The Surface Physics Group focuses mainly on oxide surfaces and oxidation of metal surfaces. After all, almost every metal is oxidized under ambient conditions, and the range of physical and chemical properties of oxides is overwhelming. Some of the best superconductors and some of the best insulators are oxides; some oxides are highly active catalysts whereas others are inert and used to protect metals against corrosion. For understanding (and, eventually improving) many of these properties, you have to know what's going on at the surface!

For Students

Courses in surface physics (lectures):

We are constantly searching for talented students who want to take over parts of our research work as a bachelor thesis, a project work or master thesis. Get in contact with us!

We have also open positions for PhD students and PostDocs!

What is the image at the top?

The image at the top of many of the Surface Physics web pages shows a three-dimensional representation of image of a magnetite Fe3O4(001) surface with single gold atoms (yellow). The image has been acquired with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), thus an STM tip is symbolized at the top left. The symbols at the top right stand of other analysis techniques like x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low-energy ion scattering. For more information on Au/Fe3O4(001) see the page on iron oxides and the paper on this surface: Novotný et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108,216103 (2012), opens an external URL in a new window.