معرفی
Prof. Dr. Alf Mews is a full Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Hamburg, where he leads the Research Group Mews within the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanoscopic structures, particularly semiconductor nanocrystals, nanowires, and nanosheets.
Alf Mews studied chemical engineering in Aachen (Diploma in 1988) and Chemistry in Siegen (Diploma in 1992). He received his PhD in 1994 from the Hahn-Meitner-Institute in Berlin under Prof. Horst Weller, focusing on semiconductor nanocrystals. After a DFG fellowship with Prof. Paul Alivisatos at UC Berkeley (1995), he worked with Prof. Christian Bräuchle in Munich (1996) and completed his Habilitation in 2003 at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz under Prof. Thomas Basché. He was appointed to a full professorship at the University of Siegen in 2004 and moved to the University of Hamburg in 2008.
Prof. Mews' research interests span multiple areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology. His group investigates the nucleation and growth processes of colloidal nanoparticles, structure determination of nanoscopic systems using X-ray diffraction, and atomic modeling based on high-resolution electron microscopy. They also study the attachment and uptake mechanisms of nanoparticles in biological cells, synthesis of semiconductor nanostructures (nanorods, nanowires, nanoplatelets), development of surface-modified gold clusters, and biofunctionalization of nanoparticles for medical diagnostics. A key aspect of their work involves determining structure-property relationships by combining different microscopy methods.
The research group has published extensively on semiconductor nanowires, particularly focusing on CdS, CdSe, and CdTe systems. Their publications reveal a strong emphasis on understanding the fundamental optical, structural, and electronic properties of nanoscopic model structures. The group employs sophisticated microscopic techniques to investigate individual nanostructures, with significant contributions in areas like cation exchange reactions, quantum confinement effects, and nanowire-based device fabrication. Their research often bridges fundamental science with potential applications in optoelectronics and nanomedicine.
Scientific recognition includes:
- DFG fellowship (1995) to work with Prof. Paul Alivisatos at UC Berkeley
Prof. Mews has advised numerous PhD students throughout his career, with a substantial list of former group members who have completed their doctorates under his supervision. His research group maintains active collaborations and participates in various research networks at the University of Hamburg, including those focused on nanochemistry and materials science. The group operates specialized laboratory facilities for nanomaterial synthesis and characterization, including equipment for electrical measurements, optical spectroscopy, and surface potential analysis.
The Research Group Mews operates within the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Hamburg, with laboratory and office space at Grindelallee 117. The group maintains strong connections with other research groups within the Department of Chemistry and participates in interdisciplinary research initiatives focused on nanoscience and nanotechnology.
