Combined X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies (XPS-Raman)

• Subject Area: Chemical Solid State and Surface Research
• Term: Funded in 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 496241584

We aim to expand our capabilities and endeavors in the research of hybrid nanophotonic structures for enhanced light-matter interaction and hybrid nanomaterials for energy conversion by requesting a combined XPS-Raman system offering chemical and optical characterization of functional nanomaterials. The system will be integrated in our characterization laboratory and combined with complementary techniques such as UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies, gas chromatography, electrochemical working station, IR spectroscopy, microscopy and imaging, dynamic light scattering, sunlight-simulator light sources, 3D nanoscribe printer machine, among others. This will represent a unique experimental approach to expand our efforts in the research of hybrid colloids and nanomaterials for application in sensing, catalysis, nano-optics and energy conversion in general. By identifying the chemical composition of our nanostructures and their response under light excitation, we aim to unveil the intrinsic chemical and optical properties of nanomaterials and to maximize their light-matter interaction when integrating them into functional devices. The correlation between optical properties and chemical composition of our nanomaterials will be a breakthrough not only for our group but also for all the groups at our Institute and in general to the Faculty of Physics (LMU). The equipment will also aid in a new field of research starting in our group, the study of energy transfer processes in hybrid nanocatalysts under light excitation. In these nanomaterials the control of both chemical composition and optical excitation is not only highly desirable, but also necessary, in order to understand in-situ the functioning of these nanomaterials. The preferred XPS-Raman system is characterized by the unique opportunity to combine both: ultimate chemical composition and optical characterization of our nanostructures and light excitation with chemical identification. As we mostly work with light-activated materials, the possibility to combine Raman spectroscopy with XPS spectroscopy would certainly help us in the design and synthesis of new nanomaterials for energy conversion as well us to study the dynamic of the surface composition under light excitation. Furthermore, being the first and so far unique equipment with such capabilities in LMU and the Munich area (TUM, MPI, etc.); we envision a great interest of the community in accessing to a facility like this one, allowing us to expand our network of collaborators and gaining access to many other techniques.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Kombinierte Röntgenphotoelektronen- und Raman-Spektroskopie (XPS-Raman)
• Instrumentation Group: 1780 Photoelektronenspektrometer (UPS und XPS)
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Leader: Professor Dr. Emiliano Cortés