Physics of Nanoscale Systems (ER-C-1)

Our focus is on the development of new procedures for understanding material properties on the atomic level with a special focus on ultrahigh resolution electron microscopy techniques. In the near future, life sciences will be added as the first new field of application. Furthermore, we enable researchers from science and industry to use our instruments and methods, supported by our experts, and aim to establish a national user facility for the scientific community.

Head: Prof. Rafal Dunin-Borkowski

Our research groups

Nanomaterials for green energy

We study catalyst nanoparticles and nanomaterials for green energy storage and conversion processes. We aim to understand the relationship between the atomic-scale microstructure and the performance of nanoparticle catalysts.

Nanoscale quantum devices

Transmission electron microscopy characterization on working nanoscale quantum devices at their operating conditions.

Magnetic materials and crystal growth

Understanding magnetic and quantum phenomena through state-of-the-art transmission electron microscopy of high-quality single-crystals produced by advanced growth methods.

Magnetic properties of interfaces & surfaces

We investigate novel magnetic phenomena at the interfaces and surfaces of hybrid quantum materials using advanced X-ray/Electron spectromicroscopy.

Polymers and Colloids

We use (cryo-)electron microscopy to study how nanostructures determine the behaviour of soft materials, driving advances in materials for energy and health.

Electronic properties of interfaces & surfaces

Electronic properties of interfaces and surfaces: Correlative transmission electron & scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy

High-resolution and low dose characterization

We develop and utilize high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to explore materials information down to the atomic scale.

Data Science

Computer-aided imaging for electron microscopy enables new insights into matter. It requires suitable software and tools to manage the enormous amounts of data.

Theory

The theory group is dedicated to the development of leading-edge electron microscopy techniques including hardware, theory, simulation, and application.

Instrument Technology

Our group focuses on advancing techniques, methods and instrumentation in electron microscopy to explore fundamental physics and material properties.

News and Events

Magnetic Hopfions Generated by Laser Pulses

An international team involving researchers from Forschungszentrum Jülich has, for the first time, generated isolated magnetic hopfions induced by laser pulses. These intricately twisted magnetic structures are considered a promising approach for future information technologies.

Science: GMR Effect 2.0 for Future Orbitronics Devices

An international research team has shown in Science how magnetic states can be read out electrically using the orbital angular momentum of electrons. Jülich researchers contributed to this milestone in orbitronics, opening a new route for future electronic devices.

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Publication highlights

Laser-induced nucleation of magnetic hopfions

Hopfions are three-dimensional topological solitons formed by closed loops of vortex strings, often taking the shape of rings. In magnetic crystals, hopfions have so far been observed only in unusual configurations in which hopfion rings are linked to skyrmion strings.

Orbital magnetoresistance in the antiferromagnet CoO driven by dynamic orbital angular momentum.

Recent predictions of orders of magnitude larger orbital current effects compared with spin currents have attracted considerable interest.

Magnetic skyrmion lattice disclinations in pentagon- and heptagon-shaped FeGe nanostructures

Magnetic skyrmions in chiral magnets typically arrange into hexagonal lattices, with their structural order influenced by factors such as temperature, external magnetic fields, and geometric constraints.

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