Research
Our research deals with the optical properties of molecular and quasi-molecular semiconductors such as organic conjugated polymers, which possess a one-dimensional delocalised pi-electron system, dendrimers and colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles. Organic semiconductors are highly suited to making optoelectronic devices such as photodiodes, light-emitting diodes or lasers. In contrast to conventional crystalline inorganic semiconductors they may be processed from solution, greatly simplifying device fabrication.
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The Nanoplasmonics group studies the optical and plasmonic properties of metal nanoparticles as well as hybrid nanosystems containing metal nanoparticles and organic molecules or semiconducting nanocrystals. Our investigations are performed both on the ensemble and the single-object level. Hybrid materials are of particular interest since they allow for enhancing and modifying the properties of the single components or can even induce behavior that neither of the components exhibits on its own. These properties include Raman scattering, fluorescence, kinetic properties and many more.
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We are interested in the physical chemistry of bio-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials and their application to living systems. Our research efforts encompass the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials with a particular emphasis on non-conventional self-assembly based nanofabrication techniques and synthetic phospholipid membranes. With this combination we are able to mimic biological interfaces with defined chemical composition and physical properties to imbue nonliving matter with the functionality of dynamic living systems.
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We investigate the photophysical properties of metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles and their application to manipulate light, heat and charge transfer at the nanoscale. We combine these nanoparticles with organic (bio-) molecules to investigate (bio-) physical processes in model systems as well as in living cells.
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We use colloidal chemistry approaches for the preparation and surface modification of nanoparticles, hybrid nanoparticles/nanocomposites and assemblies/superstructures with appealing properties (e.g. optical, magnetic, etc.) for a wide range of applications, from optics to biology and photovoltaics.
Our main interest is devoted to the utilization of colloidal nanoparticles of several materials (with a special interest on those holding localized surface plasmons) as building-blocks for the creation of complex, self-assembled, nanostructures with new properties.
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Our research is mainly devoted to ultrafast dynamics in condensed matter. In particular, we focus on terahertz (THz) processes, their fundamental physics and how such dynamics can be applied in devices for future information technology.
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