dr. Erik VESSELLI

Post Doc

Surface Structure and Reactivity Group

TASC-INFM National Laboratory
S.S. 14, Km 163.5 in Area Science Park
34149 Basovizza (Trieste) - ITALY

And

Department of Physics, University of Trieste
Via A. Valerio 2
34127 Trieste - ITALY

e-mail  vesselli@TASCdomain

Tel  040 375 6443
Fax  040 226767
Location  MM-132


Present Position

Post-doc at the Physics Department, University of Trieste

Research Interests

Growth of thin oxide films: dynamic and structural characterization.
Hydrogenation reactions with molecular and atomic hydrogen.
Structural and electronic characterization of adatoms at surfaces.

Personal data

Married - born in Trieste on March 25th 1976

Studies

  • degree in physics, experimental thesis in surface science (2001)
  • PhD in physics, thesis title: "Model studies of hydrogen reactivity and production on metal surfaces" (2005)
  • FCE-CAE-CPE certificates in English, University of Cambridge

Scientific know-how

Experimental techniques:

  • X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photoelectron diffraction with both conventional and synchrotron radiation sources (experiences at ELETTRA-Italy, ASTRID-Denmark, MaxLab-Sweden)
  • Low energy electron diffraction (LEED, LEED I-V)
  • TPD, TDS, TPR mass spectroscopies
  • HREELS
Simulation techniques:
  • Monte Carlo simulations of surface dynamics and kinetics
  • Computation of PED and XPD patterns by means of the MSCD and EDAC packages
Technology:
  • LabView environment programming, instrumentation interfacing for process control and data acquisition
  • UHV systems related skills: vacuum, system design, development and assembly
  • Design and construction of a Bischler and Bertel type hydrogen thermal cracker
  • Design and construction of a high pressure cell

Teaching

  • Co-advisor of laurea and PhD theses
  • "Nanotechnologies and nanospectroscopies" course, Biotechnologies Dept., University of Trieste
  • Coordinator of the project "Hydrogen: energy for tomorrow" dedicated to secondary school students, divulgation of science

Awards and other information

  • 2003: "Rosa di Cristallo" award, city of Trieste for scientific contributions.
  • 2004: Sciencemag interview: E. Vesselli: "Finding my way into material science", Science online, November 26th 2004, http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/
  • 2005: ECOSS Prize finalist, 23rd European Conference on Surface Science, "Determination of hydrogen adsorption sites on a single crystal metal surface by high resolution XPS and Monte Carlo simulations", Berlin, Germany.
  • 2006: Insitute of Physics Top Papers 2005: "Modeling of ethanol decomposition on Pt(111): a comparison with experiment and DFT".
  • 2006: "Premio Eni-Italgas 2005 per l'Energia e l'Ambiente" 2005 Italgas prize for energy and environment for the best PhD thesis.

Research papers

  1. E. Vesselli, C. Africh, A. Baraldi, G. Comelli, F. Esch and R. Rosei, "10x2 strained reconstruction induced by oxygen adsorption on the Rh(110) surface": Journal of Chemical Physics, 114, 4221 (2001).
  2. F. Prenns, E. Vesselli and F.J. Pantenburg, "Deep X-ray lithography at ELETTRA using a central beam-stop to improve structure adhesion on the substrate": Microsystem Technologies 8, 330 (2002).
  3. F. Bondino, E. Vesselli, A. Baraldi, G. Comelli, A. Verdini, A. Cossaro, L. Floreano and A. Morgante, "Molecular orientation of CN adsorbed on Pd(110)": J. Chem. Phys. 118, 10735 (2003).
  4. F. Bondino, G. Comelli, A. Baraldi, E. Vesselli, R. Rosei, A. Goldoni, S. Lizzit, C. Bungaro, S. de Gironcoli and S. Baroni, "NO adsorption on Rh(100). I: structural characterisation of the adlayers": J. Chem. Phys. 119, 12525 (2003) ).
  5. F. Bondino, G. Comelli, A. Baraldi, E. Vesselli, R. Rosei, A. Goldoni and S. Lizzit, "NO adsorption on Rh(100). II: stability of the adlayers": J. Chem. Phys. 119, 12534 (2003).
  6. E. Vesselli, A. Baraldi, F. Bondino, G. Comelli, M. Peressi and R. Rosei, "Coverage-dependent hydrogen adsorption site determination on Rh(100) by means of high-resolution core-level spectroscopy": Phys. Rev. B 70, 115404 (2004).
  7. S. Piscanec, L. Colombi Ciacchi, E. Vesselli, G. Comelli, O. Sbaizero, S. Meriani and A. De Vita, "Bioactivity of TiN-coated titanium implants": Acta Materialia 52, 1237 (2004).
  8. E. Vesselli, A. Baraldi, G. Comelli, S. Lizzit and R. Rosei, "Ethanol decomposition: C-C cleavage selectivity on Rh(111)": ChemPhysChem 111, 1133 (2004).
  9. E. Vesselli, A. Baraldi, G. Comelli and R. Rosei, "Atomic hydrogen interaction with Ru(10-10)": J. Chem. Phys. 120, 8216 (2004).
  10. E. Vesselli, L. De Rogatis, A. Baraldi, G. Comelli, M. Graziani and R. Rosei, "Structural and kinetic effects on a simple catalytic reaction: oxygen reduction on Ni(110)": J. Chem. Phys. 122, 144710 (2005).
  11. E. Vesselli, G. Comelli, R. Rosei, S. Freni, F. Frusteri e S. Cavallaro, "Ethanol auto-thermal reforming on rhodium catalysts and initial steps simulation on single crystals under UHV conditions": Appl. Cat. A: General 281, 139 (2005).
  12. E. Vesselli, G. Coslovich, G. Comelli and R. Rosei, "Modeling of ethanol decomposition on Pt(111): a comparison with experiment and DFT": J. Phys. Cond. Matt. 17, 6139 (2005).
  13. E. Vesselli, G. Coslovich, G. Comelli and R. Rosei, "Hydrogen production from ethanol on Pt(111)": Top Papers 2005 Showcase, J. Phys. Cond. Matt. , March 2006.
  14. L. Bianchettin, A. Baraldi, S. de Gironcoli, S. Lizzit, L. Petaccia, E. Vesselli, G. Comelli and R. Rosei, "Geometric structure of the N/Rh(100) system by core-level photoelctron spectroscopy: Experiment and theory": Phys. Rev. B 74, 045430 (2006).
  15. L. Bianchettin, A. Baraldi, E. Vesselli, S. de Gironcoli, S. Lizzit, L. Petaccia, G. Comelli and R. Rosei, "Experimental and theoretical surface core level shift study of the S-Rh(100) local environment": J. Phys. Chem. C. 111, 4003 (2007).
  16. A. Baraldi, L. Bianchettin, S. de Gironcoli, E. Vesselli, S. Lizzit, L. Petaccia, G. Zampieri, G. Comelli and R. Rosei, "Highly under-coordinated atoms at Rh surfaces: interplay of strain and coordination effects on core level shift": to be published in New J. of Physics.
  17. A. Baraldi, E. Vesselli, L. Bianchettin, G. Comelli, S. Lizzit, L. Petaccia, S. de Girconcoli, A. Locatelli, O.T. Mentes, L. Aballe, J. Weissenrieder and J.N. Andersen, "The (1x1)→hexagonal phase transition on Pt(100) studied by high resolution core level photoemission": submitted.
  18. E. Vesselli, L. Bianchettin, A. Baraldi, A. Sala, G. Comelli, S. Lizzit, L. Petaccia and S. de Gironcoli, "The Ni3Al(111) surface structure: experiment and theory": in preparation.

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