A key component of our research is tracking down the photo-excited dynamics of target systems with femtosecond time-resolutions. These experiments are carried out in our two femtosecond spectroscopy labs.


  • • Femtosecond transient absorption laboratory hosting a 5 kHz amplified Ti:Sapphire laser (Spectra-Physics SOLSTICE) pumping a home built noncollinear optical parametric amplifier. Here we mostly carry out pump-probe spectroscopy and pump-probe microscopy with tunable excitation (266 nm, 400-800 nm), broadband detection (320-750 nm), time resolutions of tens of femtoseconds, sub-micron spatial resolution.



  • • Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion laboratory hosting a 250 kHz amplified Ti:Sapphire laser (Coherent REGA). Here we mostly carry out (i) Femtosecond fluorescence measurements with 400 nm excitation, visible detection (450-750 nm), 100 fs time resolution; (ii) Surface second-harmonic-generation studies.



We also use the facilities run by LaBAM and those made available by ATeN Center and other local collaborating labs at University of Palermo. Thus we are equipped for nanomaterials synthesis and structural characterization, and for a wide range of optical studies in the UV/VIS/NIR, such as: steady-state optical measurements, micro-time-resolved photoluminescence, time-correlated single-photon counting, absolute and relative quantum yield.