University of Kassel

The University of Kassel is a young, modern and vibrant university, characterized by its openness to new ideas in every single area of its work. Receptivity, initiative, transdisciplinary thinking and unconventionality are traits we cherish and welcome in studies, research and teaching, but also in knowledge transfer and entrepreneurial ventures, to which the university provides special support. We aspire to develop, validate and implement ideas – even if they are not yet in the mainstream. The University of Kassel has an unconventional profile with fields of expertise in nature, technology, fine arts and society. Technical and social questions relating to the future of our planet as well as fine arts and design are characteristic of our profile in both research and teaching. With about 22,000 students, the University of Kassel along with its School of Art and Design is one of Germany’s mid-sized universities. The University is part of a worldwide network of more than 500 foreign partners.

In her research, Prof. Claudia Backes focuses on exploring fundamental aspects of the controlled production of low-dimensional nanostructures in the liquid phase, in particular two-dimensional platelets, including developing a mechanistic understanding of both exfoliation and size selection. In addition, with Claudia being a chemist by training, the group seeks to establish methods and protocols for the chemical modification of a broad palette of nanostructures. Special effort is devoted to establishing standardised characterisation protocols using a range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques as foundation to establish structure-function relationships.

We will work on the production and ink formulation of new materials using a range of exfoliation strategies in the liquid phase (mechanical and intercalation-based) and their deposition in tiled networks and heterostructures using Langmuir-type approaches. Further, we will develop functionalisation protocols, in particular to achieve nanosheet cross-linking during or after film formation to improve charge transport. Due to her strong interest in reliable characterisation across all length scales, Claudia is ideally placed to lead WP4 focused on “Characterization of nanosheets, networks and heterostructures”.