Characterization of surfaces and nanostructures

Nanotechnologies are concerned with a very divided state of matter and an exacerbated role of the surfaces compared to the volume. The physicochemistry and the chemistry of the exposed surfaces are very important for applications. The first atomic layers present on the solids are particularly reactive in many processes.This course proposes the study of the main techniques of characterization of surfaces and of low dimensionality structures. It will be illustrated by specific applications in the field of nanotechnology and biology.

I - Chemical analysis of the surface of solids. Electron spectroscopies (photoelectron, Auger), ion spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS). Information on surface chemical bonds. II- Morphological analysis of the surface at a subnanometric scale. Near-field microscopies (Tunneling microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, near-field optical microscopy) tunneling spectroscopy, measurement of interaction forces. Illustrations: (reconstruction of surfaces, single molecule, photonic crystals ...) III - Structural analysis of surfaces, interfaces and nanostructures via X-ray diffraction. IV - Surface energy: Theoretical presentation and experimental determination V - Characterization of interfaces. Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy, electron diffraction, X-ray analysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Examples of applications (thin layers, colloids ...)