We are always looking for enthusiastic scientists capable of working in an interdisciplinary team. If you are interested in creating materials by simple self-assembly processes, pattern surfaces with high precision without relying on sophisticated equipment or simply enjoy watching colloids on their quest to find an energetic minimum position get in touch.
We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic PhD candidates to join our group!
Project title: “Continuous synthesis and structure formation for coloured particles”
The aim of the project, conducted together with the group of Prof. Segets at University of Duisburg-Essen is to control the assembly plasmonic particles into small clusters with defined optical properties.
Our role in the project is to assembly small metal particles either using emulsion templating or reactive surface chemistry into small clusters with a precisely defined number of primary particles. We will characterize their optical proprieties, classify them into pure fractions using chromatographic approaches. An important aspect will be to recycle unwanted fractions into monomers to be re-assembled. This will form the basis for a circular approach towards the design of functional nanomaterials.
The project is within the framework of CRC1411 – Design of Particulate Products and offers appealing benefits to the doctoral student, including wide access to equipment, collaborations, dual mentoring, travelling support, the possibility for research stays abroad, etc.
Skills required:
- Interest in interdisciplinary research
- Understanding of colloid and interfacesciences
- Knowledge of optical properties ofnanomaterials (plasmonics)
- Synthesis, surface functionalization andcharacterization of nanoparticles
Send your CV and motivation letter to nicolas.vogel (at) fau.de
Project title: “Defined self-assembly of structural color pigments”
The fascinating optical properties of many animals and plants are caused by the interaction of light with defined nanostructures, and hence called structural color. The aim of the project is to fabricate such structural color pigments with optimized optical properties, such as the hue of the reflection color, its intensity, saturation and angle-dependence.
This project focuses on the fabrication of colloidal photonic crystals and glasses and the detailed understanding of their optical properties. The involved research includes the synthesis of defined colloidal systems, their assembly as thin films and supraparticles, structure and optical characterization and close interactions with collaboration partners working on mathematical optimization and computer simulations of structure formation.
The project is within the framework of CRC1411 – Design of Particulate Products and offers appealing benefits to the doctoral student, including wide access to equipment, collaborations, dual mentoring, travelling support, the possibility for research stays abroad, etc.
Skills required:
- Colloidal and interface science
- Colloidal synthesis and self-assembly
- Structure characterization
- Knowledge and physics of structural color, in particular in less ordered systems
Send your CV and motivation letter to nicolas.vogel (at) fau.de
Project title: “Synthesis of hierarchical porous materials for nanoparticle chromatography”
The aim of the project, conducted together with the group of Prof. Hartmann at FAU, is the fabrication of hierarchical porous materials with tailored pore systems and surface chemistry to be used for use as stationary phases for the chromatographic separation of nanoparticles.
Specifically, this interdisciplinary project involves the preparation of novel powder materials with tailored porosity, the investigation of defect distribution in both particles and packings, the characterization the mechanical stability of the prepared particle systems, and the use of surface functionalization to the interaction potential between the pore walls and the ligand-shell of different nanoparticles. Ultimately, this project will provide structure-property relations to connect all these parameters to the performance of the chromatographic separation process, and thus provide tailored stationary phases with optimized properties.
The project is within the framework of CRC1411 – Design of Particulate Products and offers appealing benefits to the doctoral student, including wide access to equipment, collaborations, dual mentoring, travelling support, the possibility for research stays abroad, etc.
Skills required:
- Knowledge of colloidal and interface science,
- Expertise in colloidal synthesis, self-assembly, and surface functionalization
- Experience in the fabrication andcharacterization of porous material
- Knowledge of chromatography
Send your CV and motivation letter to nicolas.vogel (at) fau.de
