Welcome to the Institute for Materials and X-Ray Physics at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Germany


Illustration of our research topics
 
We conduct fundamental research in condensed matter physics and novel functional materials. We experimentally explore the multi-scale interplay of structure, dynamics and function of matter, benefiting from the vibrant and inspiring natural, materials and X-ray science environment of the Hamburg metropolitan area, including the Hamburg University, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon and the Deutsche Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY. Our Institute for Materials and X-Ray Physics (M-2) at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) is linked to DESY via a joint research group for high-resolution X-ray analytics of materials. We are a member of the Centre for Molecular Water Science CMWS, the Collaborative Research Centers CRC 986 “Tailor-Made Multi-Scale Materials Systems” and CRC 1615 "SMART Reactors for future process engineering", and the Cluster of Excellence EXC 2176 "Understanding Written Artefacts". Our research projects focus on how condensed matter behaves in extreme spatial confinement, especially in nanoporous media, and how this fundamental knowledge can be used for the design and fabrication of advanced materials.

Please feel invited to read more about our research activities, to browse our publication list or to get an impression of our group life (group members & alumni and events).

At present our main efforts are directed towards an understanding of:

 
  • Self-assembly, phase transitions, and dynamics of soft molecular condensed matter in geometrical confinement.
 
  • Adsorption-induced deformation and elastocapillarity upon condensation of liquids in porous media, most prominently hierarchical porous silicon and silica.
 
  • Fluid transport and rheology of liquids in porous media, in particular in nanoporous solids (Nanofluidics).

Switchable imbibition in nanoporous gold rise experiment

 
  • Design principles for mechanical, fluidic and photonic metamaterials based on combinations of porous solids with functional soft molecular fillings (electrolytes, (bio-)polymers, liquid crystals). 

 

 

 
  • The fundamental structural and statistical properties of fluid interfaces, that is the relationship between the thermodynamics, the microscopic structure of these interfaces and their microscopic and macroscopic hydrodynamics.

Small-angle X-ray scattering experiment at a liquid crystal confined in tubular anodic aluminium oxide nanochannels

 
  • Liquid wetting and spreading at planar interfaces.

Sessile water droplet on mesoporous silicon

 

News

  • 26.02.2025 Centre for Molecular Water Science (CMWS) inaugurated

    The DESY-initiated CMWS is a Europe-wide research network in the field of molecular water research. The CMWS declaration has been signed by forty-seven founding members from twelve countries – including fourteen German universities and eight Helmholtz Centres. See also the corresponding press release.

  • 18.11.2024 Ultrafast X-ray imaging at the European XFEL of a water droplet sucked into a porous silicon membrane by capillary action

  • 12.09.2024 Article "Deformation dynamics of nanopores upon water imbibition" published in PNAS

    Our article shows by a combination of experiments and computer simulations of water imbibition in nanopores that the competition between expansive, surface stress release at pore walls and negative, contractile Laplace pressures of nanoscale menisci lead to an unusual macroscopic behavior of the porous medium, which is generic for any liquid/nanoporous solid combination. The results allow one to quantify surface and Laplace stresses and to monitor nanoscale flow and infiltration states by relatively simple length measurements of the porous medium.

  • 17.05.2024 - New publication: "Self-Assembly of Ionic Superdiscs in Nanopores"

    Our study on discotic ionic liquid crystals has been published in ACS Nano - see also the DESY press release.

  • May 2024 - At this year's PSST conference in Brno (Czech Republic) Stella Gries received the prize for the talk of the day. Congratulations to her and also to Manfred May for the 2nd place in the best poster award of the conference!