Photo of Martin Magnuson

Martin Magnuson

Senior Associate Professor

Materials Science Research using X-ray Spectroscopy with Synchrotron Radiation and Computations

Electronic Structure and Chemical Bonding in Materials

Presentation

This research area focuses on detailed studies of the electronic structure and chemical bonding in materials, and how these determine their physical and functional properties. By combining suitable elements into different compounds and alloys, properties such as hardness, elasticity, conductivity, band gap, and superconductivity can be tailored.

The work represents application-oriented basic research conducted at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM). It includes synthesis processes, material selection, and temperature-dependent phenomena such as spinodal decomposition and superconductivity, which are also of industrial relevance. Experimental investigations using advanced X-ray spectroscopic techniques with synchrotron radiation are combined with corresponding computational methods.

Research Focus

The research explores how electronic structure and chemical bonding govern the functional properties of advanced materials – ranging from two-dimensional (2D) MAX and MXene systems to amorphous nanocomposites, nitrides,and minerals.

Using synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy together with quantum-mechanical calculations, the relationships between orbital hybridization, charge transfer, and local bonding environments are analysed, as well as their influence on electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties.

Methods and Applications

The research combines materials synthesis with experimental characterisation using synchrotron-based X-ray absorption (XAS), X-ray emission (XES), resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These are complemented by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), as well as multiplet and charge-transfer models.

The aim is to achieve a deeper understanding of the relationship between structure and function, and to contribute to the development of sustainable, high-performance materials for energy, electronics, and mining technologyapplications.

Current Research Topics

  • Electronic structure in MAX- and MXene-based 2D materials
  • Metallenes – atomically thin metallic layers such as goldene
  • Amorphous carbide, hydride, boride, and nitride films and their local bonding environments
  • Complex nitride and oxide systems with directional electronic anisotropy
  • Gold-bearing minerals and environmentally friendly separation strategies
  • Current material studies include MAX phases, MXenes, amorphous carbides, and nitrides.

Current Teaching courses

Learn More

More information about this research can be found on the personal research webpage.

Learn more about MAX IV on their webpage or read news about my work there from the links below.

First Users at Balder Beamline Seek to Illuminate MXenes

Local Bonding Environment in 2D Transition Metal Carbides Investigated by Balder Users

Picture of Martin Magnuson

Scientific Highlights

Revealing the Quantum Landscape of MXenes

The Fermi surface and electronic band structure of a purely oxygen-terminated Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene was investigated using synchrotron-based angular-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The study shows how electrons move in this two-dimensional (2D) material with unprecedented precision and reveals Dirac-like electronic features, anisotropic charge transport, and a hexagonally warped Fermi surface that defies the usual insulating behavior of oxygen-terminated materials. These findings explain why oxygen-terminated MXenes remain metallic and open a pathway for tailoring their electronic and transport properties. This breakthrough provides fundamental insights into the quantum behavior of MXenes, advancing their use in energy storage, transparent conductors, and catalytic applications.

Published in Physical Review Letters134, 106201 (2025).

Picture of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) reveals how Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene interact with surface termination species.

Uncovering How MXenes Interact with Hydrogen, Water, and Carbon Dioxide

This study shows how the two-dimensional (2D) material Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene interacts with common gas molecules—H₂, H₂O, and CO₂—that are vital in energy conversion and storage technologies. Using ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), it is directly observed how these gases adsorb and react on the MXene surface. The study shows that water binds strongly to the Ti–Ti bridge sites, effectively becoming a new termination species that influences how other molecules interact with the surface. The presence of water and oxygen terminations was found to inhibit CO₂ adsorption but enable water splitting, revealing MXenes’ potential in hydrogen production and catalysis. These findings provide critical insights into the surface chemistry and gas adsorption mechanisms of MXenes, offering practical guidance for optimizing their performance in energy storage, CO₂ capture, and catalytic applications.

Published in Applied Surface Science684 (2025) 161926.

Picture of MXene’s interaction with H₂, H₂O, and CO₂.

Unveiling the Electronic Fingerprints of MXenes for Future Energy Storage

This publication shows how MXenes, a class of two-dimensional materials, respond to electrochemical cycling in energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors. Using high-resolution titanium 1s X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), it is unraveled how subtle shifts in the Ti absorption edge reflect changes in the electronic structure during ion intercalation. The study reveals that these shifts originate not from changes in oxidation state, as previously thought, but from the involvement of Ti 4p orbitals in bonding with surface termination species. The results from analysis of the t2g-eg crystal-field splitting and radial distribution functions also reveal that the Ti–C bonds in MXenes are slightly weaker than in their three-dimensional MAX phase counterparts, but this is compensated by enhanced metallic bonding within the layers. These insights provide a more accurate understanding of MXene bonding, charge transport, and surface chemistry, all crucial for improving their performance in next-generation energy storage and conversion technologies.

Published in 2D Materials10, 035024 (2023).

Picture of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) reveals how Ti₃C₂Tₓ MXene interact with surface termination species.

Selected publications

Cover of publication ''
Yuchen Shi, Shun Kashiwaya, Jun Lu, Martin Dahlqvist, Davide Giuseppe Sangiovanni, Vladyslav Rogoz, Martin Magnuson, Grzegorz Greczynski, Mike Andersson, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman (2025)

Science Advances , Vol.11 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Martin Magnuson, Per Eklund, Craig Polley (2025)

Physical Review Letters , Vol.134 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Lars-Åke Näslund, Esko Kokkonen, Martin Magnuson (2025)

Applied Surface Science , Vol.684 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Shun Kashiwaya, Yuchen Shi, Jun Lu, Davide Giuseppe Sangiovanni, Grzegorz Greczynski, Martin Magnuson, Mike Andersson, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman (2024)

Nature Synthesis , Vol.3 , s.744-751 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Lars-Åke Näslund, Mikko-Heikki Mikkelä, Esko Kokkonen, Martin Magnuson (2021)

2D Materials , Vol.8 Continue to DOI

Earlier projects

Short CV

• Associate Professor (Biträdande Professor) at the Thin Film Physics Group, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University since 2016-03-01.

• Senior University Lecturer (Associate Prof.) at the Thin Film Physics Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University from 2008-03-01 to 2016-02-28.

• Researcher and teacher, Dept. of Physics, Uppsala University from 2007-09-01 to 2008-02-29.

• Docent in Physics with Specialization in Atomic, Molecular and Condensed Matter Physics, Uppsala University, 2005-09-16.

• Junior Researcher (FoAss) and Associate Prof. (Docent) at the Department of Physics, Uppsala University, from2003-09-01 to 2007-08-31. 85-90% employed on VR grants and 10-15% teaching.

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business at the School of Economics and Commercial Law, 1 year education, 40p, Gothenburg University and Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, 2002-2003.

• Two-year Post Doc/Guest Scientist at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), Laboratoire de Chimie Physique - Matiere et Rayonnement, CNRS, Paris, France, from 1999-09-01 to 2001-08-31. Funded by a grant from STINT (2 years).

• Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, Ph.D. (Tekn. Dr.), Uppsala University, 1999-05-14. Thesis title: Electronic Structure Studies Using Resonant X-ray and Photoemission Spectroscopy.

• Master of Science in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, (M.Sc.), 4.5 year education,180p Linköping University, 1987-1992.

News

First Users at Balder Beamline Seek to Illuminate MXenes

First users are investigating MXenes, a class of nano-crystalline 2D-layered transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides. Researchers aim to learn more about their characteristics and how to exploit their properties for new technologies.


First Users at Balder Beamline Seek to Illuminate MXenes

Local Bonding Environment in 2D Transition Metal Carbides Investigated by Balder Users

Chemical bonding in 2-dimensional (2D) MXene material Ti3C2Tx and its precursor Ti3AlC2 was studied at beamline Balder. A team from LiU performed the first experiment at Balder in 2019, and the results are now published in Physical Review Research.


Local Bonding Environment in 2D Transition Metal Carbides Investigated by Balder Users
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Spirit Dialogmöte 2023

Linköpings universitet, IMA och SPIRIT bjuder in till ett möte för dialog mellan akademi, industri och organisationer i regionen för att ha en dialog om hur samhällsnyttan av ESS och MAX IV kan maximeras.

Publications

2025

Susmita Chowdhury, Hector Guerra Yanez, Sanath Kumar Honnali, Grzegorz Greczynski, Per O A Persson, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Martin Magnuson, Per Eklund (2025) Structural and electronic properties of Sc1-xWxNy thin films on MgO(001) Applied Materials Today, Vol. 44, Article 102730 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Yuchen Shi, Shun Kashiwaya, Jun Lu, Martin Dahlqvist, Davide Giuseppe Sangiovanni, Vladyslav Rogoz, Martin Magnuson, Grzegorz Greczynski, Mike Andersson, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman (2025) Synthesis of Ti4Au3C3 and its derivative trilayer goldene through chemical exfoliation Science Advances, Vol. 11 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Martin Magnuson, Per Eklund, Craig Polley (2025) Fermiology and Band Structure of Oxygen-Terminated Ti3⁢C2⁢Tx MXene Physical Review Letters, Vol. 134, Article 106201 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Lars-Åke Näslund, Esko Kokkonen, Martin Magnuson (2025) Interaction and kinetics of H2, CO2, and H2O on Ti3C2Tx MXene probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Applied Surface Science, Vol. 684, Article 161926 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2024

Gabriel Kofi Nzulu, Lina Rogström, Jun Lu, Hans Högberg, Per Eklund, Lars Hultman, Martin Magnuson (2024) Physico-thermal and geochemical behavior and alteration of the Au indicator gangue hydrothermal quartz at the Kubi Gold ore deposits Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 220, Article 105439 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Susmita Chowdhury, Niraj Kumar Singh, Sanath Kumar Honnali, Grzegorz Greczynski, Per Eklund, Arnaud le Febvrier, Martin Magnuson (2024) Electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of epitaxial Sc1−xVxNy thin films grown on MgO(001) Physical Review B, Vol. 110, Article 115139 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Shun Kashiwaya, Yuchen Shi, Jun Lu, Davide Giuseppe Sangiovanni, Grzegorz Greczynski, Martin Magnuson, Mike Andersson, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman (2024) Synthesis of goldene comprising single-atom layer gold Nature Synthesis, Vol. 3, p. 744-751 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Gabriel Kofi Nzulu, Hans Högberg, Per Eklund, Lars Hultman, Prosper M. Nude, Abu Yaya, Martin Magnuson (2024) Correction: Chemical Reactivity and Alteration of Pyrite Mineral in the Kubi Gold Concession in Ghana (27 Feb, 10.1007/s42461-024-00932-4, 2024) MINING METALLURGY & EXPLORATION, Vol. 41, p. 1533-1533 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Gabriel Kofi Nzulu, Hans Högberg, Per Eklund, Lars Hultman, Prosper M. Nude, Abu Yaya, Martin Magnuson (2024) Chemical Reactivity and Alteration of Pyrite Mineral in the Kubi Gold Concession in Ghana Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, Vol. 41, p. 1013-1023 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Fuxiang Ji, Johan Klarbring, Bin Zhang, Feng Wang, Linqin Wang, Xiaohe Miao, Weihua Ning, Muyi Zhang, Xinyi Cai, Babak Bakhit, Martin Magnuson, Xiaoming Ren, Licheng Sun, Mats Fahlman, Irina A Buyanova, Weimin Chen, Sergei I Simak, Igor A. Abrikosov, Feng Gao (2024) Remarkable Thermochromism in the Double Perovskite Cs2NaFeCl6 Advanced Optical Materials, Vol. 12, Article 2301102 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Rui Shu, Xiaofu Zhang, Ferenc Tasnadi, Weine Olovsson, Smita Gangaprasad Rao, Grzegorz Greczynski, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Martin Magnuson, Per Eklund (2024) Stoichiometry Effects on the Chemical Ordering and Superconducting Properties in TiZrTaNbNx Refractory High Entropy Nitrides Annalen der Physik, Vol. 534, Article 2300470 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Elena Naumovska, Gabriel Kofi Nzulu, Laura Mazzei, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Kristina Komander, Martin Magnuson, Max Wolff, Per Eklund, Maths Karlsson (2024) Local structure of hydrated nanocrystalline films of the proton conductor BaZr1-Sc O3-/2 studied by infrared spectroscopy Vibrational Spectroscopy, Vol. 130, Article 103622 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2023

Susmita Chowdhury, Victor Hjort, Rui Shu, Grzegorz Greczynski, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Per Eklund, Martin Magnuson (2023) Thermoelectric properties and electronic structure of Cr(Mo,V)Nx thin films studied by synchrotron and lab-based x-ray spectroscopy Physical Review B, Vol. 108, Article 205134 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Lars-Åke Näslund, Martin Magnuson (2023) The Origin of Ti 1s XANES Main Edge Shifts and EXAFS Oscillations in the Energy Storage Materials Ti2CTx and Ti3C2T x MXenes 2D Materials, Vol. 10, Article 035024 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Lina Rogström, Maiara Moreno, J. M. Andersson, M. P. Johansson-Jöesaar, Magnus Odén, K. Klementiev, Lars-Åke Näslund, Martin Magnuson (2023) Structural changes in Ti1-xAlxN coatings during turning: A XANES and EXAFS study of worn tools Applied Surface Science, Vol. 612, Article 155907 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Gabriel Kofi Nzulu, Hans Högberg, Per Eklund, Lars Hultman, Prosper M. Nude, Abu Yaya, Martin Magnuson (2023) Pathfinder elements and indicator minerals of Au from the Kubi Gold ore deposits in Ghana Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 82, Article 386 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Gabriel Kofi Nzulu, Elena Naumovska, Maths Karlsson, Per Eklund, Martin Magnuson, Arnaud le Febvrier (2023) Growth and thermal stability of Sc-doped BaZrO3 thin films deposited on single crystal substrates Thin Solid Films, Vol. 772, Article 139803 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Andrej Furlan, Jun Lu, Lars Hultman, Ulf Jansson, Martin Magnuson (2023) Correction: Crystallization characteristics and chemical bonding properties of nickel carbide thin film nanocomposites (vol 26, 415501,2014) Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Vol. 35, Article 139501 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2022

Weine Olovsson, Martin Magnuson (2022) Rhombohedral and Turbostratic Boron Nitride Polytypes Investigated by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 126, p. 21101-21108 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Martin Magnuson, Lars Hultman, Hans Högberg (2022) Review of Transition-Metal Diboride Thin Films Vacuum, Vol. 196, Article 110567 (Article, review/survey) Continue to DOI

2021

Rui Shu, Daniel Lundin, Binbin Xin, Mauricio A. Sortica, Daniel Primetzhofer, Martin Magnuson, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Per Eklund (2021) Influence of Metal Substitution and Ion Energy on Microstructure Evolution of High-Entropy Nitride (TiZrTaMe)N1-x (Me = Hf, Nb, Mo, or Cr) Films ACS Applied Electronic Materials, Vol. 3, p. 2748-2756 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Lars-Åke Näslund, Mikko-Heikki Mikkelä, Esko Kokkonen, Martin Magnuson (2021) Chemical Bonding of Termination Species in 2D Carbides Investigated through Valence Band UPS/XPS of Ti3C2Tx MXene 2D Materials, Vol. 8, Article 045026 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2020

Martin Magnuson, Lars-Åke Näslund (2020) Local chemical bonding and structural properties in Ti3AlC2 MAX phase and Ti3C2Tx MXene probed by Ti 1s x-ray absorption spectroscopy Physical Review Research, Vol. 2, p. 033516-1-033516-10, Article 033516 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Martin Magnuson, Weine Olovsson, Naureen Ghafoor, Magnus Odén, Lars Hultman (2020) Interface bonding of Zr1−xAlxN nanocomposites investigated by x-ray spectroscopies and first principles calculations Physical Review Research, Vol. 2 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Martin Magnuson, Maurizio Mattesini (2020) Magnetic anisotropy in Cr2GeC investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and ab initio calculations Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, Vol. 501, Article 166470 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI