Stefano Bellucci

Position: First researcher

Organisation attended: INFN

Field of interests: Nanotechnology

Work Experience: Dr. Prof. habil. Stefano Bellucci obtained in 1986 his Ph.D. in Physics of elementary particles at SISSA, Trieste. He worked as Research Associate at Brandeis Univ., Waltham, MA, USA (1983-1985); as visiting researcher at M.I.T., Cambridge, MA, USA (1985-1986), at Univ. of Maryland, USA (1986-1987), at Univ. of California at Davis, USA (1987-1988). He was appointed as a Tenured Researcher (Research Staff) at INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF) in 1987. He was appointed as INFN First Researcher (Senior Research Staff) in 2005. He received by Italy Ministry of University in 2013 the habilitation as Full Professor in Theoretical Physics of Fundamental Interactions and the habilitation as Full Professor in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics. He coordinated (1999-2002, 2011-2015) all LNF theoretical physics activities.

Title of the lecture: Tunable Microstrip Attenuators and Patch Antenna based on graphene.

Abstract of the lecture: Recently graphene got a lot of attention for its potential use in microwave applications owing to its tunability properties. Graphene changes its resistance values from very high values to very low values upon the application of a voltage bias. This is particularly interesting in the design of microwave and millimeter wave components and structures. The use of few-layer graphene (FLG) is particularly interesting due to its ease of production and low cost. The ease of production and low cost of the graphene flakes however does not affect its tunability properties.
There are several possible topologies for designing tunable attenuators based on FLG flakes. FLG flakes is put in between a microstrip line. The microstrip line is connected to a voltage network analyzer on both its ports. Bias tees are used to bias the FLG flakes from either side. Increasing the bias voltage through the bias tees reduces the graphene resistance thus increasing the transmission through the microstrip line.
Another possible topology for the design of tunable microwave attenuator is by using grounded vias on either side of the microstrip line. These vias symmetrically placed on either side of a microstrip line. The microstrip line and the vias are separated from each other by the help of FLG flakes. When biased, the grounded vias shorts out the microstrip line reducing the transmission through the microstrip line. Such a configuration results in better tunability with a comparatively narrower bandwidth. FLG flakes can also be used in the design of tunable patch antennas. A patch antenna is connected to a shorted stub on its radiating edge through the FLG flakes. Biasing the FLG flakes reduces their resistance thus increases the impact of the stub on the patch antenna. This results in an elongating effect of the patch antenna thus shifting the radiating frequency. Varying the applied bias voltage results in varying the radiating frequency.
The interesting properties of graphene can be exploited in designing several other kinds of microwave structures ranging from tunable phase shifters to matched load circuits among several others. Thus it has the potentiality of revolutionizing the future of microwave structures.

Leonid Yatsenko

Position: Director

Organisation attended: Institute of Physics of the NAS of Ukraine

Field of interests: Quantum optics, nanophysics, laser physics

Work Experience: Research fellow of the Institute of physics of NAS of Ukraine since 1979

Education and Training:
Master’s degree (1976) - Moscow Physical Engineering Institute, Russia, Solid state physics. Thesis: Nonlinear power resonances in ring gas lasers
Ph.D. (1980) - Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow, Russia. Thesis: The theoretical investigation of macroscopical parameters influence on the characteristics of optical frequency standards
Doctor of Science (1996) - Institute of Physics, Kiev, Ukraine. Thesis: Resonance phenomena in gas lasers

Title of the lecture: Recent progress in optical trapping and manipulation of atomic, nano- and microobjects.

Abstract of the lecture: The history and recent advances in in optical trapping and manipulation of atomic, nano- and micro objects will be presented. A brief introduction to physics of light momentum and history of light pressure will be followed by the general description of light forces on small objects. Special attention will be paid to laser cooling and trapping of atoms molecules. In particular, spontaneous light force, Doppler cooling of a two-level atom, sub-Doppler cooling, stimulated light force, magneto-optical trap, pulsed traps will be discussed. Optical manipulation of larger objects (nano- and microparticles) will be considered on an example of the optical tweezers. Finally, the problems of optical trapping of metallic nanoparticles will be revisited.

Alessandro Damin

Position: Research Technician

Organisation attended: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Torino

Field of interests: Raman spectroscopy, SERS substrates synthesis, study of catalytic systems through spectroscopic and computational methods

Work Experience: Alessandro Damin is Research Technician and responsible for the maintenance and developement of Raman Laboratory at Interdipartimental Centre NIS (Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces) of Università di Torino. He is involved in developement of methodolgies for Raman measurements of photo-sensible molecules (1 request patent deposited at Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico) and tools (e.g. controlled atmposphere and/or low-temperature cells) for the study of systems interesting in Chemistry Department and NIS Centre (e.g. carbon based functional materials, bio-glassesi, materials interesting for cultural heritage and astro-chemistry, hydrides for H2 storage). Furthermore he is responsible for the synthesis and/or characterization of innovative systems active in SERS (Suface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy). He is salso involved in the synthesis, developement and characterization of model materials active in the catalysis of several processes (Cr doped glasses for the ethylene polymerization, Ti-doped glasses for the partial oxidation of alkenes, MoS2 for de-suplhurization) and in fotocatalysis (e.g. TiO2 nano-particles embedded in high surface areas glasses), Experimental data, mainly obtained through Raman, FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy both in reflectance and transmittance, are also interpreted through the adoption of ab-initio based modeling and the use of several dedicated code (Gaussian, NWchem, CRYSTAL).

Title of the lecture: Gold substrates for SERS: a material scientist point of view.

Abstract of the lecture: SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) constitutes nowadays one of the most explored scientific subject, due to its potential application as a high sensitive technique, and with close connection to developments in the field of nanotechnology. In the present work, some of the results on several SERS active gold substrates (obtained in the Raman Lab at NIS Centre in Torino) will be reviewed, giving also some insights on problems occurring when very diluted species are investigated.

Nataliya Storozhylova

Position: PhD (defending in September 2017)

Organisation attended: University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)/University of Nantes (France)

Field of interests: Nanotechnology, Pharmacy, Nanomedicine, Glycochemistry and Glycobiology

Work Experience:
PhD student (within the framework of international doctoral program NanoFar supported by Erasmus Mundus) - Main activities and responsibilities Galectin-3 inhibitors development and synthesis (France); Development of in situ hydrogels for controlled drug release for rheumatoid arthritis treatment (Spain);Anti-inflammatory drugs testing in vivo (Germany).
Research assistant at the department of Protein Structure and Function - Preparation of lab-on-chip systems, biochemical analysis, and project management. A translator.

Education and Training:
Master degree in Chemistry (Membrane and Sorption Process and Technologies) - “A Methodology Development of Preparation of Immunobiosensor Chips Using Self-assembled Monolayers Technology for Blood Plasma Proteins Quantification”. Defended the thesis with the "excellent" grade.

Title of the lecture: New potential nanotechnology-based therapies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract of the lecture: The design, development and in vivo evaluation of a novel injectable biodegradable drug delivery system, composed of in situ hydrogel combined with nanocapsules carrying lipophilic anti-inflammatory drugs, for prolonged intra-articular residence time and controlled drug release.

Mohamed Bououdina

Position: Manger of Central Labs

Organisation attended: University of Bahrain

Field of interests: Nanotechnology, Materials Science, Energy

Work Experience:
2010 – 2015: Director of the Nanotechnology Centre, University of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain
2006 – Present: Assistant Professor: Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain.
2005 – 2006: Assistant Professor: Department of Physics, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2002 - 2005: Research Fellow: Department of Materials, School M3, University of Nottingham, UK.
1998 - 2002: Research Fellow, Department of Materials, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
1996 - 1998: Research Scientist, National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, Tsukuba, Japan.

Education and Training:
Degree: Ph.D. (Honor) in Solid State Physics, University Joseph Fourier (UJF), Grenoble, France, 1995
Achievements: Over 24 Invited/Plenary Talk, 260 Papers in ISI Journals; 2 Books (indexed by Scopus, IET, etc) and 20 Book Chapters; Editor (20) and regular Reviewer (35) for international journals, etc.

Title of the lecture: Micro-/Nano-Structured Materials for H2 Energy.

Abstract of the lecture: Renewable, clean and sustainable energies are of great importance for the modern society. Extensive research, funding and policies are devoted toward the development and implementation of such energies. Hydrogen has been identified as a very promising energy carrier, as it can be stored as gas, liquid and solid namely metal hydrides.
Both structural (phase transformation, substitution, interstitial, doping) microstructural (composites, particles/grains size reduction, defects, imperfections) modifications introduce important changes into material’s properties.
Furthermore, materials at the nanoscale offer diverse tuneable properties as a function of their shape/size due to high surface area and quantum confinement. Thereby, nanostructured materials exhibit enhanced properties compared to bulk counterparts in terms of high-density reversible H2, faster kinetics, reduced desorption/absorption temperature and better cycling.
In this paper, selected micro- and nano-/structured materials will be presented including mainly: (i) composites where the kinetic can be improved by the precipitation of secondary phase; (ii) MgH2/based nanocomposites; (iii) effect of catalysts (Fe₂O₃ and NiO) on the formation of carbon nanostructures and their H2 proprieties and (iv) Lithium reactivity with metal hydrides (i.e. NiTi) for a new generation of Li-MH rechargeable batteries. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations will be presented to discuss the electronic structure, enthalpy for the stability of alloys/hydrides, etc.

Yuriy Khalavka

Position: Ass.proffesor

Organisation attended: Department of Solid State Inorganic Chemistry and Nanomaterials of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Field of interests: Nanochemistry, quantum dots, metal and semiconductor hybrid nanomaterials

Work Experience:
Since 2010 – Lecturer and researcher at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University
2006-2007 – Scientist at the University of Mainz (Germany)

Education and Training:
PhD in Solid State Chemistry – 2010.
2000 – 2005 – master of Chemistry, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Title of the lecture: Tuning the quantum dots optical properties.

Abstract of the lecture: Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with the emission in the near infrared region attract interest due to their potential applications as biomarkers for in vivo imaging, solar cells, telecommunication etc. For all of such applications it is important to control and to understand the effects of impurities on the band structure of nanoparticles.
On the other side blue-emitting quantum dots are desirable for down-conversion of the UV-light, sensing and lasing systems.
Doping of the nanoparticles is a versatile tool to extend optical properties for conventional materials. I will cove different aspects of nanoparticle doping and its influence on their luminescent properties.
The size dependence of the temperature coefficient (sensitivity) of the photoluminescence (PL) peak position of CdTe quantum dots will also be discussed. Temperature sensitivity increases as the average radius of CdTe quantum dots decraeases. This must be taken into account in the design of solar light concentrators and light-emmiting diode-monitors as well as other technologies in which a fine tuning of the light emission is important.

Vladimir Korzh

Position: Visiting professor

Organisation attended: International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology

Field of interests: Developmental biology, zebrafish, embryo toxicity, FCS, natomaterials

Work Experience:
After graduating from Kiev University in 1976, Vladimir Korzh got his PhD in developmental biology in 1981 at the Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology in Moscow. He worked as a researcher in the same institute until 1990 when he moved as a postdoc to the University of Tromsø, Norway and started using zebrafish as a model of vertebrate neurodevelopment. Later, he moved to the University of Umeä, Sweden and in 1995 started a laboratory of fish developmental biology at the ex-Institute of Molecular Agrobiology in Singapore before joining the IMCB in 2002. He is an Associate Professor.

Education and Training:
1976 - BSc, Dep. Biol. Sciences, Kiev State University
1981 - PhD, Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, USSR Academy of Sciences.

Title of the lecture: Zebrafish as useful in vivo model for nanomaterials embryotoxicity and disease treatment.

Abstract of the lecture: Since relatively recently zebrafish embryos started to be used to evaluate embryotoxicity and various physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. This made it a popular non-mammalian research model animal. While it is relatively easy to work with zebrafish some training is necessary to be able to set experiments correctly and put forward proper scientific questions. Zebrafish researchers usually highlight advantages of zebrafish embryos as a model system. But what about their disadvantages? This lecture will cover various aspects of developmental biology of zebrafish and highlight its applications in analysis of nanomaterials.

Eugene Bortchagovsky

Position: Head of a laboratory, senior scientist

Organisation attended: Institute of Semiconductor Physics of the NAS of Ukraine

Field of interests: Plasmonics, near-field optics, energy transfer, ellipsometry of nanostructures

Work Experience:
Expertise in ellipsometry, near-field optics. tip-enhanced Raman scattering.
Employment – V.Lashkarev Institute of Semiconductor Physics of NAS of Ukraine;
Contracts: Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic); Institute of Physics of CZ AV (Prague, Czech Republic); Westfälische-Wilhelms Universität (Münster, Germany); Istituto per la Microelectronica e Microsistemi CNR (Lecce, Italy); Quinsland University of Technology (Brisbane, Australia); Johannes Kepler University (Linz, Austria); ETH (Zurich, Switzerland); echnical University (Chemnitz, Germany)

Education and Training:
2016 – Dr. of Sciences in Physics, Institute of Physics of NAS of Ukraine;
1991 – PhD, Moscow State University;
1982 – MSc., Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

Title of the lecture: Ellipsometry of nanostructures on a surface.

Abstract of the lecture: Ellipsometrc investigations of nanostructures on a surface have peculiarities created by two-dimensional character of such a structures. As the result, interactions along and across the surface are different producing effective optical anisotropy of such a structures. The situation is even more complicated because of the interaction of nanoobjects with the surface. These reasons do not allow to apply Lorentz sphere formalism for the fields averaging in heterogeneous nanostructure producing deviation of optical properties of such a structures from results given by standard 3D models of effective-medium approximation. These problems will be discussed and examples of ellipsometric investigations of both random and ordered nanostructures on surfaces will be presented. It is shown that polarization properties of light can give macroscopic information about microscopic interparticle interactions as well as ellipsometry allows to monitor behavior of modes localized on the layer of nanostructures and to register interactions of such a modes.

Andrey Kadashchuk

Position: Senior Scientist, Guest professor

Organisation attended: Institute of Physics, NAS of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine; IMEC International, Department of Large-Area Electronics, Leuven, Belgium

Field of interests: Eelectronic properties of thin-film organic and oxide semiconductor materials, organic semiconducting nanostructures and their applications as active media in FET, PV, and LED devices. Thin-film flexible electronics

Work Experience:
Study and modeling of the charge-carrier transport and trapping in organic optoelectronic device materials and nanostructures, as well as in thin-film amorphous oxide semiconductors.
Gaining insight into excited states physics and exciton processes/migration, the charge-carrier trapping phenomena in semiconducting polymers, low molecular weight organic films and organic nanostructures.
Physics of thin-film flexible electronic devices

Education and Training:
MS in Physics, Graduated from the Department of Physics of Kiev State University in 1984.
Ph.D. in Physics, Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 1989.
Post.Doc. fellowships at TU-Darmstadt, Germany (2003-2004) and at IMEC, Belgium (2005-2006).

Title of the lecture: Modern trends in nanoelectronics and ultra-thin-film flexible electronics.

Abstract of the lecture: Integrated circuits (called also as “microchips”) are at the heart of modern electronic devices (computers, smartphones, different electronic household appliances, etc.), which have nowadays penetrated every aspect of our lives. Downscaling is the dominant trend in microelectronics for more than 50 years, which implies creation of increasingly smaller constituting elements - transistors. The number of transistors in microchips doubles approximately every two years. This is a key to make electronic devices increasingly faster, cheaper and energy more efficient. The most advanced commercial microchips consist of several billions of tiny transistors with extremely small feature size of 10 nm as achieved now for processors and 7 nm for memories. This remarkable achievement truly means a transition from microelectronics to nanoelectronics and presents the widest practical realization of nanotechnologies as for today. In this lecture, I will present an overview of modern trends in nanoelectronics technology, relevant physical aspects as well as some corresponding innovations with particular focus on the Internet-of-Things (IoT) – a new increasingly growing topic. Furthermore, a new generation of electronics – the so-called thin-film flexible electronics will also be discussed in details including its impact on IoT implementation perspective.