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07.12.2011
Prestigious research grant for nanoscience at PETRA III
For his investigations on nanoparticle growth at DESY’s X-ray source PETRA III, Professor Stephan Förster from Bayreuth University is honoured with the highest science award of the European Research Council (ERC). The so-called ERC Advanced Grant is endowed with 2.4 million euros and is presented for particularly promising research projects.
Förster investigates how atoms accumulate to small clusters in liquids and how these nanoparticles grow. These findings are not only important for basic research but also valuable for the development of new materials and for energy, information and medical technologies.
“The more we understand how molecular structures gradually form larger units, the more efficient will be the development of materials which – due to their properties and structures – are optimally suited for special technology applications,” Förster explains.
For his experiments, the Bayreuth scientist uses the so-called microfocus beamline P03 (MiNaXS) at PETRA III. On a chip with microscopic channels having a width of one to a 100 millionth of a metre, his research group mixes different liquids and – with the fine X-ray beam from the DESY accelerator – observes, how atoms congregate in this mixture.
“Currently, we obtain a beam width of 20 millionth of a metre; this is the finest resolution possible in microfocus so far,” Förster illustrated. In the future, the resolution is to increase up to one millionth of a metre. “Without the beamline at DESY, this experiment would not be possible.”
