Scientific service groups

The IT Department is responsible for the IT infrastructure of the Institute. It takes care of the operation, maintenance and expansion of the network and the IT services provided by it, including the necessary server hardware. In addition, it provides and advises the staff in IT matters and offers help with problems.

The central electron microscopy facility operates two scanning electron microscopes and three transmission electron microscopes at the MPI-P.
Besides the operation of the microscopes, the field of activity includes sample preparation, the training of young scientists at the instruments, service measurements for various projects and the development of new measuring and preparation methods.

The focused ion beam etching facility allows the micro- and nanostructuring of surfaces with an accuracy of up to 10 nanometers. Furthermore, thin sections for transmission electron microscopes or cross sections of thin layers or particles can be prepared.

The NMR group analyses new organic and inorganic substances, which are present in solution or as gel. NMR spectroscopy can calculate three-dimensional structures and thus provides a deeper understanding of the composition and molecular make-up of a wide variety of chemical compounds such as monomers, polymers and functional materials.

In mass spectrometry, molecules are "weighed" in principle. "Weighing" is done with very high accuracy and works with the smallest sample quantities. The Mass Spectrometry service group examines samples from synthesis chemistry and provides information for the identification of new compounds, structure and purity of both small organic molecules and large polymer molecules. more

The laboratory offers numerous possibilities to characterize the mechanical and dielectric properties of polymer melts and solutions as well as hydrogels. Material properties such as viscosity, elasticity and dielectric constants can be measured using a variety of state-of-the-art analytical instruments.

The method of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is used to examine solids for their chemical structure and local interactions. The knowledge gained creates a deeper understanding of molecular processes of thermal as well as electronic properties and therefore forms the basis for the understanding of structure-property relationships.

Our optical spectroscopy service provides a comprehensive suite of characterization techniques, ranging from essential routine analysis to cutting-edge ultrafast laser methods. Standard capabilities include UV-VIS spectroscopy, Raman microscopy, and infrared absorption measurements across various sample geometries. For more complex investigations, we offer advanced nonlinear techniques such as Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) spectroscopy for probing molecular interfaces and Optical Pump-Terahertz Probe (OPTP) spectroscopy to assess charge carrier dynamics

The main activities of the polymer analytics group include service measurements for working groups of the institute, the further development of analytical methods and equipment as well as various research projects. A variety of methods are used to characterize polymers and functional materials, including chromatographic methods, light scattering, thermoanalysis and viscometry.

With this method topography as well as friction, adhesion, elasticity, electric and magnetic fields, electric potentials and currents of materials can be investigated on the nanometer scale. Atomic force microscopy is mainly used in air and in liquids. Scientists can order measurements as a service or carry out measurements independently according to instructions.

The new clean room was handed over to the institute in July 2016 fully functional. It is a basic prerequisite for microstructuring as well as for sample preparation under particularly clean conditions - with less than 29 particles per cubic meter that are larger than 5 µm. Photolithographic methods and a reactive ion etching facility are available for the structuring of polymers as well as metals.

The radiographic scattering methods at the institute allow the structural characterization of hard and soft materials as well as solids and liquids. Typical length scales range from a few Ångstroms (0.1 nm) for crystalline, inorganic materials to about 100 nm for supramolecular structures. Temperature dependent measurements allow e.g. to study phase transitions or relaxation processes in thermodynamic equilibrium.

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) enables measuring the elemental composition, determining empirical formula as well as chemical and electronic state of elements within the top 10nm of a solid material. Spectra are generated by irradiating the sample surface with X-rays and then measuring the kinetic energy of emitted electrons. All elements except for hydrogen and helium are detectable, by varying the x-ray energy that is used.