Controlling the Motion of Complex Molecules and Particles (COMOTION)
We develop innovative methods to obtain full control over large molecules and nanoparticles. These methods and the created controlled samples are exploited in fundamental physics and chemistry studies to unravel the underlying mechanisms of chemistry and biology by watching molecules at work.
Highlights
New approach to speed up cryo-em
04 October 2023
A new sample preparation technology, “freeze-and-deposit”, for cryo-electron microscopy has received funding for the validation phase.
Molecular movie of gold nanoparticle oscillations driven by displaced electrons
05 July 2023
Photocatalysis, sensors, solar cells: Plasmons promise a variety of applications if the processes triggered by optical excitation in the nanoparticles can be controlled. A research team from Hamburg and Berlin reports experimental observations of a so-called molecular movie that cannot be explained by established models in Nano Letters. The team provides a new theoretical model that explains the dynamics of excited gold nanoparticles observed in their experiments.