ננו חומרים

BINA  היא מובילה עולמית במחקר מדע החומרים,  מדורגת שלישית בעולם במונחים של ציטוטים מדעיים בתחום זה, ומהווה אתר אימונים לפבריקציה של חומרים ננומטריים באתר האימונים של מארי-קירי (Marie Curie Training Site). מדעני בר-אילן מרחיבים את ההבנה ויכולת הבקרה על ההרכבה העצמית של מולקולות ואטומים ותגליותיהם מתניעות התקדמות ממשית במגוון רחב של תחומים כגון אנרגיה, מחשבים, תקשורת, בריאות ועוד.

  • ננו-חלקיקים
  • ציפויים אורגניים ואנאורגניים בסקאלה ננומטרית
  • ציפויים ננומטריים – מחלקיקים בודדים לחומרים פעילים
  • מנגנוני גדילה של שפופרות פחמן
  • מודלים קולואידליים למעבר פאזות במערכות ננומטריות
  • ננוטכנולוגיה חישובית

Researchers

  • We develop the most energetic, high capacity cathodes for Li ion batteries, most suitable for use in electric vehicles

     

    Advanced Li-Ion Batteries for Electro- Mobility: High Capacity Cathodes

    • Li metal based, very high energy density rechargeable batteries.
    • Advanced Li ion batteries for electromobility.
    • Advance analytical techniques (in-situ observations).
    • Batteries for large energy storage (e.g. rechargeable Mg batteries).
    • Super-capacitors (very fast energy storage & conversion).
    • Water desalination by electrochemical means.

  • Quantum Engineering & Devices

    • Thermophotonic Devices
    • Novel Optoelectronic Materials & Devices
    • Transport in Nanostructures
    • Semiconductor Hetrostructures
    • Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

  • Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies

    3D covalent catalytic framework with ultra-high site density based on porphyrin aerogels. Picture: porphyrin powder (left), porphyrin aerogel made from this powder (right)

    In recent years, the world leaders have come to realize that we must change the way we produce and use energy. Being the source of life on earth, from growing crops to producing fresh drinking water through desalination, to sustaining our economies and lifestyles, energy is the most important commodity on earth. The shift to sustainable energy sources raised some new challenges, which include large energy storage for short-, mid- and long-term, to compensate for intermittent power supply, seasonal shortages and strategic storage, respectively, as well as energy for industry and transportation. To tackle these challenges, a cascade of solutions is necessary, out of which hydrogen economy gives the most comprehensive solution. Hydrogen produced from surplus sustainable energy harvested from sunlight, wind and hydropower, can be stored for short and long periods, easily transported between countries and continents and used to produce electricity for the grid, transportation, industry and private homes. Hydrogen economy was already adopted by some of the leading industrial countries, including the EU, Japan and South Korea, which already committed to investments of hundreds of billion  of USD over the coming decade.

  • Molecular characterization of complex tissues

    This technology allows sequencing of RNA molecules with nanoscale precision inside brain tissues and human cancer tissues.

    Nano-precision in the location of RNA molecules inside tissues is crucial for many biological processes including learning and memory. The multiplexed measurement of the nanoscale position of these molecules allows mapping the heterogeneity of complex tissues, and therefore can lead to a better understanding of many diseases including cancer.

  • Nano-scale crystallization phenomena

    Our group is developing approaches that utilize nano-scale systems for studies of crystallization phenomena and mechanisms that determine the morphologies of crystals. Insight from this research can lead to very useful technological applications, as understanding crystal growth mechanisms will allow us to better control crystalline products of chemical synthesis. This view is inspired by treating nano-crystals as “embryonic” stages of crystal growth. In a sense, every crystal begins its evolution as a nano-crystal. The huge advantage in studies that follow this perspective is in our ability to utilize extremely powerful electron microscopy methods, including a novel technique that allows us to perform high resolution electron microscopy directly in liquid solutions. In this way we can retrieve details of the crystal structure and overall shape at remarkable resolution, during the crystal’s initial formation. These details are often hidden in bulk crystals, unidentifiable by X-ray crystallography, yet critical for understanding of the mechanisms by which crystals grow.

  • Multinary Material Systems for Energy and Sustainability

    Workflow in the Multinary Materials Systems lab for Energy and Sustainability

    The lab of Hannah-Noa Barad focuses on investigation of multinary (many element) materials that are used for the formation of sustainable fuels and energy. The multinary materials are used as catalysts to form clean sustainable fuels and in photovoltaics. For example, some of the reactions we investigate lead to the formation of H(e.g., by water splitting) to be used as an energy source, or carbon-based fuels like CH3CH2OH (e.g., by CO2 reduction). The methods we employ in the lab include machine learning techniques to for rational design and prediction new multinary materials and combinatorial synthesis approaches to fabricate large area libraries of multinary materials with compositional and morphological gradients. The material libraries’ physical, electrical, and chemical properties are then studied using a myriad of different techniques, all of which are built for high-throughput measurements and analysis. All the data we gather in stored in a very large database in the lab. The multinary compounds of interest that we discover are studied in-depth to investigate their working mechanisms and what drives their activity to form clean fuels. The combination of rational design and combinatorial science leads to rapid breakthroughs and state-of-the-art material systems, which will outperform currently used materials and bring about faster and more advanced solutions to the climate crisis.

  • Theoretical Physics

    Contamination spreading in strongly disordered systems is described by advection, diffusion as well as symmetry breaking which reveals new effects

    • Dynamics of cold atoms in optical lattices.
    • Nano science: Blinking quantum dots.
    • Statistical physics: Foundations of weak ergodicity breaking

    • Biophysics: dynamics of single molecules in live cells.
    • Dynamical systems: Infinite invariant measures and weak chaos.
    • Fractional kinetics. Fractals
    • Single molecule photon statistics.

  • Nanochemistry

    Ultrafine and Stable Fluorescent N@C-dots: A-0h; B-24h

    Developing new methods (sonochemistry, microwave dielectric heating, sonoelectrochemistry, and RAPET) for the fabrication of nano materials.
    • Developing nano materials for various applications

  • Biomaterials and Advanced Materials group

    Research in my group has been focused on revealing and explaining the fundamental interactions that underlie inorganic material formation in nature, a process known as biomineralization. We particularly make use of our expertise in solid-state NMR spectroscopy to analyze the rudimentary processes of biogenic material formation in atomic/molecular level. Unveiling the structure/activity relations in these specialized biomolecules involved in regulation of solid biomaterial formation has been particularly elusive. Using these findings, we develop new biomaterials for hard tissue applications based on rationale guidelines. We implement NMR characterization in materials research to understand interfaces between nanomaterials at great detail and employ molecular insights to design concept materials that are more environment friendly.

  • Exploring light and matter interactions in materials through quantum electronic structure simulations

    Our lab strives to understand and predict how does atomic and electronic structure of materials and molecules effect their optoelectronic and mechanical properties. Understanding microscopic properties of materials, will help in controlling chemical reactions on surfaces and electron transport in nanomaterials, improve optoelectronic properties of devices, and predict novel quantum materials. In the lab we will simulate materials properties, electronic transfer mechanisms, and chemical reactions on the computer. We will develop state of the art electronic
    structure for predicting properties of materials, we will focus on nano-materials and 2D quantum materials.

  • Protein-DNA interactions and proteinbased materials

    Our work focuses on designing proteins for protein-based materials and to explore protein-DNA interactions

    The Golub lab aims to elucidate the mechanisms that govern various aspects of nanobiotechnology and harness them to generate the next-generation of biomaterials. On the one hand, we focus on elucidating the various mechanisms that govern non-canonical DNA-protein interactions at important biological crossroads from a biophysical perspective. Derived insights could serve in the future as a solid foundation for the development of highly selective and specific ligands, both for therapeutic purposes as well as for the development of sensitive biosensors. Additionally, methods for the preparation of novel protein-based nanobiomaterials and nanoreactors are being devised based on revolutionary protein building blocks. Such materials aim to harness the structural diversity and precision that can be found in proteins with the nanosized effects that stem from nanostructures.

  • Photovoltaics and energy storage

    Synthetic design of Pt nanoparticles in carbon nanotubes resistant to corrosion in extreme conditions

    The current research focuses on the investigation of the chemical synthesis of materials to promote renewable and green energies. We have a high expertise in the wet synthesis of Nano-scale materials with the accent on the transition metals, their complexes, organometallic, metallic, and metal-oxide compounds. We developed new chemical routes using soluble organometallic or metal-organic precursors as an alternative to conventional colloidal chemistry and gas phase thin film deposition. These nanoparticles and their assemblies display high activity as catalysts for fuel cells, electrolyzers and redox flow batteries. We were the first to introduce the use of electron magnetic measurements in post-mortem analyses of Li-ion batteries and the first group to publish the operando electron magnetic measurements.

  • The Lab for Quantum Imaging

    The lab is focused on using quantum sensors for imaging various physical properties at the nanoscale. The two main sensors are a sensor for electric potentials based on carbon nanotubes and a sensor for magnetic fields based on Nitrogen Vacancies (NV) in diamonds. Those sensors have a unique combination of small dimensions and extremely high sensitivity,
    allowing us to use them for sensing minute fields at the nanoscale. The current projects focus on combining these two unique sensors to overcome many of the limitations of each system. For example, read the NV center’s quantum state using a charge detector made of a carbon nanotube. A second example is using the NV center for probing the electron state on the carbon nanotube with quantum coherence. These projects will pave the way for a quantum imaging technique that probes the quantum nature of a system at the nanoscale.

  • Device Spectroscopy Laboratory

     

    Monolayer VCSEL laser formed from dielectric mirrors with a monolayer of fluorescence dye molecules sitatued between them providing optical gain

    • Coherent coupling in light-matter coupled systems: Organic Lasers, J-aggregates, and Polaritons.

    • Ultra-high resolution scanning microcopy and spectroscopy.
    • Applications of ultra-fast non-linear spectroscopy for energy sustainability.
    • Novel approaches to organic crystal growth and OLED deposition.

  • Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine

    Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine

    A single cardiomyocyte, micropatterned on soft silicon surface. The images demostrates two views of uptake of fluorescently labeled extracellular vesicles in the cardiomyocyte.

    Image was taken by a spinning disk Olympus microscope.

  • Fundamental physics & Applied Physics

     

    Electro Magnetism & Spintronics

    • Condensed matter physics
    • Magnetism
    • Superconductivity

  • Alternative Energy

    Extracting many-particle entanglement entropy from observables using supervised machine learning

     

    • Alternative Energy: 
    • Photovoltaics (PV), esp. materials for high voltage, low-cost, stable PV
    • Combinatorial synthesis and characterization of optoelectronic materials
    • Semiconductor materials & device chemistry & physics
    • Biomolecular optoelectronics
    • Fundamentals of proteins as electronic materials

     

     

  • Nano-optics and Light–matter interactions in metamaterials

    Examples of optically resonant nanostructures comprising single nanoparticles, thin film and full metasurface arrays

    Our group studies fundamental aspects of nano-optics and light-matter interactions in nanostructures, 2D quantum materials and nanophotonic platforms. We investigate exotic materials for manipulating optical processes from the single ‘meta-atom’ level to full metasurface arrays. We design and fabricate tunable 2D nanophotonic platforms that enable the control of fundamental light properties such as emission, absorption, directional scattering, polarization, lasing etc. Utilizing these investigations we ultimately strive to make novel integrated, active nanophotonic devices.

  • Innovative Surface Engineering of Magnetic/Non-Magnetic Nanomaterials

    Nano & Advanced Materials

    In our lab, we focused on both synthesis of functionalized magnetic NPs and surface modification/engineering of both tungsten disulfide nanotubes and Nano-Diamonds. These set of functional NPs are nontoxic/biocompatible and has a high potential as drug delivery systems, with an important capability of imaging (MRI, X-ray, Fluorescence, … etc.). So far, we focused on the following topics, the use of magnetically responsive NPs in cooperation with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) drug towards higher drug accumulation by magnetic targeting and therefore, a much more effective PDT output. We also developed an effective innovative nanoscale Delivery System as anti-Leishmania drug, which is based on cerium cation/complex-doped maghemite nanoparticles (Ce·ɣ-Fe2O3-NPs) that are coordinatively bound by both polyethylenemine (PEI) polymer and FDA-approved anti-leishmanial drug pentamidine. Novel surface engineering of nanodiamonds has been also innovatively discovered towards a preliminary wide range of biological and cosmetic applications. Moreover, novel functionalization of inorganic WS2 nanotubes with maghemite NPs resulted in an hybrid magnetic nanocomposite to improve anti-cancer treatment using photothermal therapy (PTT), as well as promoting nanomaterial reduced aggregation together with an additional ability for nanotube versatile second-step surface functionality/engineering.

  • Computational Chemistry

    Illustrations of the various directed-assembly methods developed at the Shpaisman group: (a) photo-thermal based modulated laser-induced microbubble technique (M-LIMBT), (b) microstructure formation with standing surface acoustic waves and (c) controlled colloidal formation based on manipulation by optical traps.

     

    • Simulation tools for modeling of nuclear quantum mechanical effects in condensed phase reactions, improved quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics Hamiltonians, moleculardocking.
    • Computational study of enzymatic reactions, mechanism, electronic effects, conformational flexibility, nuclear quantum effects, origin of catalytic power, solution phase reactions, mechanism, electronic effects, membrane proteins, ligand-receptor complexes, material science modeling, surface adsorption, surface and surfactant properties, mesoscale modeling of amorphous systems.
  • Ophthalmic Science and Engineering Lab

     

    Retinal implant with photoreceptor precursors integrated within microwells.

    • Electro-cellular interfaces, optical and electronic micro-devices development
    • Applied science for improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various ophthalmicdiseases.
    • Artificial introduction of the visual information and its processing by the retina and the visual cortex.
    • Electro-cellular interface with the autonomic system and application of high electrical field for solid tumor ablation (IRE - Irreversible Electroporation).

  • Charity at the nanoscale

    HE-TEM images of Chiral Titania (TiO2) nanofilms

    Prof. Yitzhak Mastai His current research is focused on Nanoscale Chirality, Synthesis and Analysis of Chiral Nanosurfaces and Chiral self-assembled Monolayers and Polymeric Chiral Nanoparticles. Mastai and his colleagues, have gained international reputation in these fields, and have pioneered several new concepts and techniques in the following areas: SAM's for the preparation of Chiral Nanosurfaces for Chiral resolution by crystallization. Chiral ordered Mesoporous silica by Chiral polymer -Templated Synthesis. An innovative new Carbon Chiral Mesoporous, based on the Carbonization of Chiral Ionic liquids. The development of Optical Scanning Microscopy (NSOM) and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) for the determination of Nanoscale Chirality.

  • Polymers, biopolymers and nanotechnology for biomedical and industrial applications

    SEM image of hydroxyhapetite crystal growth on pp films coated with a thin layer of polybisphosphonate

    Prof. Margel’s earlier interests included electrochemistry of vinylic monomers and polymers, polyaldehyde microspheres and self-assembly monolayers. His current research focuses on functional polymeric nano/micro-particles for medical and industrial applications, such as targeted nanocapsule drug delivery systems, surface modification, and functional thin coatings (self-cleaning, anti-biofouling, UV absorbers, anti-fog and superhydrophobic coatings). He is a world pioneer and gained international reputation in the area of nanotechnology, particularly in the design of functional nano/micro particles of very narrow size distribution for medical and industrial applications.

     

  • Graphene Composites for Sensor Applications • Graphene Electronics • Two Dimensional Semiconductors

    • Graphene Composites for Sensor Applications
    • Graphene Electronics
    • Two Dimensional Semiconductors

  • Functional thin film for electrochemical devices

     

    Energy

    Surface directed chemical reaction in vacuum (atomic/molecular layer deposition ALD/MLD) for:
    1. Stabilization of batteries electrodes in implanted medical devices
    2. Designing arrays of nano-materials with controlled morphology and structure for electrochemical devices.
    3. Modified metallic anode surfaces for next generation rechargeable batteries.

  • Synthesis of 1D & 2D nanostructures

     

    Sample of nanomaterials synthesized in the Nessim lab.

    • Synthesis of carbon nanotubes and understanding of growth mechanisms
    • Synthesis of 2D nanocarbons (graphene, GO, rGO)
    • Synthesis of 2D metal / sulfidesphosphides - selenides
    • Application of synthesized nanostructures to batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, heterojunctions, sensors

  • Self-assembled monolayer films

    • Nanoscale organic and inorganic coatings
    • Reaction mechanisms in organized media
    • Biomaterials
    • High performance polymers
    • Composites and new materials
  • Light-matter interaction at the nanoscale

    Large-scale nonporous metallic network is belong to a unique class of light materials with photocatalytic and optical properties which we develop in my lab.

    The overall goal of my laboratory is to develop, fabricate and to use plasmonic systems as a ‘photonic environment’, or even as a ‘photonic catalyst’. In general, we aim at opening new routes for photochemical processes/reactions on surfaces by controlling the electromagnetic-field properties at the metal surface, that is, to do, 'chemistry with plasmons'.

  • Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Physics

    Nano & Advanced Materials

    We employ optical microscopy, light scattering, optical tweezing, and analytical centrifugation, to study phases and phase transitions in systems of colloids, micron-sized particles in a solvent. These systems exhibit liquid, crystalline, glass, gel and liquid-crystalline phases, where the colloidal particles mimick atoms and molecules. Employing confocal microscopy, we follow tens of thousands of individual particles in real time, in either two or three spatial dimensions. This unprecedentedly-detailed experimental information, which is not available with any other experimental technique, allows a much deeper understanding of collective phenomena, such as crystal nucleation, glass formation, and random solid packing to be achieved.

    We also study the interfacial physics of liquid emulsion droplets. Recently, we have discovered a unique interfacial phase transition, which allows the droplet shapes to be temperature-tuned from spherical to faceted, with their bulk remaining liquid.

  • Multi-level magnetic memory

     

    The cover page of Applied Physics Letters presenting a picture of structures in the form of N magnetic crossing ellipse that support 22N discrete magnetic states.

    • Magneto-transport in thin magnetic films (particularly ruthenates and manganites)
    • Anisotropic magnetoresistance and giant planar Hall effect
    • Current induced manipulation of domain walls
    • Macroscopic quantum tunneling
    • Transport properties of LAO/STO interfaces
    • Magnetic sensors and memory

  • Sensitive magnetic imaging

    Sensitive magnetic imaging reveals stripy current flow at the interface between two oxides, which is related to the structure of strontium titanate.

    • Superconductivity
    • Nano-magnetism
    • Bio-magnetism
    • Scanning SQUID microscopy
    • Complex oxid interfaces
    • Nano-electronics

  • Soft and Biological Matter

    Nano & Advanced Materials

    Theoretical studies of APD (All Particles are Different) fluids and solids; Microbiome-host adaptation; Bacterial division; Reactions and phase separation in active systems; Scale-dependent viscoelasticity; NPC (nuclear pore complex) morphology.

  • Directed Materials Assembly by Optical and Acoustic Forces

    Illustrations of the various directed-assembly methods developed at the Shpaisman group: (a) photo- thermal based modulated laser-induced microbubble technique (M-LIMBT), (b) microstructure formation with standing surface acoustic waves and (c) controlled colloidal formation based on manipulation by optical traps.

    We develop novel concepts based on the idea that forces arising from light (as optical traps or photo- thermal based) and standing acoustic waves can be used to influence the products of ongoing chemical reactions. These forces dictate the spatial distribution of the materials, their mesoscopic structure and could allow the formation of new composite materials. These approaches have many benefits compared to other "bottom-up" methods for material assembly that conventionally rely on accumulation of preformed materials.

    A key feature of our methodology is its modularity, as it could be implemented on various material systems. Due to the flexibility in material choice, this innovative approach will open the door to new ways to act upon materials, with envisioned applications in 3D printing, electronics and sensing.

  • Phase transitions on the nano-scale

     

    • Spintronics
    • New Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) materials
    • Organic/SC hybrid