Di Martino, Professor Giuliana

Research interests

My research develops innovative ways to use spectroscopy and light-matter interaction to investigate a wide range of cutting-edge device materials, from novel semiconductor and dielectric interfaces to magnetic and superconductive thin films, by which applications such as low power electronics, high performance memory devices and neuromorphic computing can directly benefit. We develop the ultra-concentration of light trapped inside nanocavities into an innovative fast methodology for studying real-time movement of individual atoms that underpins new generation of devices. To date, I have raised > £4.5 million in research funding as independent Principal Investigator (P.I.) from diverse sources, including a European Research Council Starting Grant (PlasmoFED – ERC-StG-2021). I have successfully supervised 5 PhD students, 2 to completion, and my research group has won awards for their research at both national and international levels.

Recent Publications

Invited Review Papers

[1] (‡, F) APL Electronic Devices (2025), 1, 021501 – “Shining light on devices: the future of non volatile memory devices and materials investigation”, A. Jan, D. Kelly, G. Di Martino (chosen as Featured Article)

[2] Matter (2021) 4 (12), 3804 – “35 challenges in materials science being tackled by PIs under 35 (ish) in 2021”, B. Aguado, L. J Bray, S. Caneva, J. Correa-Baena, G. Di Martino, C. Fang, Y. Fang, P.Gehring, G. Grosso, X. Gu, P. Guo, Y. He, T. J Kempa, M. Kutys, J. Li, T. Li, B. Liao, F. Liu, F. Molina-Lopez, A. Pickel, A. M Porras, R. Raman, E. M Sletten, Q. Smith, C. Tan, H. Wang, H. Wang, S. Wang, Z. Wang, G. Wehmeyer, L. Wei, Y. Yang, L. D Zarzar, M. Zhao, Y. Zheng, S. Cranford

[3] Phys. Status Solidi A (2019), 1900587 – “Nanoparticle Dynamics in Oxide-Based Memristive Devices”, S. Tappertzhofen, G. Di Martino and S. Hofmann

[4] (‡,*) Nanophotonics (2019); 8 (10) pp.1579 – “Optically accessible memristive devices”, G. Di Martino and S. Tappertzhofen Invited Book Chapters “Quantum Plasmonics: from Quantum Statistics to Quantum Interferences”, invited book chapter for Reviews in Plasmonics 2015, 295, Springer, (2015). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-24606-2_12, G. Di Martino

Journal Publications

[1] Superconductivity (2025), 15, 100171 – “Influence of Rare Earth (RE) Mixing in REBa2Cu3O7-x Thin Films, Including RE2O3 Nanoparticle Formation, on In-Field 20K Critical Current Density” M. H. Lai, I. Kim, J. P. Feighan, T. Bedford, J. N. Shen, M. Moceri, J. L. Huang, X. T. Nguyen, G. Di Martino, H. Y. Wang, S.H. Moon, A. Kursumovic, J. L. MacManus- Driscoll

[2] (‡) Small (2025), 2410569 – “Understanding volatile electrical switching of hBN by fully optical in operando investigation”, D. Kelly, J. Symonowicz, C. Stewart, S. Hoffman, G. Di Martino

[3] (‡) Applied Materials Today (2024), 41, 102515 – “High-performance Na+- doped WO3 resistive switching device for biomimetic applications”, B. Salonikidou, B. Gaggio, A. Jan, M. O. Hill, G. I. Lampronti, Simon Fairclough, G. Di Martino, M. Hellenbrand, J. L. MacManus-Driscoll

[4] (A) Advanced Materials (2024), 2408572 – “Depth-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy evidence of intrinsic polar states in HfO2-based ferroelectrics”, M. O. Hill, J. S. Kim, M. L. Muller, D. Phuyal, S. Taper, M. Bansal, M. T. Becker, B. Bakhit, T. Maity, B. Monserrat, G. Di Martino, N. Strkalj, and J. L. MacManus-Driscoll

[5] (‡, A) Small Science (2024), 2400223 – “Resetting the drift of Oxygen Vacancies in Thin-Film HZO FE Memories by Electrical Pulse Engineering”, A. Jan, S. Fraser, T. Moon, Y. Seong Lee, H. Bae, H. Jae Lee, D. Choe, M. T. Becker, J.L. MacManus-Driscoll, J. Heo, G. Di Martino (highlighted in Women in Materials Science Virtual Issue, collect outstanding works created, steered, and led by women scientists, showcasing the high impact these leading individuals have within the research published with Wiley)

[6] (‡, A) ACS Nano (2024), 18, 20412 – “Scanning plasmonic microscopy for simultaneous opto-electrical characterization”, J. Symonowicz, A. Jan, H. Yan, M. Chhowalla, G. Di Martino

[7] ACS Chemistry of Materials (2024), 36, 11, 5764 – “Sodium-controlled interfacial resistive switching in thin film niobium oxide for neuromorphic applications”, B. Gaggio; A. Jan; M. Muller; B. Salonikidou; B. Bakhit; M. Hellenbrand; G. Di Martino; B. Yildiz; J. MacManus-Driscoll

[8] Small Structures (2024), 2400089 – “Low-Temperature Epitaxy of Perovskite WO3 Thin Films under Atmospheric Conditions”, Z. Sun, Z. Yuan, M. Xiao, S. M. Fairclough, A. Jan, G. Di Martino, C. Ducati, N. Strkalj, J. L. MacManus-Driscoll

[9] (‡) Optics Express (2023), 31, 21, 33914– “Comprehensive Study of Raman Optical Response of Typical Substrates for Thin-Film Growth Under 633 nm and 785 nm Laser Excitation”, A. Jan, N. Strkalj, X. T. Nguyen, J.L. MacManus-Driscoll, G. Di Martino

[10](‡) Engineering Integrity (2023), 53, 30 – “Development of Brain-Inspired Computing”, J. Symonowicz, G. Di Martino

[11](‡, A) Advanced Functional Materials (2023), 2214970 – “In-situ optical tracking of oxygen vacancy migration and phase change in 5-nm ferroelectric HZO”, A. Jan, T. Rembert, S. Taper, J. Symonowicz, Nives Strkalj, T. Moon, Y. Seong Lee, H. Bae, H. Jae Lee, D. Choe, J. Heo, J. MacManus-Driscoll, B. Monserrat, G. Di Martino (ranked within the top 10% of most-viewed papers published by the journal in 2023)

[12](‡, A) Advanced Materials (2022), 2209968 – “Fully optical in operando investigation of ambient condition electrical switching in MoS2 nanodevices”, J. Symonowicz, D. Polyushkin, T. Mueller, G. Di Martino

[13]Applied Materials Today (2023), 30, 101708 – “Ferroelectricity and negative piezoelectric coefficient in orthorhombic phase pure ZrO2 thin films”, J. P. B. Silva, M. C. Istrat, M. Hellenbrand, A. Jan, M. T. Becker, J. Symonowicz, F. G. Figueiras, V. Lenzi, M. O. Hill, C. Ghica, K. N. Romanyuk, M. J. M. Gomesa, G. Di Martino, L. Marques, J.L. MacManus-Driscoll

[14](‡, A) Nature Communications (2020) 11, 5905 – “Optical probes of molecules as nano-mechanical switches”, D. Kos, G. Di Martino, A. Boehmke, B. de Nijs, D. Berta, T. Földes, S. Sangtarash, E Rosta, H. Sadeghi and J. J. Baumberg

[15](‡, *, A, P) Nature Electronics (2020), 3, 687 – “Real-time in situ optical tracking of oxygen vacancy migration in memristors”, G. Di Martino, A. Demetriadou, W. Li, D. Kos, B. Zhu, X. Wang, B. de Nijs, H. Wang, J. MacManus-Driscoll and J. J. Baumberg

[16]Small (2018), 1801599 – “Electrically Controlled Nano and Micro Actuation in Memristive Switching Devices with On‐Chip Gas Encapsulation”, D. Kos, H. P. A. G. Astier, G. Di Martino, J. Mertens, H. Ohadi, D. De Fazio, D. Yoon, Z. Zhao, A. Kuhn, A. C. Ferrari, C. J. B. Ford, J. J. Baumberg

[17](*) Chem. Commun. (2017), 53, 12726 – “Highlights from Faraday Discussion: Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering”, G. Di Martino, H. Fleming, M. Kamp and F. Lussier

[18](‡,*) Nano Lett. (2017), 17, 4840 – “Tracking nano-electrochemistry using individual plasmonic nanocavities”, G. Di Martino,V. A. Turek, A. Lombardi, I. Szabó , B. de Nijs, A. Kuhn, E. Rosta and J. J. Baumberg,

[19](‡,*) Faraday Discuss.(2017) 205, 537 – “Plasmonic response and SERS modulation in electrochemical applied potentials”, G. Di Martino,V. A. Turek, C. Tserkezis, A. Lombardi, A. Kuhn, E. Rosta and J. J. Baumberg,

[20](‡,*) Appl. Phys. Lett. (2017) 110, 071111 – “Laser-Induced Reduction and In-situ Optical Spectroscopy of Individual Plasmonic Copper Nanoparticles for Catalytic Reactions”, G. Di Martino, V. A. Turek, P. Braeuninger-Weimer, S. Hofmann and J. J. Baumberg

[21]Faraday Discussions (2017), 205, 291 – “Ultrasensitive and towards single molecule SERS: general discussion”, J Aizpurua, H Arnolds, J Baumberg, I Bruzas, R Chikkaraddy, M Chisanga, P Dawson, V Deckert, I Delfino, B De Nijs, G. Di Martino, J Edel, H Fleming, S Gawinkowski, F Giorgis, R Goodacre, Dn Graham, M Hardy, C Heck, S Heeg, K Hewitt, L Jamieson, A Keeler, A Królikowska, C Kuttner, N Lidgi-Guigui, C Lightner, J Lombardi, S Mahajan, N Martín Sabanés, J Masson, N.S. Mueller, H Muhamadali, K Murakoshi, J Popp, M Porter, S Reich, G Schatz, Z Tian, A Tripathi, R Van Duyne, X Wang, A Wark, K K Willets, M Willner

[22]Faraday Discussions (2017), 205, 561 – “Analytical SERS: general discussion”, H Aitchison, J Aizpurua, H Arnolds, J Baumberg, S Bell, A Bonifacio, R Chikkaraddy, P Dawson, B De Nijs, V Deckert, I Delfino, G. Di Martino, O Eremina, K Faulds, A Fountain, S Gawinkowski, M Gomez Castano, R. Goodacre, J Gracie, D Graham, J Guicheteau, L Hardwick, M Hardy, C Heck, L Jamieson, M Kamp, A Keeler, C Kuttner, J Langer, S Mahajan, N Sabanés, K Murakoshi, M Porter, G Schatz, S Schlücker, Zn Tian, A Tripathi, R Van Duyne, P Vikesland

[23]Faraday Discussions (2017), 205, 173 – “Theory of SERS enhancement: General discussion”, D Graham, R Goodacre, H Arnolds, J Masson, G Schatz, J Baumberg, D Kim, J Aizpurua, W Lum, A Silvestri, B De Nijs, Y Xu, G. Di Martino, M Natan, Sebastian Schlücker, P Wuytens, I Bruzas, C Kuttner, M Hardy, R Chikkaraddy, N Sabanés, I Delfino, P Dawson, S Gawinkowski, N Bontempi, S Mahajan, S Reich, B Hourahine, S Bell, A Królikowska, M Porter, A Keeler, M Kamp, A Fountain, C Fasolato, F Giorgis, J C Otero, C Matricardi, R Van Duyne, J Lombardi, V Deckert, L Velleman

[24] (*) Small (2016), 12, No. 10, 1334 – “Nanoscale Plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy in Memristive Switches”, G. Di Martino, S. Tappertzhofen, S. Hofmann, J.J. Baumberg

[25] (‡,*) Nano Lett. (2015), 15, 7452 – “Controlling nanowire growth by light”, G. Di Martino, F. B. Michaelis, A. R. Salmon, S. Hofmann, and J. J. Baumberg

[26](*) Phys. Rev. Appl. (2014) 1, 034004 – “Observation of quantum interference in the plasmonic Hong-Ou-Mandel effect”, G. Di Martino, Y. Sonnefraud, M. S. Tame, S. Kéna-Cohen, F. Dieleman, Ş. K. Özdemir, M. S. Kim, and S. A. Maier

[27]ACS Nano (2014) 8 (8) – “Directional Fluorescence Emission by Individual V-Antennas Explained by Mode Expansion”D. Vercruysse‚ X. Zheng, Y. Sonnefraud‚ N. Verellen‚ G. Di Martino ‚ L. Lagae‚ G.A. E. Vandenbosch, V. Moshchalkov‚ S.A. Maier‚ and P. Van Dorpe