Oliver Gröning received his Ph.D. in experimental physics from the University of Fribourg in 1999 on the topic of electron field emission from carbon thin films and nanostructures. After post-doctoral research on the development of a scanning anode field emission microscope for the investigation of electron emission cathodes for display applications, he joined Empa in 2001 to help building up the nanotech@surfaces laboratory, which became operational in 2003. Oliver Gröning is currently the deputy head of the nanotech@surfaces laboratory and leader of the Functional Surfaces Research group. He has a strong background in surface science with particular emphasis on carbon films and nanostructures, molecular surface science, intermetallic compounds and state-of-the-art scanning tunneling microscopy (UHV – Low Temperature STM/STS, non-Contact AFM) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS, UPS, ARUPS and XPD). Key drivers of his research are the understanding of the structure – property relationship of nanostructures and large unit cell surface systems (e.g. quasicrystals, complex metallic alloys, strain relief patterns or moiré structures). Dr. Gröning is strongly committed to transfer research results to applications, which he has proven in numerous industry collaborations with companies such as Motorola, SONY, Toyota, Philips or Thales. He has published over 100 peer reviewed articles in international journals, has been a member of the technical advisory committee for the Swiss Free Electron Laser, and has been appointed “Distinguished Senior Researcher” at Empa in 2014.

Research interests:

Surface physics and chemistry, carbon nanostructures and graphene, functional surfaces, molecular self-assembly, electronic structure, intermetallic compounds and quasi crystals, field emission, catalysis