Advanced AFM Laboratory
Platform Leader: Neus Domingo
Main Research Lines
Piezoresponse force microscopy
Surface electromechanical phenomena by force microscopy
Scanning probe piezoresistance
Multifrequency AFM
Electric, magnetic and mechanical properties of nanoscale domain walls
Spectroscopy of electromagnetic interactions at the nanoscale
The Advanced Atomic Force Microscopy Platform is constantly developing novel approaches and methods for nanoscale characterization. This laboratory has pioneered research in nanoscale surface electromechanical phenomena; it has become a European reference in Piezoresponse Force Microscopy characterization and it has developed novel methodologies such as Scanning Probe Piezoresistance to study strain induced electric phenomena, and different approaches to detect flexoelectric phenomena at the nanoscale.
The Advanced AFM platform has state of the art microscopes available, with outstanding capabilities in operating temperature ranges, magnetic fields and environmental control. This, togheter with the wide available expertise in all AFM modes provides the laboratory with the perfect competence to develop a wide range of studies in nanostructures and nanodevices, from chemical or magnetic to electric or mechanical phenomena, and its entanglement.
Target focuses of study are ubiquitous, from crystalline oxide thin films to nanocomposites, nanoscale single crytals, polymeric fibers, 2D materials such as graphene, black phosphorous or CNT, biological samples such as viruses or functional operating nanodevices.
For more information:
Platform Leader
Neus Domingo
Dr Neus Domingo obtained her degree in physics and her PhD at the University of Barcelona in 2000 and 2005 respectively. Later on, she joined the Istituto di Struttura della Materia (CNR) in Rome, Italy (2005-2007). In 2008, she started working at the CIN2 as a Juan de la Cierva Researcher and in 2011 she became a member of the ON group holding a Ramon y Cajal Research Grant.
Dr Domingo can count on a strong materials science background, spanning from molecular magnetism and nanoparticles to piezo- and ferro-electricity and nanoscale electromechanical phenomena, with special emphasis on surface science. She considers herself a nanotechnologist and an AFM enthusiastic. Her current research interest lies in the field of scanning probe microscopy of functional materials and ferroics, and physical chemistry of ferroelectric surfaces.