Research

Research Overview

Our group investigates the electronic, optical, and structural properties of novel nanostructures and 2D materials (such as transition metal dichalcogenides and hexagonal boron nitride). We specialize in high-spatial-resolution spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, correlating localized physical phenomena at the nanoscale with atomic structure.

Core Research Topics:

  • 2D Quantum Materials: Excitonic physics, dielectric screening, and defect engineering in monolayer TMDs and h-BN, Quantum Dots.

  • Nano-Optics & Luminescence: Light emission induced by local electron injection in STM.

 

Experimental Facilities & Capabilities

  • Scanning Tunneling Luminescence (STML)

    • Capability: High-resolution STM coupled with parabolic mirror collection optics for STM-induced light emission (STM-LE), photoluminescence (PL), Low Energy Cathodoluminescence (CL) and Raman spectroscopy.

    • Applications: Probing local excitonic dynamics, plasmon-exciton coupling, and atomic-scale defect luminescence under controlled environmental conditions.

  • Other experimental facilities

    • Micro-Photoluminescence; 

    • Atomic Force Microscopy. 

 

Ongoing Research Projects

  1. Optoelectronic Properties of 2D Materials and heterostructures 

    Investigating charge transfer, interfacial adsorbates, and luminescence retention of TMD monolayers.

  2. Point Defects and Exciton Dynamics in Monolayer Hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN)

    Probing carbon-related defects, intragap electronic states, and excitonic emission, single-photon emission centers at low temperatures.

  3. Custom Instrumentation for In-Situ Optical Spectroscopy in STM

    Developing off-axis parabolic collector systems to combine light injection and collection for multi-spectroscopic characterization.

Scanning Tunneling Luminescence (STML) & Optics

Luminescence in a Scanning Tunneling Microscope Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) is based on quantum mechanical tunneling. By bringing an atomically sharp metallic tip within sub-nanometer proximity to a conductive sample, applying a bias voltage (Vs) generates a tunneling current (It). Scanning the tip laterally while dynamically adjusting the tip-sample separation to maintain a constant current …

On-going Projects

Research Overview Our research projects focus on investigating the fundamental optical and electronic properties of light-absorbing and light-emitting nanomaterials. By combining Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) with high-efficiency optical collection and injection systems, we correlate physical morphology, electronic band structure, and photon emission at the nanoscale. We aim to bridge the gap between fundamental condensed matter …

Team & Opportunities

Research Team & Opportunities Our research group at the Department of Applied Physics (IFGW / UNICAMP) focuses on nanoscale physics, 2D materials, and advanced optical/scanning probe microscopies.   Group Leader Prof. Dr. Luiz Fernando Zagonel Associate Professor, Department of Applied Physics (DFA) Gleb Wataghin Institute of Physics (IFGW), UNICAMP Current Team Members Postdoctoral Researchers Dr. …