Welcome to the department of Prof. Hans-Jürgen Butt

Physics at interfaces

We study the structure and dynamics of soft matter interfaces. Our general aim is to derive a simple quantitative description of soft matter interfacial phenomena, which is based on fundamental physical laws. Major topics are interfacial forces and wetting. We investigate liquids that are internally structured at different length scales, such as polymer melts, solutions, dispersions, or emulsions. The methods we use include scanning probe techniques, confocal microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and X-ray scattering. To expand the range of length and time scales accessible, new methods are continuously developed. Our goal is to solve fundamental questions, with the perspective of future applications.