Lecturer: Tobias Cramer
Duration: 12 hours
Learning outcomes: Structuring materials at nanoscale dimensions provides novel means to tune material properties with important opportunities for different applications such as quantum-computing, bio-interfaces or solar energy conversion. The confinement of materials into nanometric dimensions impacts on their structural, mechanical and electrical properties. However, measuring these properties at small length scales provides novel challenges to characterization experiments. In this PhD course we will start with a brief overview of the topic of nanoscale characterization and then detail on a selected advanced technique. Possible examples are atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, optoelectronic spectroscopies or X-ray spectroscopies. The lectures will focus on the experimental details and laboratory practice. When possible, laboratory experiments combined with data analysis will be conducted to provide students the practical means to exploit the discussed technique in their PhD projects or later research activities.
Exam: Within three weeks after the end of the class, the students have to submit a written report about the AFM experiment they conducted in the laboratory.
Period: Jan - Feb 2026
Dates: please look here