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Markus P, Martínez-Tong DE, Papastavrou G, Alegria A. Effect of environmental humidity on the ionic transport of poly(ethylene oxide) thin films, investigated by local dielectric spectroscopy. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:3203-3208. [PMID: 32154547 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm02471a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The effect of humidity on the ionic transport in the amorphous phase of poly(ethylene oxide) thin films has been studied by local dielectric spectroscopy. We explored a controlled humidity range between 15% RH and 50% RH. AFM-based local dielectric imaging allowed the thin film topography and the corresponding dielectric contrast maps to be obtained simultaneously. No humidity effect on the film topography was observed whereas large variation of the dielectric signal could be detected. In addition, we observed a clear dielectric contrast in different locations on the thin film surface. At selected regions with high contrast in the dielectric maps, we performed nanoDielectric Spectroscopy (nDS) measurements covering the frequency range from 5 Hz to 100 kHz. By modeling these spectroscopy results, we quantified the conductivity of the amorphous phase of the semicrystalline poly(ethylene oxide) films. The crystalline fraction of the PEO thin films was extracted and found to be about 36%, independently of humidity. However, the average conductivity increased by a factor of 25 from 2 × 10-10 to 5 × 10-9 S cm-1, by changing environmental humidity in the explored % RH range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Markus
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Daniel E Martínez-Tong
- Departamento de Física de Materiales, Basque Country University (UPV/EHU), P. Manuel de Lardizábal 3, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain. and Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC - UPV/EHU), P. Manuel Lardizábal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain.
| | - Georg Papastavrou
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany and Bavarian Battery Research Center at the University of Bayreuth (BayBatt) & Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), University of Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Angel Alegria
- Departamento de Física de Materiales, Basque Country University (UPV/EHU), P. Manuel de Lardizábal 3, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain. and Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC - UPV/EHU), P. Manuel Lardizábal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain.
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Collins L, Kilpatrick JI, Kalinin SV, Rodriguez BJ. Towards nanoscale electrical measurements in liquid by advanced KPFM techniques: a review. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2018; 81:086101. [PMID: 29990308 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/aab560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental mechanisms of energy storage, corrosion, sensing, and multiple biological functionalities are directly coupled to electrical processes and ionic dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces. In many cases, these processes are spatially inhomogeneous taking place at grain boundaries, step edges, point defects, ion channels, etc and possess complex time and voltage dependent dynamics. This necessitates time-resolved and real-space probing of these phenomena. In this review, we discuss the applications of force-sensitive voltage modulated scanning probe microscopy (SPM) for probing electrical phenomena at solid-liquid interfaces. We first describe the working principles behind electrostatic and Kelvin probe force microscopies (EFM & KPFM) at the gas-solid interface, review the state of the art in advanced KPFM methods and developments to (i) overcome limitations of classical KPFM, (ii) expand the information accessible from KPFM, and (iii) extend KPFM operation to liquid environments. We briefly discuss the theoretical framework of electrical double layer (EDL) forces and dynamics, the implications and breakdown of classical EDL models for highly charged interfaces or under high ion concentrations, and describe recent modifications of the classical EDL theory relevant for understanding nanoscale electrical measurements at the solid-liquid interface. We further review the latest achievements in mapping surface charge, dielectric constants, and electrodynamic and electrochemical processes in liquids. Finally, we outline the key challenges and opportunities that exist in the field of nanoscale electrical measurements in liquid as well as providing a roadmap for the future development of liquid KPFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Collins
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States of America. Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States of America
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Martínez-Tong DE, Miccio LA, Alegria A. Ionic transport in the amorphous phase of semicrystalline polyethylene oxide thin films. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:5597-5603. [PMID: 28730197 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm00651a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present a detailed study on the ionic transport properties of polyethylene oxide (PEO) thin films prepared under different conditions. Using a state-of-the-art Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) methodology, we simultaneously acquired the nanostructured topography of these semicrystalline polymer films as well as the corresponding dielectric function; in the latter case by probing the frequency-dependent tip-sample electrical interactions. By means of this AFM protocol, we studied the ionic conductivity in the PEO amorphous phase and its dependence on film preparation conditions. In general, for any preparation method, we found a distribution of conductivities ranging from 10-14 to 10-6 S cm-1. Specifically, PEO thin films crystallized from the melt presented relatively high conductivity values, which decreased in the PEO films prepared from solutions at room temperature depending on solvent polarity. We discuss our results by considering the molecular arrangement of the polymer segments in the complex amorphous phase, which is strongly influenced by the PEO crystallization route.
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Casalini R, Labardi M, Roland CM. Dynamics of poly(vinyl methyl ketone) thin films studied by local dielectric spectroscopy. J Chem Phys 2017; 146:203315. [PMID: 28571366 DOI: 10.1063/1.4977785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Local dielectric spectroscopy, which entails measuring the change in resonance frequency of the conducting tip of an atomic force microscope to determine the complex permittivity of a sample with high spatial (lateral) resolution, was employed to characterize the dynamics of thin films of poly(vinyl methyl ketone) (PVMK) having different substrate and top surface layers. A free surface yields the usual speeding up of the segmental dynamics, corresponding to a glass transition suppression of 6.5° for 18 nm film thickness. This result is unaffected by the presence of a glassy, compatible polymer, poly-4-vinyl phenol (PVPh), between the metal substrate and the PVMK. However, covering the top surface with a thin layer of the PVPh suppresses the dynamics. The speeding up of PVMK segmental motions observed for a free surface is absent due to interfacial interactions of the PVMK with the glass layer, an effect not seen when the top layer is an incompatible polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Casalini
- Chemistry Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5320, USA
| | - M Labardi
- CNR-IPCF, SS Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - C M Roland
- Chemistry Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5320, USA
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Cadena MJ, Sung SH, Boudouris BW, Reifenberger R, Raman A. Nanoscale Mapping of Dielectric Properties of Nanomaterials from Kilohertz to Megahertz Using Ultrasmall Cantilevers. ACS NANO 2016; 10:4062-4071. [PMID: 26972782 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b06893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) is often used for nanoscale dielectric spectroscopy, the measurement of local dielectric properties of materials as a function of frequency. However, the frequency range of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based dielectric spectroscopy has been limited to a few kilohertz by the resonance frequency and noise of soft microcantilevers used for this purpose. Here, we boost the frequency range of local dielectric spectroscopy by 3 orders of magnitude from a few kilohertz to a few megahertz by developing a technique that exploits the high resonance frequency and low thermal noise of ultrasmall cantilevers (USCs). We map the frequency response of the real and imaginary components of the capacitance gradient (∂C(ω)/∂z) by using second-harmonic EFM and a theoretical model, which relates cantilever dynamics to the complex dielectric constant. We demonstrate the method by mapping the nanoscale dielectric spectrum of polymer-based materials for organic electronic devices. Beyond offering a powerful extension to AFM-based dielectric spectroscopy, the approach also allows the identification of electrostatic excitation frequencies which affords high dielectric contrast on nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Cadena
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Seung Hyun Sung
- School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Bryan W Boudouris
- School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ronald Reifenberger
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Department of Physics, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Arvind Raman
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Casalini R, Prevosto D, Labardi M, Roland CM. Effect of Interface Interaction on the Segmental Dynamics of Poly(vinyl acetate) Investigated by Local Dielectric Spectroscopy. ACS Macro Lett 2015; 4:1022-1026. [PMID: 35596440 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The segmental dynamics of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) thin films were measured in the presence of an aluminum interface and in contact with an incompatible polymer, poly(4-vinylpyridine). The local dielectric relaxation was found to be faster in thin films than in the bulk; however, no differences were observed for the various interfaces, including a PVAc/air interface. These results show that capping of thin films, even with a rigid material, does not necessarily affect the dynamics, the speeding up herein for capped PVAc was equivalent to that for the air interface. The insensitivity of the dynamics to the nature of the interface affords a means to engineer thin films while maintaining desired mechanical properties. Our findings for PVAc also may explain the discordant results that have been reported in general for the effect of air versus rigid interfaces on the local segmental relaxation of thin films.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Casalini
- Chemistry
Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - D. Prevosto
- CNR-IPCF,
UOS
Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - M. Labardi
- CNR-IPCF,
UOS
Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - C. M. Roland
- Chemistry
Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., United States
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Miccio LA, Otegui J, Penoff ME, Montemartini PE, Schwartz GA. Fluorinated networks dynamics studied by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy. J Appl Polym Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/app.42690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Miccio
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU); P. M. de Lardizabal 5 San Sebastian 20018 Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center; P. M. de Lardizabal 4 San Sebastian 20018 Spain
- Departamento de Física de Materiales (UPV/EHU); San Sebastian 20080 Spain
| | - Jon Otegui
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU); P. M. de Lardizabal 5 San Sebastian 20018 Spain
| | - Marcela E. Penoff
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (INTEMA); Mar del Plata Argentine
| | - Pablo E. Montemartini
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (INTEMA); Mar del Plata Argentine
| | - Gustavo A. Schwartz
- Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU); P. M. de Lardizabal 5 San Sebastian 20018 Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center; P. M. de Lardizabal 4 San Sebastian 20018 Spain
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Miccio LA, Kummali MM, Schwartz GA, Alegría Á, Colmenero J. AFM based dielectric spectroscopy: Extended frequency range through excitation of cantilever higher eigenmodes. Ultramicroscopy 2014; 146:55-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2014.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2013] [Revised: 06/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Wang W, Piao H, Choi D, Son Y. Nanodielectric properties of 16-MHDA self-assembled monolayers. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra07868c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A new type of nanodielectric was constructed, using only 16-mercaptohexadecanoic (16-MHDA) self-assembled monolayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Wang
- Department of Chemistry
- BK21plus School of HRD Center for Creative Convergence Chemical Science
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Suwon 440-746, Korea
| | - Hushan Piao
- Department of Chemistry
- BK21plus School of HRD Center for Creative Convergence Chemical Science
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Suwon 440-746, Korea
| | - Dongchul Choi
- Department of Chemistry
- BK21plus School of HRD Center for Creative Convergence Chemical Science
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Suwon 440-746, Korea
| | - Yongkeun Son
- Department of Chemistry
- BK21plus School of HRD Center for Creative Convergence Chemical Science
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Suwon 440-746, Korea
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Kummali MM, Alegría A, Miccio LA, Colmenero J. Study of the Dynamic Heterogeneity in Poly(ethylene-ran-vinyl acetate) Copolymer by Using Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy and Electrostatic Force Microscopy. Macromolecules 2013. [DOI: 10.1021/ma4012522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M. Kummali
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, UPV/EHU, Fac. de Química, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Angel Alegría
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, UPV/EHU, Fac. de Química, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Luis A. Miccio
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, UPV/EHU, Fac. de Química, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Juan Colmenero
- Departamento
de Física de Materiales, UPV/EHU, Fac. de Química, 20080 San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro
de Física de Materiales, CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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Corrales TP, Laroze D, Zardalidis G, Floudas G, Butt HJ, Kappl M. Dynamic Heterogeneity and Phase Separation Kinetics in Miscible Poly(vinyl acetate)/Poly(ethylene oxide) Blends by Local Dielectric Spectroscopy. Macromolecules 2013. [DOI: 10.1021/ma4007158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - David Laroze
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
- Instituto
de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Casilla 7-D Arica, Chile
| | - George Zardalidis
- Department
of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - George Floudas
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
- Department
of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Hans-Jürgen Butt
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael Kappl
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
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13
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Kummali MM, Miccio LA, Schwartz GA, Alegría A, Colmenero J, Otegui J, Petzold A, Westermann S. Local mechanical and dielectric behavior of the interacting polymer layer in silica nano-particles filled SBR by means of AFM-based methods. POLYMER 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2013.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Napolitano S, Capponi S, Vanroy B. Glassy dynamics of soft matter under 1D confinement: how irreversible adsorption affects molecular packing, mobility gradients and orientational polarization in thin films. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2013; 36:61. [PMID: 23797356 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2013-13061-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The structural dynamics of polymers and simple liquids confined at the nanometer scale has been intensively investigated in the last two decades in order to test the validity of theories on the glass transition predicting a characteristic length scale of a few nanometers. Although this goal has not yet been reached, the anomalous behavior displayed by some systems--e.g. thin films of polystyrene exhibit reductions of Tg exceeding 70 K and a tremendous increase in the elastic modulus--has attracted a broad community of researchers, and provided astonishing advancement of both theoretical and experimental soft matter physics. 1D confinement is achieved in thin films, which are commonly treated as systems at thermodynamic equilibrium where free surfaces and solid interfaces introduce monotonous mobility gradients, extending for several molecular sizes. Limiting the discussion to finite-size and interfacial effects implies that film thickness and surface interactions should be sufficient to univocally determine the deviation from bulk behavior. On the contrary, such an oversimplified picture, although intuitive, cannot explain phenomena like the enhancement of segmental mobility in proximity of an adsorbing interface, or the presence of long-lasting metastable states in the liquid state. Based on our recent work, we propose a new picture on the dynamics of soft matter confined in ultrathin films, focusing on non-equilibrium and on the impact of irreversibly chain adsorption on the structural relaxation. We describe the enhancement of dynamics in terms of the excess in interfacial free volume, originating from packing frustration in the adsorbed layer (Guiselin brush) at t(*) ≪ 1, where t(*) is the ratio between the annealing time and the time scale of adsorption. Prolonged annealing at times exceeding the reptation time (usually t(*) ≫ 1 induces densification, and thus reduces the deviation from bulk behavior. In this Colloquium, after reviewing the experimental approaches permitting to investigate the structural relaxation of films with one, two or no free surfaces by means of dielectric spectroscopy, we propose several methods to determine gradients of mobility in thin films, and then discuss on the unexploited potential of analyses based on the time, temperature and thickness dependence of the orientational polarization via the dielectric strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Napolitano
- Laboratory of Polymer and Soft Matter Dynamics, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Boulevard du Triomphe, Bâtiment NO, 1050, Bruxelles, Belgium.
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Nguyen HK, Labardi M, Capaccioli S, Lucchesi M, Rolla P, Prevosto D. Interfacial and Annealing Effects on Primary α-Relaxation of Ultrathin Polymer Films Investigated at Nanoscale. Macromolecules 2012. [DOI: 10.1021/ma202757q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hung K. Nguyen
- Dipartimento
di Fisica “Enrico Fermi”, Università di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Labardi
- CNR-IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, c/o Dip. Fisica Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simone Capaccioli
- Dipartimento
di Fisica “Enrico Fermi”, Università di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- CNR-IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, c/o Dip. Fisica Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Lucchesi
- Dipartimento
di Fisica “Enrico Fermi”, Università di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- CNR-IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, c/o Dip. Fisica Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Rolla
- Dipartimento
di Fisica “Enrico Fermi”, Università di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- CNR-IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, c/o Dip. Fisica Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Prevosto
- CNR-IPCF, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, c/o Dip. Fisica Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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