String Networks

An article in Nature Chemistry reports on the random reticulation of a metal surface by divergent coordination assembly expressing string formation and bifurcation motifs. More....

Giant Magnetic Anisotropy SMMs

The spin dynamics of a [TbPc₂]^-1-SMM was probed by solid-state 1H NMR techniques. The magnetic anisotropy barrier was found to be one order of magnitude larger than in any other SMM system (584 cm^-1 - 641 cm^-1). More ....

SMM-Carbon-Nanotube Conjugates

Recent results propose a SMM—SWNT conjugate as a promising unit in magnetic single-molecule measurements using molecular spintronics devices. More....

Dichotomous Array of Quantum Corrals

The confinement of surface-state electrons is possible using weak -interactions of aromatic molecules with metallic surfaces. The results obtained in collaboration with the group of J. V. Barth (TU Munich) demonstrate the engineering of ensembles of elaborate quantum resonance states by molecular self-assembly. More...

Expanding the Coordination Cage

A Ruthenium(II)-polypyridine complex exhibiting high quantum yields under ambient conditions was obtained by the expansion of the tpy coordination cage. More.....

Switching Nanostructures

The report on the nanostructuring of switchable iron (II) spin transition compounds by soft lithography techniques (in collaboration with
M. Cavallini, CNR Bologna) was highlighted as "Hot Paper" in the Angewandte Chemie. More... Press...

Transport through a Single Metal Ion

In collaboration with IBM, our group succeeded to study the electron transport through a single
Ru(tpy)₂-molecule. It was shown that the transport occurs in the resonant tunnelling regime and the ruthenium(II) metal ion behaves like the cross shaft in a Cardan-joint. More...

MARIO RUBEN     CV      TV

Scientific Scope

The research activity of the Functional Molecular Nanostructures Group at the Institute of Nanotechnology in Karlsruhe is oriented towards the design of functional nanosystems by state-of-the-art organic/inorganic synthesis and supramolecular self-assembly techniques.


The vision of the research group is to develop new concepts and advance research tools to master the design and the characterisation of molecular structures as well as their implementation and integration within the nanometer-regime. Towards this end, the group is highly integrated into several interdisciplinary collaborations and is directing several interdisciplinary European network projects



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