Our research in the field of nanotechnology concentrates on the preparation of various thin films and film systems, as well as on metallic, ferromagnetic and superconducting nanostructures based on self-organisation, electron beam lithography and electron beam induced deposition.

Micromagnetism of Ferromagnetic Nanostructures

The research on ferromagnetic nanostructures is accompanied on the theoretical level by micromagnetic simulations. This work primarily studies how dipolar coupling in nanodot meshes influences the formation of magnetisation states and the time-dependent magnetic switching behaviour of coupled nanodots. This research work is of relevance to the production of magnetic hard disks, as well as in the design of magnetic random access memories, and so can be applied in the field of data storage.

Charge transport in granular electronic systems

Focused electron beam induced deposition of nano- or microstructures can result in nano-granular materials in which metallic nm-sized particles are embedded in an insulating matrix. Depending on the inter-particle distance, tunneling between the particles is possible as evidenced by the generally observed hopping conductivity in these materials. The main focus of our work is devoted to a controlled tuning of the tunneling probability which depends on both, Coulomb-blockade effects of the charge carriers, as well as the dielectric properties of the matrix. We achieve this by means of varying the metal-to-insulator ratio in the deposits or by post-growth electron irradiation. The latter technique is particularly suited for a controlled approach of the insulator-metal transition in theses materials which poses one of the most difficult problems in solid state physics.

Nano-sensor development (mainly strain sensing)

In this research we study the resistance-strain effect in nano-granular metals prepared by focused electron beam induced deposition techniques with a view to application in a new generation of atomic force microscopy employing highly miniaturized cantilevers in the sub-10 micron range with all-electric read-out. We also evaluate these materials with regard to other sensor applications.

 

geändert am 08. November 2011  E-Mail: Prof. Dr. Michael Huthmichael.huth@physik.uni-frankfurt.de

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