Dynamics, Excitations and Phase transitions of Two-Dimensional encapsulated noble-gas clusters (DEPT2D) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the the European Research Executive Agency under the HORIZON program. It started on November 1,2025 and runs until until October 31, 2027.
Studying how atoms behave in 2D systems has been a key focus in physics for decades. Noble gases, with their simple atomic interactions, are ideal for exploring these phenomena. Early experiments at cryogenic temperatures laid the groundwork but recent advances in graphene technology allowed researchers to trap noble gases between two graphene layers at elevated temperatures. This breakthrough enables the observation of their atomic arrangement and dynamics, revealing unexpected behaviours – unusual diffusion patterns, surprising fluidity in large clusters and small clusters deviating from typical atomic arrangements. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DEPT2D project will use cutting-edge microscopy and spectroscopy to investigate how these 2D clusters evolve under different conditions, offering new insights into 2D physics and confined materials.