Outcomes

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from our users
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Neuromorphic Photoresponse in Ultrathin SnS2-Based Field Effect Transistor
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As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, neuromorphic technologies, which emulate biological neural networks, are increasingly seen as a promising direction. Two-dimensional materials are considered promising for neuromorphic applications due to their tunable electrical and optoelectronic properties. In this work, a back-gated tin disulfide (SnS2) field-effect transistor (FET) is electrically and optoelectronically characterized at different temperatures (80, 295, and 380 K), pressures (ambient and 10–4 mbar), and illumination conditions (dark and laser light from 420 to 800 nm). Responsivity peaks of up to ∼100 A/W are recorded. Persistent photoconductivity is observed, with current retention after illumination ranging from 0% to ∼30% of the initial dark current, depending on temperature and gate voltage. The underlying microscopic mechanisms are analyzed, revealing a key role for trap states and ambient adsorbates, and a qualitative model is proposed to explain the observed effects. Trap states within the bandgap, often considered detrimental, are exploited to induce synaptic plasticity, with synaptic weight changes tunable from 0.001 to 3000. Temperature and gate voltage are found to be effective parameters for modulating plasticity, enabling smooth transitions between short-term and long-term behavior. These results clarify the microscopic origin of plasticity in SnS2, demonstrate its robustness under realistic conditions, and lay the foundation for the integration of this two-dimensional material into next-generation neuromorphic architectures.
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our research
ACS Nano 2025 19 (31), 28516-28529
Spectro-Microscopy of Individual Pt–Rh Core–Shell Nanoparticles during Competing Oxidation and Alloying
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The surface chemical composition of supported single Pt–Rh core–shell nanoparticles was studied to understand the Rh behavior in oxidizing and reducing gas environments using spectro-microscopy with high spatial resolution. We combined in situ X-ray photoemission electron microscopy with ex situ scanning electron-, atomic force-, and scanning Auger-microscopy to distinguish Rh oxidation–reduction, dewetting–sintering, and alloying–segregation during the course of the experiment. A more than 20% higher Rh 3d5/2 oxide to metal photoemission intensity ratio for the Rh layer on top of the Pt-core was found as compared to the bare strontium titanate (STO) oxide catalyst support in close vicinity, where Rh/RhOx nanoparticles are forming. At elevated temperatures, Rh diffuses into the Pt particle, and this alloying at the Pt metal surface competes with Rh oxidation, whereas the Rh/RhOx nanoparticles on the STO support are observed to sinter under identical oxidizing and temperature environments. A nanoparticle facet-dependent analysis of selected Pt-core nanoparticles suggests that Rh oxidation is most advanced on a small nanoparticle with a low coordination top facet that we indexed by electron backscatter diffraction, demonstrating the strength of our correlative approach.
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from our users
Carbon, Volume 243, August 2025, 120589
Graphene nanowindows as a basis for creating mechanically robust nanohydroxyapatite bone lamellar scaffolds
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The role of graphene nanowindows in the nanohydroxyapatite bone scaffold preparation is important for the preparation of mechanically robust scaffolds and implementation in bone recovery. Here, we report a graphenenanohydroxyapatite (G-nHAP) scaffold synthesized by the hydrothermal method, along with its formation mechanism and promising in vivo applications. The G-nHAP scaffold exhibits excellent mechanical strength comparable to that of cancellous bone. The nHAP was grown on 2D layers of graphene with nanowindows. The role of nanowindows was to attract electrostatically Ca2+, PO43+, and OH- precursors of nHAP, forming a layered structure of G-nHAP, in which nHAP nanorods of 23.8 nm in diameter and 84.7 nm in length were placed between graphene layers, as evidenced with molecular dynamic simulations. In vivo study showed mature and mineralized bone and osteoid after six weeks. This demonstrates the role of graphene nanowindows in the formation of nHAP scaffolds that are promising for future implementation in bone tissue regeneration.
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Deliverables view all
WP14 - JA4 - A safe-by-design platform for nanomaterials
D14.4 - Integration and characterization of the space correlation functionality on the complete setup
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This report presents an experimental workflow designed to perform correlative measurements as part of the NEP-NFFA project, using silicon nitride (Si3N4) membranes equipped with platinum (Pt) markers. These membranes were developed through a collaboration between DESY NanoLab and ESRF-ID21. DESY NanoLab was responsible for the Pt deposition on the Si3N4 membranes, while ESRF-ID21 carried out the correlative measurements. The purpose of the Pt markers on the membranes is to act as fiducial points that help to precisely locate specific regions or points of interest (ROI/POI) with micrometric or nanometric accuracy. This is essential to analyze the same point of the sample using different techniques, and to collect complementary data for a better understanding of the sample. The proposed workflow involves complementary techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and synchrotron-based techniques like micro X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) performed at the nano-X-ray microscope (nano-SXM) at beamline ID21 of the Softhis report describes the initial design of the membranes with the markers, as well as the optimized version, based on results obtained during the first tests with nano-SXM. In addition, it shows how the Pt markers enable accurate correlation through the web-based graphical interface Daiquiri, linking the morphological information from optical microscopy with the chemical information obtained from µXRF. The technical feasibility of this approach has been confirmed, showing that the process is reproducible and potentially applicable to similar studies. This is possible due to the standardized Pt deposition process and the use of nano-SXM for sample localization and data acquisition.
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WP14 - JA4 - A safe-by-design platform for nanomaterials
D14.5 - Production and report of three case studies with selected workflows
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This report aims to demonstrate the usefulness of the NFFA workflow to assess nanomaterials and their interaction with different cell lines. It also seeks to generate improved protocols and educational material that can be shared with other European users working with similar ENMs.
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WP16 - JA6 - Implementing FAIR data approach within NEP
D16.6 - Final report on data provenance tools for NEP community
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This deliverable summarizes the experience and guidelines for the NFFA community in developing, deploying, and using data provenance tools. It is articulated in 3 sections, dedicated to 1) establishing the high-level provenance of the physical and digital entities of research workflows, 2) automatically integrating this into digital provenance tools, including electronic lab notebooks and workflow management systems, and 3) disseminating this in FAIR modes to the community at large.
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Transnational Access Statistics
31 calls for access
1176 proposals submitted
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30% with Large Scale Facilities
13% with theory
12% with industry
~3 average users per proposal
66 countries applying
3653 lab sessions