Alexander Robertson

The rapid advancements over the past couple decades in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) - aberration correction, cold field emission electron sources, monochromation, direct electron detection, sophisticated sample holders, environmental chambers, and many others - has massively expanded the range of materials science questions that can be addressed with this venerable technique.

My interest is in applying these new techniques to explore the fields that have been opened up to TEM investigation. The atomic structure of many nanomaterials, including graphene and carbon nanotubes, are perhaps best realised with TEM. Understanding the atomic structure and defect behaviour of these new materials has been a major focus of my research. Using custom-built in-situ sample holders I have explored the atomic level behaviour of 2D materials in electronic devices, imaging the changes in atomic structure they undergo while under bias.

More recently I have been interested in the emerging area of in-situ liquid characterisation. This permits the characterisation of liquid chemistry by TEM at the nanoscale, permitting the nanoscale investigation of important materials systems, including battery electrodes, hydrogen fuel cell cathodes, and inorganic catalysts.

Please also see my group website, including PhD projects for 2021, here.