CNSI Special Lecture featuring Tomas Sikola

Nanotechnology research for nanoelectronics and nanophotonics at Brno University of Technology

Professor Tomáš Šikola

This event is being Co-sponsored by the Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering

Abstract:
In the talk the activities and results of the group of Surfaces and Nanostructures at the Brno University of Technology (BUT) aimed at nanotechnology research for nanophotonics and nanoelectronics will be presented. The attention will be paid to selected topics covering our research on graphene and in situ monitoring of the growth of nanowires by SEM.

After a short introduction of the group and related institutes, i.e. the Institute of Physical Engineering and newly founded Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), both seated at BUT, our results on graphene studies will be presented. First, the issues related to preparation and characterization of graphene will be discussed. It will cover the preparation of ultrasmooth high-purity copper foils and their utilization for CVD growth of graphene, and application of surface sensitive low-energy ion scattering (LEIS) for determination of impurities at graphene and its interface with a substrate. Further, functional properties of graphene will be demonstrated. Here, (i) the influence of Ga doping and x-ray induced electrostatic doping on transport properties of CVD graphene determined by real-time in situ monitoring in an UHV environment, (ii) time development of electric charge transport across graphene nanostructures observed by Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), and (iii) surface enhanced Raman spectra of graphene via Au nanoparticles will be discussed.

Finally, a study on formation of graphene layers on epitaxial FeRh thin films under UHV conditions will be described.
In the 2nd part, applications of Scanning Electron Microscopy for in-situ real-time monitoring of the formation of quasi-1D semiconductors and oxides will be presented. A particular attention will be aimed at explaining the unusual oxidation mechanism of tungsten disulfide, which results in the growth of substoichiometric (WO2.72) oxide nanowires with diameters below 10 nm.

Bio:
Prof. Tomáš Šikola is the director of the Institute of Physical Engineering at BUT and leader of the “Fabrication and Characterization of Nanostructures” research group in CEITEC. His present research interests are in surface science; thin film physics; nanoscale science and technology; fabrication of nanostructures and investigation of their functional properties for plasmonics, micromagnetism, and spintronics; and development of analytical and measurement methods and instruments. He has been the coordinator and principle investigator in a series of scientific projects, both at the international and domestic levels. At present, he coordinates the CEITEC “Advanced Nanotechnologies and Microtechnologies” research program, a prestigious national scientific project “Advanced microscopy and spectroscopy platform for research and development in nano and microtechnologies” (Centres of Competence Programme, TACR 2012 – 2018), international EU H2020 – Twinning project “Strengthening Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research at CEITEC” (SINNCE), exclusive international EU H2020 – FET project “Plasmon Enhanced THz Electron Paramagnetic Resonance” and belonged to the principal investigators of the international project “Universal SEM as a multi-nano-analytical tool” (under 7FP of EU, 2012 – 2015). He is a Fulbright scholarship fellow (8 months at Stanford University, group of Prof. Mark Brongersma, topic: fabrication and characterization of plasmonic nanoantennas).