Physical Chemistry of Nanoscale Systems

Within the research unit "Physical Chemistry of Nanoscale Systems" at INT we are interested in the physico-chemical properties of nanoscale structures. Currently our focus is on metal and semiconducting clusters and on carbon-based nanomaterials (single-walled carbon nanotubes and fullerenes). We are investigating mass-selected clusters and nanoparticles isolated in the gas-phase by means of ion traps (like a Penning trap in the FTMS setup or Paul traps in the TIED and TILIF experiments) and dispersed in solution and supported on surfaces. Our extensive work on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) ranges from the synthesis (laser-vaporization and CVD)  to separation (in terms of length, diameter and electronic structure) and characterization by means of absorption and fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy. We are also engaged in the application of carbon nanotubes in first-principle nanoscale electronic circuits together with other research groups and units at INT and outside KIT.

For a detailed description of our current research activites pls. click on the respective links on the menu:

• Synthesis and Separation of Carbon Nanotubes   (Dr. F. Hennrich)
• Spectroscopy of Carbon Nanostructures   (Dr. S. Lebedkin)
• Nano-Carbon Materials (Dr. S. Malik)
• Optical Properties of Isolated Molecules and Clusters   (PD Dr. D. Schooss)
• Structure and Reactivity of Isolated Metal Clusters  (PD Dr. D. Schooss)
• Ion Spectroscopy and Ion Chemistry of Molecules and Clusters   (Dr. Marco Neumaier)