October 21, 2010
Short video on optical switching in a porous silica matrix.
Press this link in order to see the same phenomenology for porous alumina!
For more information on the physics of the process, see the following article - pdf.
October 12, 2010
Optical birefringence study on the phase transition behavior of a rod-like liquid crystal (8OCB), confined in silica channels, published in Applied Physics Letters (pdf).
5.4.2013 Thermotropic nematic order upon nano-capillary filling
Our study on the optical birefringence and light absorption of silica nanochannels filled by a rod-like liquid crystal (published in Physical Review E (pdf)) documents that the thermo-optical properties of nanoporous systems (or single nano-capillaries) can be tailored over a surprisingly wide range simply by variation of the the filling fraction with liquid crystals.
September/October 2010
Neutron spin echo studies on the dynamics of polymers and alkanes confined in silicon nanochannels (published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and in Macromolecules) indicate sticky boundary layers and anisotropic self-diffusion dynamics.
19./21./23.07.2010
Patrick mastered a three-stage disputation marathon within one week - Matthias and Simon successfully finished their PhD!
Matthias Wolff, René Berwanger, and Simon Gruener (f.l.t.r.) proudly present their mortarboards from their PhD graduation. Congratulations!
Theses and disputation talks are available online!