Closed Projects

TiO₂ nanostructures are promising electrodes for dye or hybrid solar cells and are utilized as stable support for electrocatalyst. Among a great variety of nanostructures, single-crystalline TiO₂ nanowires exhibit particularly interesting characteristics. In this project TiO₂ nanowires are synthesized via a hydrothermal approach and analyzed using electron microscopy. The main focus is on the morphology changes during annealing and core etching which lead to better performance. [more]

The potential applications of silica nanotubes (SNT) are various including gas storage, drug delivery and catalysis to name only a few. In this project, we focus on the study of silica-based nanotubes (SBNTs) which tend to assemble to 3D mesostructures. The structural and chemical compositions of these networks as well as their internal morphology are investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques with a main focus on electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). [more]

In the light of growing energy needs, depleting fossil fuels, and the threatening global warming, alternative energy sources are needed. Chalcopyrite materials are suitable for renewable energy applications, for example solar cells, water splitting or photo catalysis. In our study, we synthesize copper indium disulfide films via a solvothermal procedure. The nanostructured films are crystalline even at temperatures below 200 °C as shown by electron microscopic techniques. [more]

Thin films are used in a variety of technologies, e.g. as coatings or for microelectronic applications. Miniaturization and the eventually high surface to volume ratio might enhance thin film degradation. Understanding and controlling of the underlying processes will help to establish reliable and controlled devices or new scopes of application. In this project, we focus on well-defined aluminum thin films as model system and their solid state dewetting behavior. [more]

Metals are ductile and ceramics are stiff. Ideally, these advantageous properties of each material class can be combined in one material. Examples are nanolaminated systems such as Mo₂BC and Cr₂AlC. In this project, we focus on the atomic level analysis of these materials using aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. [more]

While solar cells are becoming more and more widespread, storing the produced energy is difficult. Of the many possible solutions, the splitting of water into H₂ and O₂ by a photoelectrochemical cell offers an elegant approach. The hydrogen can then easily be stored, transported and burned in a fuel cell. As most features in photoelectrodes are on the nano- or microscale, electron microscopy is very powerful. We study material systems such as Fe₂O₃ or TiO₂ and attempt to identify performance bottlenecks. [more]

The CarMON project, short for Carbon Metal-Oxide Nanohybrids, is performed by the INP - Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (Greifswald), the INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials (Saarbrücken) and our group. Novel materials are developed by combining metal oxides and carbonaceous materials for electrochemical energy storage and water desalination. Synergistic effects on the nanoscale between these two material types can lead to overall increased performance. [more]