Surface Science

Homepage: https://research.tuni.fi/surfsci/

Surface Science Group, lead by Prof. Mika Valden, conducts research on the phenomena at surfaces and interfaces of nanostructured metal and semiconductor materials. The main objectives are to gain insights into the physicochemical properties of the solid–solid, solid–liquid and solid–gas interfaces at molecular level and to develop novel materials by functionalizing surfaces on the nanometer scale.

The main research areas of the Surface Science Group are:

–Artificial photosynthesis [J. Phys. Chem. C 120(4), 2247 (2016)]

–Photoactive nanostructured materials [Scripta Materialia 119, 76 (2016)]

–Surface-mediated processes on metal alloys [Corrosion Science 112, 204 (2016)]

–Surface biofunctionalization of metallic materials [Nanotechnology 25, 435603 (2014)]

–Functionality in surface coatings [Corrosion 73(2), 169 (2017)]

–Novel surface analytical instruments and systems [Surface Science Laboratory (SSL) at TAU] [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 083901 (2006)] [NanoESCA spectromicroscopy at TAU] [FinEstBeAMS at MAX IV]

–Atomic layer deposition [ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2019)]

Experimentally, the research group relies on various surface sensitive methods. The main research methods are photoelectron spectroscopy, photoemission electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, low energy electron diffraction, and impedance spectroscopy. The surface analysis systems are equiped with various sample preparation and surface modification facilities enabling sample treatments in UHV and atomic layer deposition (ALD). In addition, we have access to advanced synchrotron radiation-based research facilities at MAX IV Laboratory: e.g. high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.