The interest in micro and nanotechnology involves many fields: physiscs, chemistry, electronics and materials mechanics. It starts from the possibility to develop technologies to study and to tailor the properties of the condensed matter at a nanometric scale. Due to charge and atomic vibration carriers confinement, nanometric structures show peculiar properties not exhibited by structures with larger dimensions. Moreover, in the nanoscopic world, these properties can be accuarately modulated through dimensions control, according to the laws of quantum solid state physics. A detailed understanding and a fine control of the physical phenomena down to the nanoscale open the way for the development of novel materials with a potential impact in different technolgical fields (e.g. energy production and storage, heterogenous catalysis, sensing, etc.). In this context, the laboratory reasearch work is focused on the growth and the study of nanostructures and of nanostructured materials, obtained by bottom-up techniques. Particular attention in given to the understanding of the relationship between atomic and nanoscale structure and functional properties and to the development of novel materials with tailored properties for specific applications.

The Lab was established in the Nuclear Engineering Department at Politecnico di Milano in 1992 with Raman and Brillouin laser spectroscopies related to the study of vibrational, structural and elastic properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films, heterostructures and nanostructured systems. In 2001, thanks to an official agreement on nanotechnologies between Politecnico di Milano and Universita' di Milano, the lab established a strict collaboration with the Molecular Beams and Nanocrystalline Materials Laboratory, directed by Paolo Milani in a project about nanostructured carbon systems deposition with in situ advanced characterization facilities. Since 2003 the Micro and Nanostructured Materials Lab and 4 other laboratories at Politecnico di Milano constitute the NanoEngineered MAterials and Surfaces - NEMAS Center entitled by the Italian Ministery of University and Research - MIUR as a center of excellence in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Since 2009 the Lab is part of the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano. Since 2010 NanoLab is stronlgy collaborating with CNST - Center for Nano Science and Technology established by IIT - Italian Institute of Technology at Politecnico di Milano (IIT@POLIMI).

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In situ sample heating at 1000 °C


Nanostructured tungsten oxide film

Micro and Nanostructured Materials Lab, Department of Energy Politecnico di Milano Via Ponzio 34/3 I-20133 Milan, Italy