Nanoscale control of polarization in ultrathin ferroelectric heterostructures The success of oxide electronics depends on the ability to design functional properties such as ferroelectricity with atomic accuracy. Using laser optics, we enabled for the first time the access to the…
Making model soft composites It is rather difficult to make materials with a very precisely defined microstructure. However, some animals have developed incredibly precise techniques for doing exactly that. The resulting materials can have highly desirable properties, such as toughness…
Colloidal microswimmers Active colloids are self-propelled micro- and nanoparticles that convert uniform sources of fuel into directed motion. They hold tremendous promise as model systems of living microorganism or as drug delivery vehicles. I will show some complex phenomena in…
Batteries for safe and large-scale energy storage Energy storage technologies are essential to integrate and optimize the use of intermittent renewable energy sources. Not to mention that large scale energy storage can even transform the way we generate, distribute, and…
Cool stuff with ferroics – towards future solid state refrigeration If a magnetic field is applied adiabatically to a system of magnetic dipoles (or an electric field to a system of electric dipoles) it heats up. If the field is…
Current challenges in the fabrication of bio-inspired composites Biological composites achieve remarkable mechanical properties by organizing organic and inorganic building blocks into complex reinforcing architectures that find no counterparts in man-made materials. Combining the design principles underlying such intricate microstructures…
Dear member of SAM, VAC is doing the summer lounge again on the roof terrace of the 2nd finger of the HCI building. There will also be a joint event with SAM on the 30th of June 2017 starting at…
Dear members of SAM, We are happy to invite you to the 4th SAM General Assembly! After a quick review of the past year, we will decide on important matters for the upcoming year (see agenda below). Join us, tell…
Microscale metal additive manufacturing Additive manufacturing (AM) is transforming the way we design and fabricate structures on many scales. A main driving force of this movement is the ability of AM to overcome traditional geometrical constraints imposed by subtractive manufacturing…
Mimicking bio-lubrication by modifying hydrogel surfaces Biological tissues such as articular cartilage or cornea provide ultralow friction with negligible wear over many decades. A large part of such unique lubrication properties is attributed to the confinement of fluid within the…