Department of Applied Physics

Atomic Scale Physics

We focus on the experimental study of atomically well-defined nanostructures, where the precise nature and location of every atom matters. We use low-temperature scanning probe microscopy that allows structural and electronic characterization, and manipulation of materials down to the atomic scale.
group photo
group photo

Current focus:

  • Artificial designer materials using 2D van der Waals materials, molecular self-assembly, and heterostructures
  • Atomic scale characterization and modification of materials based on scanning probe techniques
  • Chemistry and physics of single molecules
     

Alumni

name position current position (initial position after Aalto)
Viliam Vaňo PhD 2023 PCCM postdoctoral fellow, Princeton University
Héctor González-Herrero post-doc 2020-2022 Ramón y Cajal Fellow, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid​
Chen Xu post-doc / MSCA postdoctoral fellow 2019-2023 Aalto
Linghao Yan post-doc / MSCA postdoctoral fellow 2017-2022 Professor, Soochow University
Benjamin Alldritt PhD 2022 Bluefors
Abraham Kipnis MSc 2021 PhD student, Aalto (Microsoft)
Shawulienu Kezilebieke post-doc / research fellow 2014-2021 Professor, University of Jyväskylä
Nurul Huda PhD 2021 Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Bluefors)
Anna-Maija Valtavirta MSc 2019 Murata Electronics
Ilona Pohjavirta MSc 2019 Vaisala
Avijit Kumar post-doc 2014-17 Assistant professor, IIT Bhubaneswar
Kaustuv Banerjee PhD 2017 IMEC, Belgium
Amina Kimouche post-doc 2014-16 University of Potsdam (earlier Beatriu de Pinos postdoctoral fellowship, ICN2, Barcelona)
Fabian Schulz PhD 2016 CIG Nanogune, San Sebastian (IBM Zurich Research Laboratory)
Robert Drost PhD 2016 Aalto (post-doc, Max-Planck Institute, Stuttgart)
Päivi Järvinen PhD 2015 Neste (earlier Bain & Company and Picosun)
Sampsa Hämäläinen PhD 2014 Finnish Climate Fund (Accenture)

Latest publications

More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.

Facilities:

The Atomic Scale Physics research group is located in Nanotalo and operates three low-temperature, ultra-high vacuum (UHV), scanning probe microscopes that are housed at the Aalto Nanomicroscopy center

Follow us on Twitter @AaltoAtoms

Atomic scale physics
  • Published:
  • Updated: