Research
In our group, we address fundamental questions in soft-matter science, comprising the areas of polymer physics, liquid-crystal science, and also biophysics. Our main method is solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SS NMR), where we are particularly active in developing the suitable methods, yet we also use many standard (spectroscopy) techniques such as optical spectroscopy, DSC, rheology, light and x-ray scattering, some of them in collaboration with other groups.
Current activities evolve around polymer networks (elastomers and gels), comprising chain dynamics, structural aspects (inhomogeneities), and thermodynamic swelling behavior, with a focus on amphiphilic gels, rubber blends and changes upon filling with nanometric particles. Another strong focus is the study of mechanisms of structure formation in semicrystalline polymers. Other projects are concerned with entangled melt rheology, confinement effects on chain dynamics, lipid membrane/guest interactions, and finally the dynamics of biological (macro)molecules .
Solid-State NMR methodology
Prof. Dr. Kay Saalwächter
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magic-angle spinning (MAS) methods:
dipolar couplings, order parameters and internuclear distances. - multiple-quantum spectroscopy.
- exchange spectroscopy.
- pulsed field-gradient NMR diffusometry.
Dr. Alexey Krushelnitsky
- NMR relaxometry.
Dr. Tiago Ferreira
- MAS recoupling methods.
Dr. Günter Hempel
- NMR theory development.
Polymer Physics
Prof. Dr. Kay Saalwächter
- polymer networks: structure, dynamics, and swelling.
- polymer crystallization: kinetics and molecular origin.
- dynamics and order in confined media.
- hydrogen bonds and supramolecular structure in polymers.
Liquid Crystals and Oriented Media
Dr. Tiago Ferreira
- dynamics and ordering in lipid-membrane systems
- molecular-dynamics simulations of lipid systems