Dr. Athanasia Kostopoulou
Contact
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Postdoc IESL-FORTH
Address: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL)
Foundation for Research & Technology - Hellas (FORTH)
P.O. Box 1385 Vassilika Vouton Heraklion 71110 GreeceEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 0030 - 2810 - 391874
Fax: 0030 - 2810 - 391305
Lab Phone: 0030 - 2810 - 391349
Scientific information
- Scientific information:
Subject area:
Hybrid Nanocrystal Structures with Tailored Magnetic Properties
Research:
My research subject is part of the NANOTAIL EC Project and my work involves the synthesis and understanding of high quality magnetic nanocrystals (NCs), with well defined morphology. The attempt to grow monodispersed in size and shape NCs arises from the fact that magnetic NCs in the range of nanometers exhibit completely different properties than their bulk counterparts; as such they can be applied in diverse fields, ranging from magnetic recording to bio-imaging. Characterization is carried by both local probe techniques such as Transmission Electron Microscopy, as well as bulk methods, informative for the evolution of the microscopic properties of the materials (i.e. X-ray diffraction, variable temperature magnetometry, optical spectroscopy). More specifically, the NCs that I am working on over the last few months are based (i) on iron-oxide nanoclusters with flower-like shape and (ii) on core-shell nanostructures with a metallic shell. Either one of the other, depending on their surface functional groups, they can become soluble either into an aqueous environment or even in organic solvents. The interest of the first kind of NCs rests on their optical behaviour, which is tuned by a moderate external magnetic field, a very promising feature for magneto-optical devices. The potential of the second kind of NCs arises from the ability to control composition during growth of a hybrid NCs. In this case the electrical and the magnetic properties of one material phase (metallic shell) yields a novel behaviour because of its coupling with another (magnetic core) compound through a nanoscale interface between the two.
Personal:
My interests - hobbies are walking by the sea, reading books and traveling.