Prof. Dr. Rolf Schäfer: Structure and Dynamics of Clusters

We cordially invite you to the seminar of Prof. Dr. Rolf Schäfer.

Abstract
Clusters of atoms or molecules exhibit many properties different from those of the corresponding bulk material, which is due to the strong influence of the particle surface as well as to quantum size effects. It is therefore very interesting to study the development of their geometric and electronic structure as a function of size. The talk will present our methodological efforts to study isolated clusters in the gas phase and supported ones on surfaces. This includes the investigation of the dielectric, optical, magnetic and catalytic properties of mass-selected clusters. The major aim is to uncover correlations in the geometric and electronic structure and thus help to better understand the magnetic and catalytic behavior of nanoclusters in dependence of size and chemical composition.

Rolf Schäfer is an experimental physical chemist. His major interest is in small inorganic clusters, isolated in the gas phase but also supported on surfaces. His focus is on the development of molecular beam and surface science techniques to study the dielectric, magnetic, optical, catalytic and structural properties of clusters depending on their size and chemical composition. He studied chemistry in Marburg, where he received his diploma and PhD under the supervision of Friedrich Hensel at the department of physical chemistry. After a postdoc in Hans Güntherodt’s group at the department of physics of the University of Basel, he moved to Hannover, where he completed his habilitation in 2000. Since 2001 he is a professor of physical chemistry at Darmstadt University of Technology. He is the editor of the two-volume handbook Methods in Physical Chemistry.