Research Topics

Our research activities cover the timely topic of designing, devising, synthesizing, analyzing, testing, and modeling novel nanometer-scaleMATERIALS as integrative components for ENERGY conversion and storage; both with time-resolution of femtoseconds and with spatial-resolution approaching the molecular level: Nanocarbon MATERIALS – mimicking and inspired-by biology – lie at the forefront of our ENERGY– and CATALYSIS-relevant studies regarding light- and charge-management in different environments, that is, solutions, interfaces, and membranes.  A broad range of spectroscopic (i.e. time-resolved and steady-state measurements with spectrophotometric detection covering a time range from femtoseconds to minutes) and microscopic techniques (i.e. scanning probe microscopy, electron microscopy) are routinely employed to address aspects that correspond to the optimization and fine-tuning of dynamics and/or efficiencies of charge separation, charge transport, charge shift, and charge recombination processes.

A key feature of our activities is an integrated-systems approach that comes from focused, network- and team-oriented interdisciplinary research with close communication and coordination among collaborators.  This is where the unique settings of a transdisciplinary research institution such as FAU with a critical mass of world-class researchers with unique capabilities and facilities evolve into real assets.  This is documented in key publications in the Nature Family of journals (>15), the Journal of the American Chemical Society (>120), Angewandte Chemie (>60), etc.

We have established a research environment that spans across different fields (Science and Engineering) and that cultivates regional (Erlangen-Nürnberg), national (Bayreuth, Kassel, Muenster, Munich, Würzburg, etc.), and international (Australia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, etc.) collaborations including industry (Altana, Areva, Belectric, Siemens, etc.).  Collaborations on the national and international levels foster mutual exchange of outstanding research personal and multi-PI funding.