A new international study, has revealed insights into the mechanisms underlying radiation damage at the molecular level. The research, published in Nature Chemistry, reveals how extensive, localized water ionization occurs due to the ultrafast processes triggered by core-level ionization of solvated metal ions. more

South Korean PhD student Ju Hyeon Lee, whose research focuses on spectroscopy and control of chiral molecules, has been awarded one of the esteemed Rao Prizes at the 2023 International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy. This recognition highlights her significant contributions to the field of molecular spectroscopy, positioning her among the notable scholars in this area of study. more

Dr. Sandra Eibenberger-Arias, a distinguished Austrian physicist from Vienna with an exceptional academic record, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant totalling €1.8 million for a period of five years. This grant recognizes her groundbreaking research in the field of coherent control of chiral molecules, paving the way for innovative advancements in chemistry and physics. more

Dr. Giacomo Valtolina, a physicist  from the small town of Cornate d'Adda near Milan, has been granted a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant of €1.5 million. Dr. Valtolina's exceptional research project, "LIght for controlling Reactive Interactions in COld molecules - LIRICO," aims to revolutionize our understanding of ultracold chemistry and the behavior of molecules at temperatures close to absolute zero. more

Liquid-jet photoelectron spectroscopy allows measurement of the electronic structure of liquids in a vacuum. However, the technique has only been applied to cylindrical liquid jets, whose curvature means measurements must average over the many orientations of surface molecules. more

Successful machine upgrade more

On 27.04. it was once again time for the girls' day. The colleagues at the Fritz Haber Institute had the pleasure to invite 30 interested girls to a day full of experiments, technology and questions and to introduce different professions in a research institution dealing with areas at the interface of chemistry and physics.
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Surfactants play an important role in every day life, for instance as major components in soaps. Since they feature hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts in their structure, they accumulate at water interfaces with air and can there influence the rate of evaporation of the solution or the efficiency with which gas molecules are taken up by the solution, a process that is for instance important for the incorporation of carbon dioxide into the oceans. more

The ability to distinguish two chiral enantiomers is an essential analytical capability for chemical industries including pharmaceutical companies, flavor/odor engineering and forensic science. A new wave of chiral optical methods have shown significant improvements in chiral sensitivity, compared to their predecessors, leading to potential analytical advantages for chiral discrimination. Researchers at the Fritz Haber Institute have integrated one of these modern methods with the study of gas-phase anions, which enable mass-selection and the use of a simple table-top laser for observation of the chiral effect. Thus, taking another step closer to realizing a robust analytical tool capable of chiral discrimination of dilute and complex, chiral mixtures. more

The Fritz Haber Institute is preparing for the Long Night of the Sciences on 2 July. Planned are participatory projects by the departments and workshops, a chemistry experiment show, a panel discussion on the topic of "No energy transition without hydrogen" and two historical district tours under the motto "Wrong or right: facts about the Dahlem Nobel Prize winners". more