| Surfaces & Interfaces |
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Our interest in surfaces & interfaces is based on a collaborative effort with members of different institutions within the ETH domain (ETH Zürich, Empa, PSI). As an important tool for investigation we are using the extended Surface Forces Apparatus (eSFA) to directly measure molecular forces at surfaces. Using the eSFA one can measure very small changes of forces on surfaces, which allows us to study intermolecular interactions or nano-tribological phenomena. The following topics are of particular interest: |
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| Structural and Thermodynamics at liquid-solid interfaces |
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We investigate the behavior of molecular liquids or solutes next to solid-liquid interfaces. The spontaneous molecular order induced in a liquid near a surface or the significantly modified dynamic behavior of confined liquids is our main interests. Most recently we are building a pressure controlled eSFA at Empa to study liquid CO2.
We also develop new methods like the Optical Spectral Correlation (OSC), or, the combination of Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) in confined geometries (at the SLS, PSI).
We are also using the new coherent cSAXS beam line at the PSI to study the molecular order in multi-component advanced fibers during drawing at different temperatures. Fine fibers represent a confined space for polymer molecules in this process. |
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| Molecular mechanisms and biological interactions |
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Why are certain surfaces resistant to non-specific protein adsorption? To answer this type of questions, we are developing a molecular adsorption sensor (TInAS) that already delivers valuable results in its prototype phase in different research groups.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Manfred Heuberger, Head of laboratory
+ 41 58 765 78 78
manfred.heuberger@empa.ch
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Newton Rings seen in reflection and used to measure the surface separation across liquid CO2 in the new apparatus “AGNES”.
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- M. Heuberger, "The extended surface forces apparatus: Part I. Fast Spectral Correlation Interferometry", Rev. Sci. Instrum., 72(3), (2001), 1700.
- M. Heuberger, M. Zäch, "Nano-fluidics: Structural forces, density anomalies and the pivotal role of nano-particles", Langmuir, 19(6), (2003), 1943.
- T.E. Balmer, M. Heuberger, "Precision thickness and refractive index imaging of molecular films", Rev. Sci. Instr. 78 (9), (2007) 093105.
- M. Heuberger, T.E. Balmer, "The Transmission Interferometric Adsorption Sensor", J. Phys. 40 (2007), 7245-7254.
- Perret E., Nygard K., Satapathy D.K., Balmer T., Bunk O., Heuberger M., van der Veen F., „X-ray reflectivity reveals equilibrium density profiles of liquid in nanometre confinement", Europhysics Letters, 88, (2009).
- Perret E., Balmer T., Heuberger M., „Self-consistent aggorithm for calibrating spectrometers to picometer accuracy over the entire wavelength range", Applied Spectroscopy, 64(10), (2010).
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