Research

Functional polymers and colloidal building blocks are the most important systems in our physicochemical research. We usually synthesize these materials ourselves and then use physical chemistry methods to characterize structure and behavior in different environments. Our methods include dynamic and static light scattering, extinction and emission spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy as well as X-ray and neutron scattering methods. We support our experimental results with theoretical simulations, which are also used as the basis for a rational material design. We build functional materials with different functionality, e.g. with processes of colloidal self-assembly. By using responsive polymers, we achieve switchable properties.

Currently, our research includes the following topics: