29 November 2024

We are happy to announce a Special Session entitled “Soft-matter lithography and nanofabrication with ionizing radiation” at RAP 2025 Conference.

Electron irradiation became an important and versatile tool for soft-matter lithography and nanofabrication. Dedicated molecular design and precise adjustment of irradiation dose and electron energy give broad flexibility in the character of the fabricated patterns and nanoobjects. Along with conventional lithographic patterns, complex chemical, morphological, and biological patterns can be created with high precision. Functional, free-standing carbon nanomembranes with adjustable parameters, such as thickness, porosity, and specific chemical character, can be fabricated. Complex 3D nanopatterning can be performed by focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID), relying on electron-induced dissociation and deposition of the precursor molecules. The above approaches rely on the understanding of the relevant electron-induced processes which requires their fundamental studies for model and real systems.

In this special session, recent advancements in the understanding of irradiation-induced processes in relation to molecules and soft-matter templates and the respective lithography and nanofabrication techniques will be presented.

Chairperson: Prof. Michael Zharnikov, Applied Physical Chemistry, Heidelberg University Germany

We are happy to announce a Special Session entitled “Physicochemical processes involved in the DNA/RNA-radiation interaction” at RAP 2025 Conference.

Various types of radiation (UV, X-rays, gamma rays, ion beams,…) are known to interact with DNA/RNA, ultimately leading to mutations or cell death. The interaction may be direct, giving rise to electronic excitation or ionization of the nucleic acids, or indirect. In the latter case, the primary target is the environmental water or other endogenic or exogenic molecules present in the cell. Subsequently, the produced chemical species attack the nucleic acids. Considerable effort is dedicated to the understanding of the physicochemical mechanisms involved in these processes. The information derived from their characterization may contribute to the application of appropriate protection methods, the development of improved therapeutical procedures, as well as to the design of DNA/RNA-based biosensors using optoelectronic signals.

The session will focus on recent advances associated with the physical and chemical processes, preceding the biological effects. They include time-resolved studies aiming at the characterization of transient species (excited states, radicals, reaction intermediates…), and that of the final reaction products. In addition to the experimental studies, theoretical aspects will be discussed.

Chairperson: Prof. Dimitra Markovitsi, Institute of Physical Chemistry, CNRS-Université Paris Saclay