Location: Bedson LT3
Time/Date: 6th March 2012, 16:15 - 17:30
Prof. Dr. Bernd Smarsly
Justus-Liebig-University Giessen
The group of Bernd Smarsly works on both synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials — metal oxides and carbons. The talk discusses hierarchical pore structures for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nanofibers, and nanoporous, crystalline metal oxides, and carbon. For all these materials we try to understand the influence of nanostructuration on physico-chemical properties — does nanostructure result indeed in better performance, compared to bulk material? While the first nanoporous metal oxides were prepared using sol-gel chemistry already 20 years ago, current research focuses on the application of such materials. One prominent example are porous SiO2 columns used on a commercial basis for HPLC — the talk introduces this particular industrial application and discusses recent advances. Furthermore, crystalline metal oxides (e.g. ternary oxides such as indium-tin oxide) with ordered nanopore arrays are presented, which serve as a useful tool to address the fundamental question how nanostructuration affects physical properties. Aside from finding appropriate synthetic pathways for nanostructured metal oxids and carbons, our group works on the further development of experimental and theoretical methods for the characterization of nanostructures by X-ray scattering. As example, it is demonstrated how ordered nanopore structures and graphene-based carbons can be studied by suitable X-ray scattering methodologies.
Published: 25th January 2012