To improve the performance of supercapacitors, a mechanistic understanding of ion electrosorption is required. In this work we identify parameters like salt concentration, charging velocity or cell design, controlling mechanisms of ion charge storage. Moreover, we show that charging initially leads to a non-equilibrium ion configuration even at extremely low cycling speed, followed by an increase of the total ion concentration, i.e. a charge-neutral equilibration.

Self-assembled and self-alligned organic nanostructures are very interesting building blocks for the future nanoelectromechanics, especially considering an increasing demand to improve, miniaturize, and integrate various sensors into low-power wearable (flexible) applications. Unique nanomechanics that exists on these scales might appear as counter-intuitive in a macroscopic world, and therefore understanding of the underlying mechanisms is a key step in advancement of these technologies.

The impact of the paper on "3D colloidal supercrystals" is further illustrated by the fact that is was selected as Inside Front Cover in Volume 30, Issue 32, August 9, 2018 of Advanced Materials

In this study three Austrian Universities the TU Graz, the Univ. Wien led by the MU Leoben worked together to reveal the supercrystal structure of free standing 3D colloidal supercrystals by combining in-situ synchrotron SAXS experiments at ELETTRA with simulations.

25 Feb - 02 Mar 2018, Castle of Mauterndorf, Austria

In a recently published article in Scientific Reports a method to reconstruct the piezoelectric domain orientation distribution function of device-ready polycrystalline lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is presented.

The Institute of Physics has an open PHD student position: physik.unileoben.ac.at/en/5914/

For his important contribution to the understanding of ion behavior in supercapacitors, Dr. Christian Prehal was awarded with the Fonda-Fasella prize.

On the occasion of this year's Nobel Prizes there will be two lectures held on 14.12.2017. The lectures will be given in German.

 Prof. Dr. Peter C. Aichelburg (Fakultät für Physik, Gravitationsphysik, Universität Wien):
„Gravitationswellen: In 100 Jahren von der Theorie zur Beobachtung“
Der Nobelpreis für Physik 2017 geht an die drei US-Forscher Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish und Kip Thorne für den ersten direkten Nachweis im All entstehender Gravitationswellen.

Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Hofer (Institut für Elektronenmikroskopie und Nanoanalytik, Technische Universität Graz):
„Kryo-Elektronenmikroskopie: Hochauflösende Struktur-untersuchungen an Biomolekülen und Biomaterialien“
Der Nobelpreis für Chemie 2017 geht an die drei Wissenschaftler Joachim Frank (USA), Richard Henderson (UK)…

Watch the online lecture about the use of X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) on Nanostructures