Information for students

Bachelor and master students

The group is always on the lookout for highly motivated individuals who wish to work on functional hybrid materials and want to explore their properties and applications, particularly in gas storage or medicine.

Please, get in touch with PD Dr. Hana Bunzen [hana.bunzen(at)physik.uni-augsburg.de] to discuss the possibility to carry out your bachelor or master thesis, or laboratory project in the group.

Topics currently available as a bachelor or master thesis:

Gas Storage in Metal-Organic Frameworks via Kinetic Trapping

This project investigates the potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for advanced gas storage applications, focusing specifically on the mechanism of kinetic trapping. MOFs are a class of highly porous materials known for their tunable properties, making them ideal candidates for efficient and selective gas storage. The concept of kinetic trapping involves utilizing energy barriers to slow down the diffusion of gas molecules, enhancing storage capacity and selectivity under specific conditions. 

The study encompasses the synthesis of MOFs tailored for gas trapping applications and an in-depth analysis of their performance. A comprehensive suite of analytical techniques will be employed to characterize the materials and understand the mechanisms involved. These methods include X-ray diffraction analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, microscopy techniques, and gas adsorption measurements.

Through the evaluation of experimental results, this project aims to provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of MOFs for energy-efficient gas storage applications.

Literature: Bunzen H. et al. in (a) Chem. Eur. J. 2024,  doi.org/10.1002/chem.202403574; (b) Inorg. Chem. Front. 2023, 10, 4763. doi: 10.1039/d3qi01007d; (c) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 10191.

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Doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers

There are no doctoral and postdoctoral positions currently available.

Highly motivated researchers interested in applying for competitive funding are welcome. Please, keep in mind to get in touch well in advance to discuss the possible support for your application.

Contact: PD Dr. Hana Bunzen hana.bunzen(at)physik.uni-augsburg.de