A5043969357- Material Dynamics and Properties
- Glass properties and applications
- Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
- Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Phase Equilibria and Thermodynamics
- Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Phase-change materials and chalcogenides
- Pigment Synthesis and Properties
- Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications
- Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization
- Adsorption, diffusion, and thermodynamic properties of materials
- Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
- Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Building materials and conservation
- Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
- Zeolite Catalysis and Synthesis
- Mineralogy and Gemology Studies
University of Padua
2023-2025
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
2020-2025
Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
2025
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Galileo Galilei Institute for Theoretical Physics
2024
University of Trento
2015-2020
Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A.
2014
Advances in developing ultrafast coherent sources operating at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and x-ray wavelengths allow the extension of nonlinear optical techniques to shorter wavelengths. Here, we describe EUV transient grating spectroscopy, which two crossed femtosecond pulses produce spatially periodic nanoscale excitations sample their dynamics is probed via diffraction a third time-delayed pulse. The use radiation with down 13.3 nm allowed us gratings periods as short 28 observe thermal...
The liquid-to-solid phase transition is a complex process that difficult to investigate experimentally with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution. A key aspect of the formation critical seed crystalline in supercooled liquid, is, liquid metastable state below melting temperature. This stochastic commonly described within framework classical nucleation theory, but accurate tests theory atomic molecular liquids are challenging. Here, we employ femtosecond x-ray diffraction from...
Dynamics and kinetics in soft matter physics, biology, nanoscience frequently occur on fast (sub)microsecond but not ultrafast timescales which are difficult to probe experimentally. The European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (European XFEL), a megahertz hard source, enables such experiments via taking series of diffraction patterns at repetition rates up 4.5 MHz. Here, we demonstrate photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) with submicrosecond time resolution samples the XFEL. We show that XFEL...
Abstract Polymer‐coated nanoparticles are widely studied in the context of nanomedicine and it is therefore utmost importance to understand not only how their structure but also colloidal dynamics affected by physiologically relevant conditions. A characteristic feature cytosol cells very high concentration proteins among other matrix components, often termed macromolecular crowding. Here, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐coated gold presence bovine serum albumin (BSA) concentrations ranging from...
The X-ray-induced, nonthermal fluidization of the prototypical SiO2 glass is investigated by X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy in small-angle scattering range. This process initiated absorption X-rays and leads to overall atomic displacements which reach at least few nanometers temperatures well below transition. At absorbed doses ∼5 GGy typical many modern X-ray-based experiments, display a hyperdiffusive behavior are distributed according heavy-tailed, Lévy stable distribution....
Stimuli-responsive polymers are an important class of materials with many applications in nanotechnology and drug delivery. The most prominent one is poly- N -isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAm). characterization the kinetics its change after a temperature jump still lively research topic, especially at nanometer-length scales where it not possible to rely on conventional microscopic techniques. Here, we measured real time collapse PNIPAm shell silica nanoparticles megahertz x-ray photon...
The time-evolution of dynamics as well microstructure and mechanical response phosphate-based geopolymers was probed using x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy rheological tests. analyzed relaxation processes in the freshly prepared geopolymer mixes evidenced a q-independent mode autocorrelation function, ascribed to density fluctuations already established molecular network, undergoing reconfiguration without significant mass transport. Upon curing, detected motions are localized depict...
Melting and glass formation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) allow them to be processed into bulk materials. However, two major challenges remain: only a small fraction MOF crystals undergo melting glass-formation, no well-established strategies exist for tuning structures properties. Here, we address both through co-melting zeolitic imidazole (ZIFs), subset MOFs, with heterocycle-based halide salts. The salt acts as chemical “modifier”, akin the role alkali modifiers in traditional...
We describe a setup for performing inelastic X-ray scattering and diffraction measurements at the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) endstation of Linac Coherent Light Source. This technique is capable high-, meV-resolution dynamic ion features both crystalline non-crystalline materials. A four-bounce silicon (533) monochromator was used conjunction with three diced crystal analyzers to provide an energy resolution ∼50 meV over range ∼500 single shot measurements. In addition instrument...
We present direct observations of acoustic waves in warm dense matter. analyze wave-number- and energy-resolved x-ray spectra taken from methane created by laser heating a cryogenic liquid jet. X-ray diffraction inelastic free-electron scattering yield sample conditions <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><a:mrow><a:mn>0.3</a:mn><a:mo>±</a:mo><a:mn>0.1</a:mn></a:mrow></a:math> eV <b:math...
We report on new opportunities for ultrafast science thanks to the use of two-colour extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses at FERMI free electron laser (FEL) facility. The two have been employed carry out a pioneering FEL-pump/FEL-probe diffraction experiment using Ti target and tuning FEL M<sub>2/3</sub>-edge in order explore dependence dielectric constant excitation fluence. future impact that such emission will development wave-mixing methods XUV/soft X-ray range is addressed discussed.
Residual stresses are well-known companions of all glassy materials. They affect and, in many cases, even strongly modify important material properties like the mechanical response and optical transparency. The mechanisms through which such are, still under study, their full understanding can pave way to a exploitation stress as primary control parameter. It is, for example, known that promote particle mobility at small length scales, e.g., colloidal glasses, gels, metallic but this...
Many soft-matter systems are composed of macromolecules or nanoparticles suspended in water. The characteristic times at intrinsic length scales a few nanometres fall therefore the microsecond and sub-microsecond time regimes. With development free-electron lasers (FELs) fourth-generation synchrotron light-sources, time-resolved experiments such ranges will become routinely accessible near future. In present work we report our findings on prototypical systems, charge-stabilized silica...
A solid loaded beyond the yield stress loses its elastic properties and becomes plastic. From a microscopic point of view, this limit corresponds to condition where plastic regions become so densely packed that they give rise system-spanning structures. This for glasses is abrupt, which makes experimental investigations challenging. Here, reached by alternative approach increasing density generation defects during x-ray irradiation. For case LiBO2 glass, we show at low doses, i.e., defects,...
The development of free electron laser (FEL) sources has provided an unprecedented bridge between the scientific communities working with ultrafast lasers and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) X-ray radiation. Indeed, in recent years increasing number FEL-based applications have exploited methods concepts typical advanced optical approaches. In this context, we recently used a seeded FEL to demonstrate four-wave-mixing (FWM) process stimulated by coherent XUV radiation, namely transient grating...
The aggregation and onset of gelation PEGylated gold nanoparticles dispersed in a glycerol-water mixture is studied by small-angle X-ray scattering photon correlation spectroscopy. Tracking structural dynamics with sub-ms time resolution over total experimental 8 hours corresponding to windows larger than 10
The atomic displacements induced by an x-ray beam of relatively low energy, $\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{\sim}8$ KeV, are investigated in pure boron oxide and a set sodium silicate glasses means photon correlation spectroscopy. We observe the complete transformation initial glass into new amorphous state which remains stable under irradiation. phase continues to rearrange with stretched exponential relaxation similar one observed macroscopic measurements corresponding high-temperature...
The nanometer length-scale holds precious information on several dynamical processes that develop from picoseconds to seconds. In the past decades, X-ray scattering techniques have been developed probe dynamics at such length-scales either ultrafast (sub-nanosecond) or slow ((milli-)second) time scales. With start of operation European XFEL, thanks MHz repetition rate its pulses, even intermediate μs range become accessible. Measuring fast timescales requires development new technologies as...
During the self-organization of colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles by solvent evaporation, nanoparticle interactions are substantially determined organic ligands covering inorganic core. However, influence ligand grafting density on assembly pathway is often not considered in experiments. Here, we carry out an situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and cross-correlation analysis study real-time oleic acid-capped PbS nanocrystals at a low coverage 2.7 molecules/nm2. With high...
The gelation of PEGylated gold nanoparticles dispersed in a glycerol-water mixture is probed situ by x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. Following the evolution structure and dynamics over 104 s, three-step process found. First, simultaneous increase Ornstein-Zernike length ξ slowdown characterized an anomalous q-dependence relaxation times τ ∝ q-6 strongly stretched intermediate scattering functions. After gel network has been established, evidenced constant ξ, show aging during second...
Unraveling the mechanism of water's glass transition and interconnection between amorphous ices liquid water plays an important role in our overall understanding water. X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) experiments were conducted to study dynamics complex interplay hypothesized high-density ice (HDA) subsequent low-density (LDA). Our XPCS demonstrate that a heterodyne signal appears function. Such is known originate from static component dynamic component. Quantitative analysis...
Synchrotron-radiation-based techniques are a powerful tool for the investigation of materials. In particular, availability highly brilliant sources has opened possibility to develop sensitive dynamics at atomic scale such as X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). XPCS is particularly relevant in study glasses, which have been often investigated macroscopic by, example, differential scanning calorimetry. Here, we show how adapt Flash calorimeter combine and calorimetric scans. This...
Melting and glass formation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) allow them to be processed into bulk materials. However, two major challenges remain: only a small fraction MOF crystals undergo melting glass-formation, no well-established strategies exist for tuning structures properties. Here, we address both through co-melting zeolitic imidazole (ZIFs), subset MOFs, with heterocycle-based halide salts. The salt acts as chemical “modifier”, akin the role alkali modifiers in traditional...