Surface Physics and Nanomaterials Division
Head:
prof. dr hab. Leszek Jurczyszyn
Members:
dr Bartosz Brzostowski
dr hab. Wojciech Kamiński
prof. dr hab. Adam Kiejna
dr hab. Robert Kucharczyk, prof. UWr
dr Tomasz Ossowski
dr Barbara Pieczyrak
dr Agnieszka Puchalska
dr Agata Sabik
dr Rafał Topolnicki
dr Elwira Wachowicz
PhD Students:
mgr Adrian Wójcik
The research conducted at the Division of Surface Physics and Nanomaterials is theoretical in nature and is based on first-principles calculations, mostly using density functional theory. These calculations are performed using a plane wave basis or a localized orbital pseudo-atomic basis. The research focuses on the structural and electronic properties of metals and semiconductors and their surfaces. It covers a wide range of processes occurring on these surfaces, such as adsorption, surface diffusion, the formation of oxidized layers, and the creation of ordered low-dimensional structures and molecular systems. The research explores various possibilities for modifying the chemical reactivity of semiconductor surfaces to initiate the ordered aggregation of diffusing atoms into nanostructures with specific geometric and electronic properties. The work conducted at the Division also includes the formation and properties of a two-dimensional spin-polarized electron gas in multilayer systems in the context of potential applications in spintronic electron transport. The scientific profile of the Division also encompasses the study of electron transport in out-of-equilibrium systems (e.g., under scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) conditions) as well as molecular dynamics and electronics. Theoretical scientific work at the Division is related to the experimental data collected by research groups based on measurements conducted using techniques such as STM, STS, LEED, XPS, and ARPES.
