Prof. Dr. Robert Blick
Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg

Abstract:
Nanomembranes – ultra-thin, flexible materials – have emerged as a versatile platform for innovation across diverse applications. In this presentation I will discuss how some ideas of origami are being applied to nanomembranes to engineer functional three-dimensional structures which are leading to novel functionalities. By manipulating the geometry and strain of nanomembranes at the nanoscale, we can make use of them in flexible electronics and biomedical applications. We will examine the foundational concepts of nanomembranes, focusing on their unique mechanical and electrical properties, and how these can be tuned through origami-inspired folding techniques. Specific applications are the development of stretchable circuits and tunable photonic devices. Additionally, the talk will discuss the role of strain engineering in optimizing the performance of these nanostructures, in the end allowing for observing effects such as the synthetic Hall-effect in single-layer graphene.