FUNLAYERS Summer School on the Characterization of 2D-Materials using Synchrotron Light

1 Jul 2025, 09:00 → 4 Jul 2025, 19:00 Europe/Madrid

ALBA Synchrotron

Joaquin Fernández-Rossier (INL, FUNLAYERS coordinator), Klaus Attenkofer (ALBA Synchrotron, host) (ALBA Synchrotron), Barbara Calisto (ALBA Synchrotron, local organizer)

FUNLAYERS, the Functional Layered Materials for Advanced Applications project, consists of a European initiative aimed at leverage the interdisciplinary scientific excellence and innovation capacity of INL and strengthen partners’ research in the field of layered materials, capturing future opportunities for joint collaboration in R&I.

 

Format of the FUNLAYERS summer school 2025

The school will cover the following topics: 2D-materials growth-related challenges and their use in device structure, electronic-structure/spin-behavior, the use of synchrotron light techniques of interest to characterize 2D-materials, and multi-modal approaches and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools on 2D-materials. These will be addressed in the following dedicated blocks:

i)   introduction into 2D-materials and their application on device structure;

ii)  characterization of magnetic moment and band structure with synchrotron light and TEM;

iii)   imaging from the micrometer to the atomic scale;

iv)   growth of 2D-materials on substrates;

v)    multi-modal analysis under usage of AI.

 

Goals of the School

The participants should understand the challenges, gain knowledge on standard synchrotron light techniques to provide answers, plan, execute the experiment, and analyze the corresponding data.

 

Target Audience

The school targets early-stage researchers and postdocs with a maximum number of participants of 20.

Fee

No tuition fee is required. Participants need to cover the costs of travel and accommodation.

Funded by the European Union, FUNLAYERS twinning project- 101079184. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Students@PracticalSessions-and-Groups_v4.pdf

Tuesday, 1 July

1 Registration

2 Welcome

Speaker: Chairperson morning session: Klaus Attenkofer ALBA Synchrotron

3 Introduction to FUNLAYERS and introduction to the Theory of magnetic 2D-Materials

In this lecture we will discuss: 1) Why are 2D-magnetic materials different (basic concepts on dimensionality and magnetism, absence of long-range magnetic order in 1D, restrictions in 2D, the role of magnetic anisotropy"; 2) What are magnons, why are they particularly important in 2D, how to compute them, how to probe them with inelastic spectroscopy; 3) Magnetism vs Quantum magnetism, and its role in (quantum) information processing.

Speaker: Joaquín Fernández-Rossier, INL (Braga, PT)

JFR-FUNLAYERS-lecture-v2.pdf

4 2D-Materials through the lens of X-ray absorption spectroscopies

In this talk, I will briefly introduce the main concepts of synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopies (XAS): x-ray magnetic circular dichroism and x-ray (magnetic) linear dichroism to show their capabilities to investigate the exciting electronic and magnetic properties of 2D materials. Relevant examples of recent works that illustrate the potential of XAS techniques to unveil their intriguing behavior will be described and discussed.

Speaker: Adriana Figueroa, IN2UB, U. Barcelona (ES)

XAS_2DMat_ALBA_2025_AFigueroa.pdf

11:05 Break

5 Band structure of magnetic materials

This lecture will explore the relationship between electronic band structure and the emergence of magnetism in materials, with a particular emphasis on van der Waals magnetic compounds. We begin with a review of fundamental band theory, employing simplified models to build intuition about electronic states in solids. This is followed by an introduction to modern electronic structure methods used to calculate band structures, along with a brief overview of how theoretical predictions can be validated against experimental observations. The lecture will then focus on the connection between magnetic ordering and band structure. We examine various types of magnetic order - including ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, and ferrimagnetism - and how these give rise to characteristic features such as spin splitting and band asymmetries in both metals and insulators. Finally, we introduce the concept of altermagnetism, a property of a recently identified class of magnetic materials that exhibit spin-split electronic structures despite possessing zero net magnetization. This emerging property provides new opportunities for the design and understanding of quantum materials and spintronic applications.

Speaker: Andrea Droghetti, U. Venice (Venice, IT)

Lecture_Barcelona_Adroghetti_v2.pdf

6 Exploring the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Conventional 2D Materials and 2D MOFs: Insights from Photoelectron Emission Microscopy

Photoelectron Emission Microscopy (PEEM) has evolved into a multifunctional technique enabling simultaneous spatial, electronic, momentum, and spin-resolved characterization of materials with lateral-scale resolution. This lecture will provide an overview of the development of PEEM, from early surface-sensitive imaging to its current state as an advanced spectromicroscopy platform. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of synchrotron radiation as a tunable, high-brilliance light source essential for modern photoemission experiments, alongside a concise discussion of the photoemission process and its spectroscopic implications.
The capabilities of PEEM will be illustrated through selected case studies on two material classes: conventional 2D systems and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Initial results on the semimetallic layered material NiTe2 will demonstrate momentum-resolved band structure imaging. This will be followed by investigations of epitaxial graphene and 2D MOFs. In the case of graphene, we will examine how substrate interactions and metal intercalation influence band dispersion and shift the Dirac cone features. For MOFs, we will explore the emergence of hybridized states and band formation induced by metal-ligand coordination. These studies highlight the versatility of PEEM in probing complex electronic behavior in structurally and chemically diverse 2D-materials.

Speaker: Vitaliy Feyer, Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich (DE)

FUNLAYERS_PEEM_2025_feyer_v2.pptx

13:00 Lunch

7 Short outlook of the week

Speaker: Chairperson afternoon session: Barbara Calisto ALBA Synchrotron

8 Magnetic Imaging: Studying Magnetic Textures with X-Rays

In terms of magnetic nanoscale characterization techniques, recent advancements have significantly expanded our ability to probe magnetic materials. Traditionally, available methods were limited to flat surfaces or thin films, making it challenging to explore three-dimensional spin textures. However, in recent years, substantial efforts have been dedicated to developing state-of-the-art imaging techniques across a range of length scales—from transmission electron microscopy to X-ray-based methods—that enable the characterization of more complex spin textures.
By integrating multiple techniques and leveraging in-situ experimental capabilities, It is possible not only to obtain a comprehensive three-dimensional magnetization maps but also established correlations between spin textures and magnetic, chemical, and crystallographic structures. This deeper understanding of the fundamental physics governing complex magnetic systems paves the way for unlocking the potential of nanomagnetic devices.
In this presentation, I will introduce X-ray-based magnetic imaging techniques and provide an overview of various experimental approaches. I will highlight the strengths and limitations of each method, the flexibility of sample environments, and place special emphasis on the techniques available at the ALBA synchrotron.

Speaker: Sandra Ruiz Gómez ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

Funlayer_School_SRuiz.pdf

9 Investigation of the structural and magnetic properties of the vdW materials using synchrotron- and laboratory-based spectroscopy and microscopy techniques

Speaker: Maxim Ilin, MPC-CSIC (Donostia, ES)

15:30 Group Photo & Break

10 Growth of thin films material

he molecular beam epitaxy is one of the most powerful thin-film deposition technique for exploring novel materials and heterostructure. Almost all elements can be evaporated with atomic-layer precision in thickness in this ultra-high vacuum environment. In this talk we will discuss about the superlatives of the MBE, the types of sources and the in-situ RHEED monitoring technique. We will introduce the different type of epitaxy, especially the van der Walls epitaxy method for growing 2D materials. We will take the examples of topological insulator (Bi2Te3, Bi2Se3) and transition metal dichalcogenides (WSe2) to briefly illustrate how some of the growing parameters influence the growth quality.

Speaker: Pierre-Jean Zermatten, MPG (Halle, DE)

FUNLAYER summer school_Zermatten_final.pdf

11 Controlled 2D TMD layer growth at industrial platform

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials hold significant promise for next-generation logic devices, while their integration into fabrication (FAB) processes requires precise control during growth, high performance, and scalable defect identification. However, the literature indicates that large-area single-crystal growth has thus far been conducted with non-FAB compatible chemistries, such as selecting metal-oxide precursors or employing catalyst-assisted (mostly alkali metal) metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) processes1, 2. Alongside MOCVD growth, there remains a lack of understanding regarding the chemical reactions involved in the growth of wafer-scale single-crystal monolayers.
In this talk, I will briefly introduce the FAB-adapted industrial MOCVD process to develop 2D MX2 layer growth. I will highlight (with governed understanding) the basic needs, factors affecting the epitaxy and mechanisms involved to achieve fully closed monolayer single-domain MX2 layer growth at 200mm platform. A chemical understanding and outcome of the growth processes will also be highlighted, including the role of reactant species with intermediate stage analysis and formation.

Speaker: Pawan Kumar IMEC (BE)

PKumar_abstract_FUNLAYER school_Abstract_FAB compatible single crystal growth-MOCVD.pdf

Visit to ALBA instruments and laboratories

Networking Dinner organized by the FUNLAYERS project

Wednesday, 2 July

12 Meet-up at the Auditorium and move to beamlines.

13 Practical at the TEM: Sample preparation and measurements.

Speaker: Nuria Bagues, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

14 Practical at the beamlines: Group 1, BL29-BOREAS. Sample preparation and measurements.

Speaker: Manuel Valvidares, Pierluigi Gargiani, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

15 Practical at the beamlines: Group 2, BL20-LOREA. Sample preparation and measurements.

Speaker: Massimo Tallarida, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

16 Practical at the beamlines: NCD-SWEET. Sample preparation and measurements.

Speaker: Eduardo Solano ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

12:45 Lunch

17 Practical at the TEM: Measurements and data analysis.

Speaker: Nuria Bagues, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

18 Practical at the beamlines: BL11-NCD-SWEET. Measurements and data analysis.

Speaker: Eduardo Solano, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

19 Practical at the beamlines: Group 1, BL20-LOREA. Measurements and data analysis.

Speaker: Massimo Tallarida, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

20 Practical at the beamlines: Group 2, BL29-BOREAS. Measurements and data analysis.

Speaker: Javier Herrero, Manuel Valcidares, Pierluigi Gargiani, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

Thursday, 3 July

21 Meet-up at the Auditorium and move to beamlines.

22 Practical at the TEM: Sample preparation and measurements.

Speaker: Nuria Bagues, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

23 Practical at the beamlines: BL22-CLAESS. Sample preparation and measurements.

Speaker: Laura Simonelli, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

24 Tutorial on BL29-BOREAS: group 1 and 2.

Speaker: Manuel Valvidares, Pierluigi Gargiani, Javier Herrero, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

12:45 Lunch

25 Practical at the TEM: Measurements and data analysis.

Speaker: Nuria Bagues, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

26 Practical at the beamlines: BL22-CLAESS. Measurements and data analysis.

Speaker: Laura Simonelli, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

27 Tutorial on BL20-LOREA: group 1 and 2.

Speaker: Massimo Tallarida, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

Friday, 4 July

28 Multimodal experiments

Speaker: Lucia Aballe, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

29 Multimodal experiments and AI

Speaker: Joaquín Otón, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

30 Exercise 1

Speaker: Joaquín Otón, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

11:00 Break

31 Exercise 1 (continuation)

Speaker: Joaquín Otón, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

12:45 Lunch

32 Exercise 2

Speaker: Marc Raventós, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

15:45 Break

33 Presentations by the groups 1 to 5.

Speaker: Manuel Valvidares, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)

34 FUNLAYERS school wrap-up. Feeback by the students and closure.

Speaker: Klaus Attenkofer, ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, ES)