Our goal is to develop a fundamental understanding of the macroscopic properties of condensed matter on the basis of the microscopic structure-dynamics relationships. This knowledge is of great importance for a systematic optimization of the material properties.

Research topics

A main focus of our research activities is the characterization of complex molecular dynamics in materials with disordered structures. For this purpose, we usually combine experimental studies, in particular, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, with computational approaches such as molecular dynamics simulations.

Liquids at interfaces

In nature and technology, liquids, in particular water, are often found near the surfaces of solids or macromolecules. The specific interactions at these interfaces usually lead to strongly altered liquid properties. We develop a fundamental understanding of the effects by characterizing the structure and dynamics of liquids in dependence on the distance of various interfaces.

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Ion transport in energy materials

The ion transport in solids is of fundamental importance in many energy technologies. Lithium ion batteries are a prominent example. We determine the microscopic mechanisms for the ion dynamics in solids to identify the key factors limiting the charge transport and, thus, the performance of energy materials.

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Water anomalies

The anomalies of water are still not understood. A much-noticed hypothesis postulates that the anomalies originate in a transition between two liquid phases in the supercooled state. To test this hypothesis, we ascertain the properties of water at low temperatures. For this pupose, we suppress the crystallization, e.g., by confinement in nanopores.

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Dynamics of proteins

The biological functions of proteins rely on the presence of a suitable solvent. However, the underlying interplay of the protein and solvent dynamics remains elusive to this day. We combine various kinds of experiments and simulations on well defined model systems to find out more about the basic principles.

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Ionic liquids

Owing to many interesting properties, ionic liquids have numerous applications, e.g., as green solvents. However, the complex chemical structure of the ions causes inhomogeneous behaviors on nanometer scales. We study how these inhomogeneities affect the interplay of short-range and long-range dynamics relevant for various technological applications.

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Glass transition

Although mankind is capable of producing glasses since centuries, the emergence of a glass from a liquid is still not understood on the microscopic level. In order to contribute to a fundamental understanding of the glass transition, we ascertain cooperative and heterogeneous dynamics, which are the key component of various theoretical approaches.

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Polymer composites and electrolytes

Polymers are the key components of plastics and other modern materials. These are often composites, which comprise polymers and other constituents to meet desirable properties. We investigate the interactions of polymers with solid surfaces or dissolved ions, which determine the performance of technologically relevant nanocomposites and polymer electrolytes.

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