about

Rüdiger Berger

I am working the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Reserach (MPI-P) in the group of Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Butt. I am focusing on Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) methods for characterization of surface and interface properties. I operate and organize the service lab for SPM with ten different microscopes from all major companies and more than 40 users.

My research concentrates at the investigation of electrical properties of surfaces at the nanometer scale (Kelvin and Conducting Probe Microscopy). The latter is important for charge transport in organic and perovskite solar cells. Based on SPM and optical tweezers methods novel instruments were developed for the investigation of liquid drops and force measurements at hydrostatic pressures up to 6 kbar. In addition, a micromechanical sensor technique is explored for material composition of tiny samples.


For the period from 2010 to 2016, I was elected as scientific representative of the MPI-P for CPT section of the Max Planck Society. From 2015 to 2017, I was acting as a member of the arbitration committee of the CPTS.
Rüdiger Berger studied physics at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. He got his diploma in Physics in 1994 in the field of high Tc-superconductors where he worked on imaging and manipulation methods using Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM). Then he moved to Switzerland where he made his PhD thesis and a PostDoc in the field of micromechanical sensors in the group of Ch. Gerber and J. Gimzewski at the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory. 1998 he joined the Analysis Laboratory at the IBM Deutschland Speichersysteme GmbH (Mainz). Here he worked on the automation of test systems, in-situ flight height control and the investigation of ion-beam structuring of magnetic materials. Since October 2002 Rüdiger Berger is working at the MPI for Polymer Research.

Funding

  • International Research Training Network (IRTG 1404) with University of Mainz and Seoul National University. Ended 2015.
  • Stiftung Rheinland Pfalz on Split Aptamers. Ended 2016
  • DAAD project with Yi Zhang, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, CAS (China) on Electrostatic Interaction between charged graphene sheets. Ended 2017
  • DFG project on miniaturized thermogravimetry. Ended 2018
  • DFG project within the SPP 2171 on adaptive wetting. Will end 2022
  • DFG project within the collaborative reserach center 1194 on wetting. Will end 2024
  • DFG project within the second phase of the SPP 2171 on adaptive wetting. Will end 2025

Teaching

  • advanced practical course Scanning Force Microscopy for physics students
  • practical course for biological physical chemistry students on Scanning Force Microscopy.

Performance

A list of my recent publications can be found by clicking on my side Publications. A complete list can be sent on request.
  • My ORCID ID is ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-4084-0675
  • My Reseracher ID is: RID: A-5210-2009 .
  • My H-index March 2022 was: 44, total number of published articles 202 and they received in 2021 more than 650 citiations.
In case you are interested to join my group, please contact me. Email
You can perform your Bachelor, Master and PhD thesis in my group. Your application must include a CV, a specific motivation letter and your university/school certificates.

Contact Rüdiger Berger

Physics of Interfaces
Ackermannweg 10
55128 Mainz
Germany
Tel.: + 49 (0)6131 379114
Fax.: + 49 (0)6131 379100
Room: 2.122