FY2011 Annual Report

Nanoparticles by Design Unit

Associate Professor Mukhles Sowwan

Abstract

The unit was established at OIST in December 2011 and is interested in nanoparticles and nanoclusters, which exhibit tunable physical and chemical properties. Our group will study the structural, magnetic, electronic and chemical properties and applications of size selected monometallic, bimetallic and core–shell nanoparticles/nanoclusters prepared using a magnetron sputter gas aggregation source.

This first year we have been busy building a team of researchers, procuring instruments and building core technical capabilities by participating in training.

After completing the installation and training on a Near-field Scanning Optical Microscope (MV4000, Nanonics Imaging Ltd.), our focus has been on obtaining high-resolution data of nanoparticles. Further training was completed for a Physical Property Measurement System (magnetic, thermal and electrical measurements), a surface profiler and an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer maintained by the Shared Physics Facility. In addition to these instruments training for a Hall-Effect probe, 4-probe instrument, spin-coater, and nano-analyte spectrophotometer and fluorospectrometer have been completed. We already have preliminary data from a number of these instruments and will continue to refine our skills, obtaining even better data.

1. Staff

  • Prof. Mukhles Sowwan, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Cathal Cassidy, Group Leader
  • Dr. Murtaza Bohra, Researcher
  • Dr. Vidya Dhar Singh, Researcher
  • Ms. Shiho Saito, Research Administrator

2. Collaborations

  • Theme: 3D Reconstructions of Nanoparticles
    • Type of collaboration: Research Collaboration
    • Researchers:
      • Professor Ulf Skoglund, OIST​
  • Theme: XPS Investigation of Nanoparticulate Tantalum Deposited on Silicon
    • Type of collaboration: Research Collaboration
    • Researchers:
      • Professor Yabing Qi, OIST​
  • Theme: Ultrastructure of Inorganic Nanoparticles
    • Type of collaboration: Research Collaboration
    • Researchers:
      • Professor Matthias Wolf, OIST​

3. Activities and Findings

Nothing to report

4. Publications

4.1 Journals

Nothing to report

4.2 Books and other one-time publications

Nothing to report

4.3 Oral and Poster Presentations

1. C. Cassidy, Advanced Nanoparticle Deposition System, R&D cluster workshop, OIST Campus, Okinawa, March 30, 2012 (Poster) 

5. Intellectual Property Rights and Other Specific Achievements

Nothing to report

6. Meetings and Events

6.1 Seminar

  • Title: Charge migration and heat phenomena in molecular systems: Two sides of the same medal ?
  • Date: 16 March, 2012
  • Venue: OIST Campus
  • Speaker: Prof. Gianaurelio Cuniberti, Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Dresden University of Technology

7. Other

Nothing to report.