2D CuAu nanoislands disintegrate under electron irradiation

© Georg Zagler

Title of the project: Nucleation, Growth and Transformations of Two-Dimensional Materials at the Atomic Scale
Name of the VDSP student: Georg Zagler
Project supervised by: Jani Kotakoski

I research growth and interactions of materials on two-dimensional materials at univie. Our lab has one of the best scanning transmission electron microscopes in the world and is situated in the Sternwartepark. When i am not working, I try to get out for a run, swim or bike-ride, or play the guitar. Currently I serve as the VDS-P student representative and try to get as many students involved as possible.

I research the growth and interactions of materials on two-dimensional (2D) materials. We discovered that gold and copper form two-dimensional nanoislands in a previously unknown phase on top of other 2D materials. The 2D CuAu is strongly affected by the electron irradiation in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), disintegrates from the 2D phase and forms 3D nanoparticles. This process was observed at atomic resolution, with the intensity in this STEM image reflecting the atomic number of the atoms and the thickness of the clusters. The central part only consists of a single layer of CuAu, while thicker clusters formed around it.

Kotakoski group