Dr. Christian Martella obtained his Ph.D. in Nanotechnology at the University of Genova working on the optical functionalization of substrate for broad-band photonic, plasmonic and photovoltaic applications. Currently, he is a Research Scientist at the CNR-IMM unit of Agrate-Brianza (Italy) working on the growth and characterization of flat and anisotropic two-dimensional materials, like transition metal dichalcogenides and Xenes. His experimental research activity focuses on the surface investigation at the nanoscale by means of scanning probe microscopy (SNOM, AFM, Kelvin Probe AFM, Conductive AFM) and optical and structural spectroscopy (UV-visible light, X-ray photoemission, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy).