Research Center for Nanoscale structure of Matter

Our goals

The main field of the research is the study of 3D local atomic nanoscale geometry and electronic structure in various types of advanced novel materials including nanotechnology objects at the subatomic limit (i.e. the determination of the interatomic distances with 0.02 Angstrom accuracy as well as the study of bonding angles with the accuracy up to several degrees). This novel approach is based on the high-end theoretical analysis of the high resolution experimental data: XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) and / or EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectra) as implemented in FitIt 2.0 code. The most important objects for the present method can be various nanoscale materials like nanoclusters, nanotubes, etc, as well as defects and impurities in solids, active metal centers of proteins, metallic complexes, catalysts.

The main idea

If the analysed nanocluster of atoms (or molecule) changes its 3D structure

we can follow these changes by analysing the shape of its x-ray absorption (or EELS) spectra, as these spectra are very sensitive to small variations of the bonding distances and bonding angles -i.e. 3D local structure around the atom absorbing x-ray photon or electron.

Congratulations to Soldatov A , Smolentsev G , Kravtsova A , Mazalova V and Yalovega G - whose joint research got an award " The best research activity at Southern Federal University in 2009"

Congratulations to Grigory Smolentsev - winner of XAFS Societry Award (July 2009)

Congratulations to Antonina Kravtsova and Kirill Lomachenko winners (Third Prizes) at International competition of young scientists (Nanoforum, Moscow, 2009)

Congratulations to Prof. A.Soldatov - The best Student Scientific Superviser (in Natural sciences) of Southern Federal University (Nov. 2009)

Congratulations to our Student laboratory- The best Student Laboratory (in Natural sciences) of Southern Federal University (Nov. 2009)