weakly interacting surfaces – typically Cu foils – where the substrate plays a double role: first, as a catalyst;…