Functional Materials

Although our main research focusses on the development and application of advanced nanocharacterization, we independently synthesize and modify nanostructured materials in order to tailor their unique functional properties for various applications. This research in particular focusses on the combination of different classes of materials, taking advantage of their core functionalities, to realize superior composites or structures with even new functions. Targeted applications are gas/phase separation, energy storage and conversion. Currently, we are working on the production of inorganic nanoporous films via self-organization in order to utilize those as support for functional materials. The added functional material either features an intrinsic device property or is designed to enter a symbiosis with the supporting material. Our research fields are:

• Phase separation materials
• Nano-porous structures
• Energy conversion & storage
• Materials for catalytic applications

Contacts: Dr.-Ing. Julian Müller, Prof. Benjamin Butz

M. Hepp, H. Wang, K. Derr, S. Delacroix, S. Ronneberger, F. Loeffler, B. Butz, V. Strauss
Trained Laser-Patterned Carbon as High-Performance Mechanical Sensors,
NPJ Flex. Electron. (2021), accepted for publication

Z. Jian, N. Yang, M. Vogel, S. Leith, A. Schulte, H. Schönherr, T. Jiao, W. Zhang, J. Müller, B. Butz, X. Jiang
Flexible Diamond Fibers for High-Energy-Density Zinc-Ion Supercapacitors
Adv. Energy Mater. 2020, 2002202

B. Butz, C. Dolle, C.E. Halbig, E. Spiecker, S. Eigler
Highly Intact and Pure Oxo-Functionalized Graphene: Synthesis and Electron-Beam-Induced Reduction
Angew. Chemie 2016, 55, 15771–15774

N. Liu, C. Schneider, D. Freitag, M. Hartmann, U. Venkatesan, J. Müller, E. Spiecker, P. Schmuki
Black TiO2 Nanotubes: Cocatalyst-Free Open-Circuit Hydrogen Generation
Nano Lett. 2014, 14, 3309−3313