Parma C Lab

University of Parma

Department of Physics and Earth Sciences / Carbon Nanostructures Laboratory

This Unit consists of the Carbon Nanostructures Laboratory (CNL, http://www.fis.unipr.it/nanocarbon/index_e.php) operating in the Physics and Earth Sciences Dept. of Parma University. The Department has a 50 years tradition in the study of condensed matter physics and different expertise have been matured since. The research activity regards the condensed matter and biophysical research areas (Magnetic and superconducting materials, Carbon Nanostructure, Optoelectronic and photonic materials, Semiconducting thin films and devices, Complex molecular systems, molecular monolayers and nanodevices). The Carbon Nanostructures Laboratory has a well consolidated experience in the preparation and physical characterization of new carbon based materials, such as intercalated fullerides, nanographites and chemically synthesized graphene. In particular, in the past it carried on a "pioneeristic" research on fullerenes in Italy, starting from the fullerene production by plasma discharge (Krätschmer-Huffman method) with the use of a home-built reactor.

The current scientific activity of the group focuses on the synthesis and the characterization (structural, transport, electronic and magnetic properties) of novel carbon-based nanostructures, to develop new materials suitable for energy storage (hydrogen-storage materials and components for ion-batteries) nanoelectronics (magnetism in carbon materials) and also for fundamental research on superconductivity (superconducting fullerides). Concerning the synthesis techniques, the group has developed several efficient strategies for the functionalization of carbon nanostructures (intercalation and decoration with both electron donor and acceptor species). All the preparation steps are performed in strictly oxygen and moisture free conditions, by the use of Argon glove boxes and an high vacuum apparatus. During the last three years, the production of macroscopic amounts (grams) of graphene has also been implemented in oxygen and moisture free conditions to allow the study of the active paramagnetic defects on graphene.

Concerning the characterization techniques, the group has a long experience in the study of the electronic and magnetic properties of the condensed matter by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) and by the implanted muons spectroscopy (µSR), which is accessible at large scale facilities like ISIS (UK) and PSI (CH).The group also matured good skills on the structural analysis of carbon based materials through X-ray (PXRD) and neutron powder diffraction (PND) and the Rietveld refinement technique. Advanced diffraction and inelastic scattering experiments will be held at the International Large Facilities of ESRF (www.esrf.eu) and ILL (www.ill.eu) in Grenobe (FR).

A further routine analysis on the newly synthesized compounds is SQUID magnetometry.

Facilities

		Two Ar glove boxes (MBraun Labmaster 130, MBraun MB200), with O2 and H2O levels below 1 ppm
		Glass reaction line with digital pressure control for low temperature reactions in liquid gases (NH3, CH3NH2, etc.)
		Ball milling apparatus working in Ar atmosphere
		CVD apparatus, equipped with a furnace which can reach 1100 K
		Hydrogen generator (DBS-PG H2-100)
		X-ray powder diffractometer (Bruker D8 Discover) with Debye-Scherrer geometry and area detector  (T =300-800K)
		SQUID magnetometer Quantum Design MPMS-5.