Advanced Electron Nanoscopy
Group Leader: Jordi Arbiol
Main Research Lines
Exploration by means of electron microscopy and related spectroscopies of the structure-properties relationships in nanomaterials for physical applications (photonics/plasmonics/ phononics/electronics/quantum technologies), adding AI-based methodologies for advanced automated data analysis and 3D atomic modelling (deep and machine learning).
Understanding of the behaviour of nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications down to the atomic scale and creation of in-situ and correlative methodologies combining electron microscopy, synchrotron and AI.
Led by ICREA Research Prof. Jordi Arbiol, the aim of this group is to apply advanced electron microscopy tools and related spectroscopies (EELS, EDX and CL) to the understanding of the nanoworld down to the atomic scale. The increasing interest in materials science, nanoscience and nanotechnology has created a major global demand for nanoscopy tools that enable the observation and chemical analysis of synthesised nanostructures at the atomic scale.
Exploring the limits of physical resolution in advanced electron microscopy, and understanding the behaviour and properties of materials at the nanoscale are the central aims of the research carried out by this group. The newest research lines being pursued are based on single atom recognition and localisation in embedded quantum structures. The group also works to develop new methodologies for performing a direct correlation between the structural and chemical properties of materials at the atomic scale and their physical properties at sub-nanometre scale (photonics, plasmonics and phononics), together with a detailed atomic-level study of the growth mechanisms in nanostructures using 3D models.
Group Leader
Jordi Arbiol
ICREA Research Professor
jordi.arbiol@icn2.cat
ICREA Prof. Jordi Arbiol was born in Molins de Rei (Catalonia) in 1975. Having graduated in physics from the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) in 1997, he went on to obtain his PhD in transmission electron microscopy applied to nanostructured materials from this same university in 2001. He earned the “European Doctorate” label in recognition of the european dimension of his thesis project, as well as an extraordinary doctorate award from UB. He then held the position of assistant professor at the UB, before becoming a group leader at the Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB) in 2009, as well as the scientific supervisor of the institute’s electron microscopy facility. There he began his personal and professional mission to improve Barcelona’s baseline electron microscopy infrastructure, an endeavour he has continued to pursue at the ICN2, which he joined in 2015 as the leader of the Advanced Electron Nanoscopy Group.
He has been President of the Spanish Microscopy Society (SME) (2017-2021), Vice-president (2013-2017) and member of its Executive Board (2009-2021). In 2019 he became a Member of the Executive Board of the International Federation of Societies for Microscopy (IFSM) (2019-2027). He is member of the Research Committee at the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and Scientific Supervisor of Electron Microscopy at ICN2 and the ALBA Synchrotron EM Centre.