A new research instruments of the University of Jyväskylä grow thin films and study atom-sized structures

A new research instruments of the University of Jyväskylä grow thin films and study atom-sized structures

The Nanoscience Center of the University of Jyväskylä has purchased new instruments to help in physics, chemistry, molecular biology, and materials research. The instruments will enable high-resolution imaging of samples, study crystal structures, perform elemental analysis and grow thin films. The instruments are a major investment and have been funded by an ERC Starting Grant from the European Research Council to Assistant professor Kezilebieke Shawulienieat the University of Jyväskylä. In total, the equipment cost around 900.000 euros.

- The new instruments will complement the facilities of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science and the Nanoscience Center and will enable the study of entirely new phenomena. New research collaboration opportunities will also open up as the facilities will be more versatile, says the Scientific Director of the Nanoscience Center Lotta-Riina Sundberg. The new instruments strengthen further our position at the international level and increase the impact of our research. Nanoscience has an important role in science and in the society, as this area of research explores, for example, how molecules and nanostructures interact. This can lead to novel findings and solutions in various fields, she continues.

Tunnelling microscopy is used to image the atomic-levelstructure

One of the latest devices is Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). STM has played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of surface properties and phenomena at the atomic scale, including atomic arrangement, surface defects, and adsorption behavior. It finds applications in various fields such as materials science, chemistry, physics, and nanotechnology, where precise control and visualization of atomic-scale structures are indispensable. Developed in the 1980s by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer, STM was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986 for this groundbreaking achievement.

- STM is critically important in several fields of science and technology. Firstly, it allows scientists to visualize surfaces at the atomic scale, providing detailed images of individual atoms and their arrangements on a surface. Secondly, STM can manipulate individual atoms and molecules on a surface, enabling the construction of nanostructures and the study of atomic-scale processes such as surface reactions and molecular assembly. Finally, and most importantly, STM can provide information about the density of electrons in a sample as a function of their energy and space with atomic precision, says Asst. Prof. Kezilebieke Shawulienu from Department of Physics at the University of Jyväskylä.

Applications extend to biophysics, biochemistry, and biotechnology

The STM installed in the Nanoscience Center is highly unique, representing the ultimate combination of two well-proven techniques. It merges the strengths of Optical Spectroscopy and Scanning Probe Microscopy. Its multidisciplinary nature enables researchers to explore a wide range of systems and phenomena at the nanoscale, making it a powerful tool for scientific research and technological development.

- Our instrument can be applied to study biological systems such as proteins, DNA, at single molecular level, providing valuable insights into biomolecular structure, dynamics, and interactions. With this technique at our disposal, we plan to perform topographic and tomographic characterization of single molecules, particularly DNA and small proteins, with spatial resolution down to the ångströmscale, specifies Shawulienu.

Growing thin films

The Nanoscience Center has also received an instrument that focuses on the fabrication of thin films. Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) is a technique used in the fabrication of thin films and heterostructures with atomic precision. It facilitates the precise deposition of atoms or molecules onto a substrate to create highly controlled structures with tailored electronic, optical, and magnetic properties.

- MBE is important for several reasons: MBE enables the growth of thin films and heterostructures with atomic precision. This level of control is crucial for creating materials with specific properties. It allows us to engineer materials with tailored properties by precisely controlling the composition, thickness, and layer-by-layer growth of thin films. This capability is essential for developing novel materials for various applications in electronics, photonics, and quantum computing, tells Shawulienu.

Kezilebieke Shawulienu