Moscow State Pedagogical University, Faculty of Physics, Russia
B.Sc. in Physics Teaching
1978
-
1985
University of Kishinev, Faculty of Physics, Department of Semiconductor Physics, Moldova
B.Sc. & M.Sc. in Physics, Physics of Semiconductors, Physics Teaching
Research Fields
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanomaterials, their properties and applications
Teaching Areas
Physics
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
Selected Publications
X. Han, Z. Qi, V. Kundrat, H. Li, Z. Li, X. Guo, P. Mao, W. Zheng, S. Hou, R. Liu, H. Wu, P. Wang, A. Zak, W. Liu, R Tenne, Y. Guo (2026), (2026), Very-large-scale mimetic optogenetic synapses for physical reservoir computing, Nature Communications.
Link
M. Krishnappa, S. Ghosh, S. Pamula, Y. Feldman, I. Lapsker, O. Brontvein, T. Livneh, J. Martinez, J.A. Alonso, A. Zak (2026), (2026), Phase-pure MoS2 nanotubes with controlled crystallinity , templated by pre-prepared high-aspect ratio MoO3 nanowhiskers, Journal of Materials Chemistry C.
Link
A. Pelella, A. Kumar, K. Intonti, O. Durante, S. De Stefano, X. Han, Z. Li, Y. Guo, F. Giubileo, L. Camilli, M. Passacantando, A. Zak, A. Di Bartolomeo (2024), (2024), WS2 nanotube transistor for photodetection and optoelectronic memory applications, Small.
Link
S.R. Kadam, M. Krishnappa, S. Ghosh, M.B. Sreedhara, A. Neyman, A. Upcher, E. Nativ Roth, L. Houben, A. Zak, A.N. Enyashin, R. Bar-Ziv, M. Bar-Sadan (2024), (2024), Nanotubes and other nanostructures of VS2, WS2 and MoS2: Structural effects on the hydrogen evolution reaction, Applied Materials Today, 39 (Article No.102288) .
E. Magee, F. Tang, M. Walker, A. Zak, R. Tenne, T. McNally, (2023), Silane functionalization of WS2 nanotubes for interaction with poly(lactic acid), Nanoscale, 15(16), (7577-7590).
Y. Niu, L. Li, Z. Qi, H.H. Aung, X. Han, R. Tenne, Y. Yao, A. Zak, Y. Guo (2023), (2023), OD van der Waals interfacial ferroelectricity, Nature Communication.
Link
P.N. Immanuel, S-J Hiang, P. Taank, A. Goldreich, J. Prilusky, A. Byregowda, R. Carmieli, H. Shalom, A. Leybovich, A. Zak, N. Aggarwal, K.V. Adarsh, L. Yadgarov (2023), (2023), Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Cs4PbBr6/WS2 hybrid nanocomposite , Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research 5(2), (2300193-1–2300193-11) .
E. Magee, F. Tang, E. Ozdemir, M. Walker, T. Di Luccio, J.A. Kornfield, A. Zak, R. Tenne, T. McNally (2022), (2022), WS2 nanotubes as a 1D functional filler for melt mixing with poly(lactic acid): Implications for composites manufacture, ACS Applied Nano Materials , 5(5), (6385-6397).
Y. Sun, S. Xu, Z. Xu, J. Tian, M. Bai, Z. Qi, Y. Niu, H.H. Aung, X. Xiong, J. Han, C. Lu, J. Yin, S. Wang, Q. Chen, R. Tenne, A. Zak, Y. Guo (2024), (2022), Mesoscopic sliding ferroelectricity enabled photovoltaic random access memory for material-level artificial vision system , Nature Communications.
Link
S. Wei, M. Serra, S. Mourdikoudis, H. Zou, B. Wu, L. Děkanovsky, J. Sturala, J. Luxa, R. Tenne, A. Zak, Z. Sofer (2022), (2022), Improved electrochemical performance of NTs-WS2@C nanocomposites for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 14(41), (46386-46400).
S.S. Sinha, L. Yadgarov, S.B. Aliev, Y. Feldman, I. Pinkas, C. Pallellappa, S. Ghosh, A. Idelevich, A. Zak, R. Tenne (2021), (2021), MoS2 and WS2 nanotubes: Synthesis, structural elucidation and optical characterization , The J. of Physical Chemistry C: Energy, Materials & Catalysis, Section C: Physical Properties of Materials & Interfaces, 125(11), (6324-6340).
S. Ghosh, G. Otorgust, A. Idelevich, O. Regev, I. Lapsker, D.Y. Lewitus, A. Zak (2021), (2021), Reinforcement of poly (methyl methacrylate) by WS2 nanotubes towards antiballistic applications, Composites Science and Technology.
Link
C. Pallellappa, S. Ghosh, A. Idelevich, L. Rovinsky, T. Livneh, A. Zak (2020), (2020), Solving the "MoS2 nanotubes" synthetic enigma and elucidating the route for their catalyst-free and scalable production, ACS Nano, 14(3), (3004-3016).
A. Grillo, M. Passacantando, A. Zak, A. Pelella, A. Di Bartolomeo (2020), (2020), WS2 nanotubes: Electrical conduction and field emission under electron irradiation and mechanical stress, Small, 16(35), (2002880-1—2002880-9).
S. Ghosh, V. Brüser, I. Kaplan-Ashiri, R. Popovitz-Biro, S. Peglow, J.I. Martínez, J.A. Alonso, A. Zak (2020), (2020), Cathodoluminescence in single and multiwall WS2 nanotubes: Evidence from quantum confinement and strain effect, Applied Physics Reviews , 7(4), October 2020 (041401).
D.M. Simić, D.B. Stojanović, M. Dimić, K. Mišković, M. Marjanović, Z. Burzić, P.S. Uskoković, A. Zak, R. Tenne (2019), (2019), Impact resistant hybrid composites reinforced with inorganic nanoparticles and nanotubes of WS2, Composites Part B: Engineering, 176, (107222).
Y.J. Zhang, T. Ideue, M. Onga, F. Qin, R. Suzuki, A. Zak, R. Tenne, J.H. Smet, Y. Iwasa (2019), (2019), Enhanced intrinsic photovoltaic effect in tungsten disulphide nanotubes, Nature, 570, (349-363).
Y.J. Zhang, M. Onga, F. Qin, W. Shi, A. Zak, R. Tenne, J. Smet, Y. Iwasa (2018) , (2018), Optoelectronic response of a WS2 tubular p-n junction, 2D Materials.
Link
F. Qin, T. Ideue, W. Shi, X-X Zhang, M. Yoshida, A. Zak, R. Tenne, T. Kikitsu, D. Inoue, D. Hashizume, Y. Iwasa (2018), (2018), Diameter-dependent superconductivity in individual WS2 nanotubes, Nano Letters, 18(11), (6789-6794).
F. Qin, W. Shi, T. Ideue, M. Yoshida, A. Zak, R. Tenne, T. Kikitsu, D. Inoue, D. Hashizume, Y. Iwasa (2017)
, (2017), Superconductivity in a chiral nanotube, Nature Communications, 8, (14465).
O. Grinberg, S. Deng, E. Zussman, T. Livneh, A. Zak (2017), (2017), Raman scattering from single WS2 nanotubes in stretched PVDF electrospun fibers, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics , 19(28), (18443-18451).
B. Seo, H.Y. Jeong, S.Y. Hong, A. Zak, S.H. Joo (2015), (2015), Impact of a conductive oxide core in tungsten sulfide-based nanostructures on the hydrogen evolution reaction, Chemical Communications, 51(39), (8334-8337).
K.R. O'Neal, J.G. Cherian, A. Zak, R. Tenne, Z. Liu, J.L. Musfeldt (2015), (2015), High pressure vibrational properties of WS2 nanotubes, Nano Letters, 16(2), (993-999).
G. Viskadouros, A. Zak, M. Stylianakis, E. Kymakis, R. Tenne, E. Stratakis (2014), (2014), Enhanced field emission of WS2 nanotubes, Small, 10(12), (2398-2403).
V. Brüser, R. Popovitz-Biro, A. Albu-Yaron, T. Lorenz, G. Seifert, R. Tenne, A. Zak (2014), (2014), Single- to triple-wall WS2 nanotubes obtained by high-power plasma ablation of WS2 multiwall nanotubes, Inorganics, 2(2), (177-190).
M. Naffakh, C. Marco, G. Ellis, S.R. Cohen, A. Laikhtman, L. Rapoport, A. Zak (2014), (2014), Novel poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) nanocomposites containing WS2 inorganic nanotubes with improved thermal, mechanical and tribological properties, Materials Chemistry and Physics, 147(1-2), (273-284).
D-M Tang, X. Wei, M-S Wang, N. Kawamoto, Y. Bando, C. Zhi, M. Mitome, A. Zak, R. Tenne, D. Golberg (2013), (2013), Revealing the anomalous tensile properties of WS2 nanotubes by in situ transmission electron microscopy, Nano Letters, 13(3), (1034-1040).
M. Shneider, L. Rapoport, A. Moshkovich, H. Dodiuk, S. Kenig, R. Tenne, A. Zak (2013), (2013), Tribological performance of the epoxy-based composite reinforced by WS2 fullerene-like nanoparticles and nanotubes, Physica Status Solidi A: Applications & Materials Science, 210(11), (2298-2306).
C. Zhang, S. Wang, L. Yang, Y. Liu, T. Xu, Z. Ning, A. Zak, A. Zak, Z. Zhang, R. Tenne, Q. Chen (2012), (2012), High-performance photodetectors for visible and near-infrared lights based on individual WS2 nanotubes, Applied Physics Letters, 100(24), (243101-1–243101-5).
M. Staiger, P. Rafailov, K. Gartsman, H. Telg, M. Krause, G. Radovsky, A. Zak, C. Thomsen (2012), (2012), Excitonic resonances in WS2 nanotubes, Physical Review B: Condensed Matter, 86(16), (165423-1–165423-9).
C.S. Reddy, A. Zak, E. Zussman (2011), (2011), WS2 nanotubes embedded in PMMA nanofibers as energy absorptive material, J. of Materials Chemistry, 21(40), (16086-16093).
A. Zak, L. Sallacan-Ecker, A. Margolin, Y. Feldman, R. Popovitz-Biro, A. Albu-Yaron, M. Genut, R. Tenne (2010), (2010), Scaling up of the WS2 nanotubes synthesis, Fullerenes, Nanotubes, and Carbon Nanostructures, 19(1-2), (18-26).
A. Zak, L. Sallacan-Ecker, A. Margolin, M. Genut, R. Tenne (2009), (2009), Insight into the growth mechanism of WS2 nanotubes in the scaled-up fluidized bed reactor, Nano, 4(2), (91-98).
A. Zak, Y. Feldman, V. Lyakhovitskaya, G. Leitus, R. Popovitz-Biro, E. Wachtel, H. Cohen, S. Reich, R. Tenne (2002), (2002), Alkali metal intercalated fullerene-like MS2 (M=W,Mo) nanoparticles and their properties, J. of the American Chemical Society, 124(17), (4747-4758).
A. Zak, Y. Feldman, V. Alperovich, R. Rozentsveig, R. Tenne (2000), (2000), Growth mechanism of MoS2 fullerene-like nanoparticles by gas-phase synthesis, J. of the American Chemical Society , 122(45), (11108-11116).
Y. Feldman, A. Zak, R. Popovitz-Biro, R. Tenne (2002), (2000), New reactor for production of tungsten disulfide hollow onion-like (inorganic fullerene-like) nanoparticles, Solid State Sciences, 2, (663-672).
Experiences
As Chief Scientist (CSO) in start-up company NanoMaterials, Ltd. for ~ 10 year, from 2002 to 2011. During these years industrial (scaled up) synthesis of layered inorganic fullerene-like (IF) nanoparticles was developed from a few grams to tens of kgs. Formulations of the oils and greases with IFs for friction reduction applications was developed.
Grants & Awards
Israel Science Foundation (ISF) 2016 - 2020
Personal
360,000 NIS per year - for four years
Single wall nanotubes of WS2, their synthesis and properties towards optoelectronics and hydrogen storage
Pazy Foundation
1120 KNIS for four years, 2015 - 2018
Title: Nanocomposite ballistic armor made of inorganic WS2 nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles in polymethyl methacrylate
In collaboration with Dr. Omri Regev, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
International Projects
Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, NATO; 2022-2025
€273,000 - overall project budget
Research grant project SPS G5936: Ultralight wearablE Solar Cells As a Portable Electricity source (ESCAPE)
In collaboration with Italian Scientists:
• Dr. Luca Camilli, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
• Prof. Maurizio Passacantando, University of L'Aquila, Coppito, Italy
• Prof. Antonio Di Bartolomeo, University of Salermo, Fisciano, Italy
• Dr. Filippo Giubileo, National Research Council, Fisciano, Italy
Download CV
