Research Thesis Topics
If you are interested in writing your bachelor's or master's thesis in our group, feel free to contact one of the Phd students.
We are looking forward to working togehter with you!
Master: Nano-scale analysis of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 cross-sections using scattering-type Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (s-SNOM)
Functional oxide materials such as SrTiO3 offer interesting possibilities for novel electronic devices. For example, a two-dimensional electron gas forms at the interface of LaAlO3 and SrTiO3, which could be interesting for transistors or sensor applications but the charaterization of ultra-thin conductive layers buried under an insulating oxide is challenging. However, scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) is up to the task, as it allows the non-destructive nanoscale investigation of materials with a strong surface sensitivity and subsurface capabilities. In this thesis, mid-infrared SNOM should be used to investigate the interplay of electrons and phonons in SrTiO3 and LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures in detail, to quantitatively determine locally inhomogeneous electronic properties with nanoscale resolution in combination with theoretical modelling.
Contact: Julian Barnett
Master's Thesis: Tuning of SEIRA with different PCMs
Infrared spectroscopy enables the investigation of organic compounds in chemistry, biology and pharmacy. Most of the characteristic molecular vibrations lie in the infrared spectral range and provide information about the molecular bonds and compositions. This is contrasted by the small absorption cross-section of molecules. To detect small amounts of them nevertheless, plasmonic nanostructures are used in surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). The resonances of these nanostructures are commonly fixed after fabrication. By using phase-change materials, one can tune the resonances either by changing the dielectric surrounding or by reconfiguring the antenna itself
Kontakt: Lukas Conrads
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