In situ Electron Microscopy for Nanomaterial Synthesis
Contact: Federico PANCIERA
Our research harnesses state-of-the-art in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to push the boundaries of materials science, providing unprecedented insights into atomic-scale dynamic processes.
A key strength of our approach is the novel integration of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) within a TEM, a capability exclusive to the NanoMAX TEM at the CIMEX microscopy facility, École Polytechnique. This cutting-edge technique allows for precise control over material growth within the TEM, enabling real-time observation of growth mechanisms and direct study of dynamic transformations at the atomic level.
Central to our success is our extensive in-house expertise, which spans the fabrication of TEM-compatible chips, continuous development of specialized hardware, and advanced data analysis workflows. This integrated approach positions us at the forefront of in-situ TEM research, bridging fundamental science and applied innovation.
For access to the NanoMAX in-situ TEM equipment, please contact us directly or through the METSA network.
Video Gallery
Publications (since 2018)
- 3D Shape Reconstruction of Ge Nanowires during Vapor–Liquid–Solid Growth under Modulating Electric Field. Ivan Erofeev, Khakimjon Saidov, Zhaslan Baraissov, Hongwei Yan, Jean-Luc Maurice, Federico Panciera, Utkur Mirsaidov, ACS nano 18 (34), 22855-22863 (2024) [PDF]
- Field emission characterization of field-aligned carbon nanotubes synthesized in an environmental transmission electron microscope. Pascal Vincent, Federico Panciera, Ileana Florea, Anthony Ayari, Sorin Perisanu, Costel Sorin Cojocaru, Haifa Taoum, Chen Wei, Khakimjon Saidov, Utkur Mirsaidov, Ilias Aguili, Nicholas Blanchard, Pierre Legagneux, Stephen Thomas Purcell, Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, (2024) [PDF]
- Observations of the synthesis of straight single wall carbon nanotubes directed by electric fields in an Environmental Transmission Electron Microscope. Pascal Vincent, Federico Panciera, Ileana Florea, Nicholas Blanchard, Costel Sorin Cojocaru, Mariam Ezzedine, Haifa Taoum, Sorin Perisanu, Pierre De Laharpe, Anthony Ayari, Julien Chaste, Khakimjon Saidov, Utkur Mirsaidov, Stephen Thomas Purcell, Pierre Legagneux, Carbon 213, 118272 (2023) [PDF]
- Real-time thermal decomposition kinetics of GaAs nanowires and their crystal polytypes on the atomic scale. P Schmiedeke, F Panciera, JC Harmand, L Travers, G Koblmüller, Nanoscale Advances 5 (11), 2994-3004 (2023) [PDF]
- Regulated dynamics with two-monolayer steps in vapor-solid-solid growth of nanowires.E. Bellet-Amalric, F. Panciera, G. Patriarche, L. Travers, M. den Hertog, J.-C. Harmand, F. Glas, J. Cibert, ACS Nano 16, 4397-4407 (2022) [PDF]
- Statistics of nucleation and growth of single monolayers in nanowires: Towards a deterministic regime. F. Glas, F. Panciera, J.-C. Harmand, physica status solidi (RRL) - Rapid Research Letters 16, 2100647 (2022) [PDF]
- Growth‐Related Formation Mechanism of I3‐Type Basal Stacking Fault in Epitaxially Grown Hexagonal Ge‐2H. Laetitia Vincent, Elham MT Fadaly, Charles Renard, Wouter HJ Peeters, Marco Vettori, Federico Panciera, Daniel Bouchier, Erik PA M Bakkers, Marcel A Verheijen, Advanced Materials Interfaces 9 (16), 2102340 (2022) [PDF]
- Debra P Wilson, A S Sokolovskii, Ray R LaPierre, Federico Panciera, Frank Glas, Vladimir G Dubrovskii. Modeling the dynamics of interface morphology and crystal phase change in self-catalyzed GaAs nanowires. Nanotechnology, 2020. Source Document
- Federico Panciera, Zhaslan Baraissov, Gilles Patriarche, Vladimir G Dubrovskii, Frank Glas, Laurent Travers, Utkur Mirsaidov, Jean-Christophe Harmand. Phase selection in self-catalysed GaAs nanowires. Nano Letters, 2020. PDF Project Source Document
- Zhaslan Baraissov, Antoine Pacco, Siddardha Koneti, Geeta Bisht, Federico Panciera, Frank Holsteyns, Utkur Mirsaidov. Selective Wet Etching of Silicon Germanium in Composite Vertical Nanowires. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 2019. Source Document
- Zhaslan Baraissov, Federico Panciera, Laurent Travers, Jean-Christophe Harmand, Utkur Mirsaidov. Growth Dynamics of Gallium Nanodroplets Driven by Thermally Activated Surface Diffusion. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2019. PDF Source Document
- Éric Ngo, Federico Panciera, Jean-Christophe Harmand, Weixi Wang, Martin Foldyna, Pere Roca i Cabarrocas, Laurent Travers, Ileana Florea, Jean-Luc Maurice. Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Germanium in the Atomic-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2019. Source Document
- Federico Panciera, Jerry Tersoff, Andrew D Gamalski, Mark C Reuter, Dmitri Zakharov, Eric A Stach, Stephan Hofmann, Frances M Ross. Surface crystallization of liquid Au-Si and its impact on catalysis. Advanced Materials, 2018. PDF Video Source Document
- Jean-Christophe Harmand, Gilles Patriarche, Frank Glas, Federico Panciera, Ileana Florea, Jean-Luc Maurice, Laurent Travers, Yannick Ollivier. Atomic step flow on a nanofacet. PRL, 2018. Video Source Document
