Teachers

Faculty: José Sánchez, Alfredo Segura, Rodolfo Miranda, Roberto Otero, Félix Zamora, María Victoria Martínez, María José Caturla, Miguel Á. Rodríguez, María Luz Rodríguez, Fernando Langa, José Miguel Colino, Ángela Sastre, Fernando Fernandez Lazaro, Catalina Ruiz, Romen Carrillo.

Content: Basic concepts on chemical terminology in molecular systems, quantum mechanics and computational chemistry, statistical thermodynamics, solid state physics and materials science.

Faculty: Joaquín Fdez Rossier, Juan José Palacios, María Luz Rodríguez, Francisco Romero

Content: Top-down and bottom-up approaches to nanoscience. Concept of low dimensionality and size-dependent phenomena. Fundamentals of nanophysics (nanomechanics, nanomagnetism, nanotransport and nano-optics). Nanomaterials and nanostructures: main types of systems and general procedures for the preparation of nanoparticles and thin films (chemical vapour deposition (CVD), physical vapour deposition (PVD), liquid phase deposition: spin coating, layer-by-layer, Langmuir-Blodgett, etc.).

Faculty: Rodolfo Miranda, Roberto Otero, Juan Francisco Sánchez, Carlos Untiedt

Content: Microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to characterise nanostructures: resolution and type of information obtained; applications to molecular systems. Optical microscopies: confocal microscopy; NSOM (near-field scanning optical microscopy). Electron microscopies: SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). Proximity microscopy. STM (tunnel effect microscopy): Study of surfaces and manipulation of atoms and molecules. Atomic force microscopy (AFM): basic principles; measurement modes; measurement of local elastic properties; application of AFM to nanobiology: imaging of biomolecules, membranes and tissues; other proximity microscopies: lateral force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, electrostatic force microscopy. Spectroscopic techniques: photon spectroscopy; X-ray spectroscopy; electron spectroscopy. Surface characterisation and analysis techniques: high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED); electronic spectroscopy of surfaces: X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES); mass spectrometry for surfaces.

Faculty: Maria A Díaz, Ricardo García

Content: Optical lithography and electron beam lithography: Fundamentals and limits; types of resins used; design of motifs and measurement of dimensions. Nanofabrication using ion beams. Nanoimprint and microcontact nanolithography: rationale, types of moulds and types of prints. Methods based on proximity microscopy: local oxidation method and other AFM-based nanolithography; nanomanipulation of molecules; nanofabrication and nanomanipulation based on STM and SNOM.

Faculty: Enrique García-España, Fernando Langa, Tomás Torres

Content: Basic concepts of supramolecular chemistry: nature of non-covalent interactions; recognition of ions, molecules and biomolecules; molecular self-assembly and self-association: biological examples; thermodynamic and kinetic aspects; self-assembly by means of coordination bonds, hydrogen bonds and other non-covalent interactions. Molecular topology: catenanes, rotaxanes and knots. Molecular devices: molecular dyads and switches, logic gates, sensors. Signal amplification and antenna effect. Synthesis of nanoparticles. Surfactants: monolayers, micelles, vesicles and capsules.

Faculty: Eugenio Coronado, Fernando Langa, Carlos Martí, Tomás Torres

Content: Molecular magnetic materials: Design, synthesis, characterisation and applications of i) magnetic nanoparticles obtained through a molecular approach; ii) molecular nanomagnets (magnet-molecules and magnet-chains); iii) molecular magnetic multilayers; iv) bistable magnetic molecules. Materials with optical properties: liquid crystals, materials for non-linear optics, optical limiters, etc.; types of supramolecular organisations and applications. Materials with electrical properties: molecular conductors and superconductors: electronic structures, organisation on surfaces and interfaces, properties and applications (chemical sensors, field effect transistors (FETs), etc.). Carbon nanotubes: structures, properties, methods of obtaining and organising them and applications.

Faculty: Guillermo Mínguez, Catalina Ruiz, Ángela Sastre, Tomás Torres

Content: Hierarchical self-assembly and self-organisation: functional nanostructures and supramolecular materials with physical or chemical properties of interest; design of biomolecular architectures; design of functional molecules and nanomaterials with a high level of communication with biological systems and their biomedical applications. Organisation of supramolecular structures on surfaces: self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Use of self-assembled architectures as a template for the growth of organic or inorganic nanostructures. Self-assembly of nanoparticles. Chirality on surfaces and its relevance in heterogeneous catalysis. Supramolecular polymers and block polymers.

Faculty: Hendrik Bolink, Enrique Ortí, Juan J Palacios, Tomás Torres

Content: Introduction and basic concepts of electronics based on molecular materials and unimolecular electronics. Charge transfer and transport in molecular materials and nanostructures. Supramolecular electronic devices: circuits, diodes, transistors, etc. Unimolecular electronic devices. Molecular machines. Molecular materials for optoelectronic devices: photovoltaic cells, OLEDs, etc.; structure and types of devices; physical fundamentals of their operation; constituent materials; comparison with inorganic devices. Molecule-based detectors, sensors and actuators of chemical and biological interest; chemical sensors based on metal oxide nanostructures. Materials processing techniques and preparation of molecular devices. Experimental and theoretical studies of charge transport through molecules and molecular wires. Optical properties and electronic spectroscopy of unimolecular systems. Experimental studies of energy dissipation mechanisms and the movement of molecules on surfaces and the role of internal degrees of freedom.

Faculty: Julio Camarero, Eugenio Coronado

Content: Investigation of magnetic nanostructures and magnetic interfaces using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM). Study of magnetic domains using spin-polarised STM microscopy. Experimental detection of the magnetic moment in unimolecular systems. Molecular spintronics.

Content: This subject is part of the European School on Molecular Nanoscience (ESMolNa). During this school, a current overview of the state of the art in the different facets of molecular materials and molecular nanoscience (molecular magnetism, molecular electronics, applications of molecular nanoscience and materials, etc.) is provided. At the same time a discussion forum is created where young generations of researchers (national master students and PhD students from all over Europe) have the opportunity to present their latest research results to this distinguished scientific community.

Development of a supervised research project in the field of Nanoscience.