Crystallisation and Self-Assembly

We are fascinated by crystallization and its applications where crystal structure and the dynamics of crystallization play a major role. Our interests range from the deterioration of artworks and buildings by salt crystallization to the design of new materials such as perovskites for solar cells or ironized table salt for food purposes.
Our research covers different topics ranging from nano- to macroscale studies – from self assembly of nanocrystals and colloidal assemblies to the fundamentals of nucleation and growth of inorganic salts in droplets, and in confinement e.g. in porous materials.
The fundamental understanding of both classical nucleation and growth, and non-classical growth processes in the presence of additives such as polymers and surfactants or in contact with different type of surfaces remains one of our main research areas.