The use of potassium bromide in the production of graphene on a copper surface can lead to better results. When potassium bromide molecules arrange themselves between graphene and copper, it results in electronic decoupling. This alters the electrical properties of the graphene produced, bringing them closer to pure graphene, as reported by physicists from the […]

For the first time, physicists at the University of Basel have succeeded in measuring the magnetic properties of atomically thin van der Waals materials on the nanoscale. They used diamond quantum sensors to determine the strength of the magnetization of individual atomic layers of the material chromium triiodide. In addition, they found a long-sought explanation […]

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Would you like to know more about the SNI? Are you interested in the interdisciplinary SNI network and the basic and applied research projects? Or would you like to get an insight into the nanostudy program, the Nano Imaging Lab and the SNI’s outreach activities? The Annual Report 2018 gives you a comprehensive overview about […]

The European Research Council has awarded two University of Basel scientists each a generously endowed ERC Advanced Grant. Biologist Professor Alex Schier and physicist Professor Ernst Meyer will each receive funding in the six figures for their innovative research projects. The ERC Advanced Grants, which are awarded by the European Research Council (ERC), are among […]

The Swiss Micro- and Nanotechnology network (Swiss MNT Network) invites PhD students to submit their first author papers (published or accepted in 2018 till March 2019) addressing research in nanotechnolgy / nanoscience. Five winners will be selected and awarded CHF 2’000.- each. The prizes are kindly sponsored by BASF, Bühler, IBM Research, Sensirion, and Zeiss/Gloor. […]

Physicists from the University of Basel have demonstrated spin alignment of free electrons within a two-dimensional material. Writing in the latest edition of Nature Nanotechnology, they described their observation of spontaneous spin polarization, which cannot occur in ideal two-dimensional materials according to a well-known theorem from the 1960s. Two-dimensional materials are the subject of numerous […]

Combining an atomically thin graphene and a boron nitride layer at a slightly rotated angle changes their electrical properties. Physicists at the University of Basel have now shown for the first time the combination with a third layer can result in new material properties also in a three-layer sandwich of carbon and boron nitride. This […]

Physicists from the University of Basel have developed a new method to examine the elasticity and binding properties of DNA molecules on a surface at extremely low temperatures. With a combination of cryo-force spectroscopy and computer simulations, they were able to show that DNA molecules behave like a chain of small coil springs. The researchers […]

We invite researchers working in any fields of nanometer scale imaging to participate and share their latest techniques and scientific progress, and exchange ideas in a short, focused conference. Examples of topics of interest include, but are not limited to scanning probe microscopy, electron microscopy, NV center imaging, X-ray imaging, or advanced optical imaging More informationen and flyer