Prof. Dr. Cinzia Casiraghi

Profil

Derzeitige StellungProfessor W-3 und Äquivalente
FachgebietExperimentelle Physik der Kondensierten Materie
Keywordsnanomaterials, nanotechnology, material science

Aktuelle Kontaktadresse

LandVereinigtes Königreich
OrtManchester
Universität/InstitutionUniversity of Manchester
Institut/AbteilungSchool of Chemistry

Gastgeber*innen während der Förderung

Prof. Dr. Stephanie ReichFachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin
Beginn der ersten Förderung01.12.2007

Programm(e)

2007Humboldt-Forschungsstipendien-Programm
2008Sofja Kovalevskaja-Preis-Programm

Projektbeschreibung der*des Nominierenden

Graphite is among the oldest materials known to mankind. We draw pictures with graphite leads and lubricate squeaking doors with graphite powder. Yet, graphite continues to puzzle scientists. Electrons flow through its planes like light goes through glass. A single sheet of the soft graphite crystal is harder and stronger than diamond. Graphite is also the building block for carbon nanotubes, a prototypical man-made material for future use in nanotechnology. Dr. Casigrahi and her group want to resolve the graphite puzzle. Peeling off single graphitic sheets, cutting, folding and rolling them, they will follow the route from the age-old graphite crystals to the modern, tiny nanotubes. Her research will allow to understand why nanomaterials are so different from the macroscopic materials around us. Dr. Casiraghi will attempt to build tiny carbon-based devices that conduct electricity and detect light.