The question of "What binds the world in its innermost core?" was on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's mind in "Faust." Many researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology also search for answers to this question. At the new Transmission Electron Microscopy Center (TEM-Center), officially opened on April 14^th, 2026, at Erfenschlager Straße 73 in Chemnitz, researchers aim to visualize structures smaller than the wavelength of visible light. This will enable them to identify atoms, molecules, and the bonds of matter. To achieve this, they will utilize the top-tier research infrastructure.

High-resolution microscopes enable precise material analysis

"The core of the new, single-story building are two highly sensitive transmission electron microscopes that allow us to examine the structure and properties of materials at the molecular and atomic levels, and then translate these findings to new applications," says Prof. Dr. Andreas Undisz, the Chair of Electron Microscopy and Microstructural Analysis at Chemnitz University of Technology and head of the new center. For example, processes that lead to material damage can be examined in very detail, enabling more accurate conclusions to be made about the durability and performance of components.

A worthwhile investment at Chemnitz University of Technology

"With this new building and the two electron microscopes, Chemnitz University of Technology is once again at the forefront of global materials research. The complex technical features offered by this facility as a whole can be found at only a few other locations worldwide. In addition to the three faculties, partner institutions will also benefit. This makes Chemnitz University of Technology even more attractive to top researchers from around the world. Thus, we strengthen the entire scientific region of Southwest Saxony,” said Saxony’s Minister of Science, Sebastian Gemkow, in a statement from the State Ministry of Finance.

"We at Chemnitz University of Technology are delighted to celebrate the opening of the Transmission Electron Microscopy Center. This is an important investment in Chemnitz University of Technology and, by extension, in Chemnitz as a research hub, in our core competencies in materials science and intelligent systems, and in our university’s national and international reputation. We are very grateful to the Free State of Saxony and to everyone involved who actively supported the establishment of the center," says Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, President at Chemnitz University of Technology. Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel, Deputy President and Vice President for Research and University Development at Chemnitz University of Technology, who represented the Rector in receiving the key, added: "The new Transmission Electron Microscopy Center, which brings together expertise from various research areas at Chemnitz University of Technology, significantly strengthens our university’s STEM field in research and teaching and creates highly attractive conditions for new interdisciplinary research projects as well as for recruiting and training our next generation of academics by providing researchers and students with access to the latest technologies and methods in materials science."

Technological marvels explore the nano cosmos

The electron microscopes, which tower over four meters, capture images of the tiniest structures at the nanometer level. "To ensure these sensitive marvels of technology can operate optimally, they are housed in specially shielded, climate-controlled rooms and rest on a 1.4-meter-thick vibration-damping concrete slab," explains Undisz. This keeps mechanical, acoustic, electromagnetic, and thermal sources of interference at a distance. Experiments using the large-scale research equipment in the protected inner core of the building are conducted remotely from operating rooms. In-depth material analysis using the two transmission electron microscopes requires preparing material samples just a few nanometers thin. This process is semi-automated in an adjacent room using a focused ion beam system.

Researchers from over 20 professorships will work with the equipment in the future

The new center has the advantage of merging all of Chemnitz University of Technology’s high-resolution transmission electron microscopy equipment in one location. More than 20 professorships of the faculties of mechanical engineering, natural sciences, and electrical engineering and information technology will use the equipment for their transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary basic and applied research. They will also collaborate with non-university research institutions, such as Fraunhofer Society institutes, as well as companies.

Background: Transmission Electron Microscopy Center at Chemnitz University of Technology

Construction of the new research building began in September 2023 under the direction of the State Office for Real Estate and Construction Management. The building was designed by Heinle Wischer Partnership of Independent Architects mbB in Dresden. The sculpture "Impact", created by Stefanie Welk from Walldorf near Heidelberg as part of the "Art in Architecture" competition, frames the building’s entrance.

Approximately 13.1 million euros were invested in the construction of the building. Of this amount, approximately 7.4 million euros were provided by the European Regional Development Fund and around 5.7 million euros by the Free State of Saxony. The project was co-financed with tax revenues based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Free State of Saxony each provided 3.5 million euros for the large-scale equipment. Professors Christoph Tegenkamp, Martin Wagner, and Bernhard Wunderle successfully acquired the funding on behalf of the three participating faculties at Chemnitz University of Technology.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Andreas Undisz, phone +49 (0)371 531-34528, email andreas.undisz@mb.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Translation: Ulrike Lohr)

Since the launch of the European University Alliance „Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing“ in March 2025, Chemnitz University of Technology has been working with nine partner universities across Europe. More than 30 students and staff from TU Chemnitz are involved in 16 international task forces. These teams develop joint strategies in the areas of education, research, innovation, governance, and societal engagement—creating direct added value for the university. Students and staff at TU Chemnitz are now invited to contribute their experiences on 18 and 20 March 2026 and support one of the task teams with their knowledge.

Supporting the task team by collecting valuable user experiences

Task Team 2.1 – „Across Border Campus System“ is responsible for ensuring the interoperability of digital services across all Across universities. At the core of this work is the “Across eCampus”, a digital hub for management, teaching, learning, and networking. In two moderated focus groups, the task team will collect experiences from everyday study and work routines with the university’s digital systems on 18 and 20 March. These insights will feed into the further development of a digital infrastructure designed to facilitate international collaboration and open up new opportunities for education and exchange. Key questions include: Where does access to information and services already work well? Where do barriers arise (e.g., due to scattered information, unclear processes/responsibilities, or parallel tools)? And which improvements would be most important from a user perspective?

Students and staff at TU Chemnitz who would like to contribute to shaping a future-oriented campus system are warmly invited to take part in the focus groups:

• Student focus group: 18 March, 13:00 (duration: 60–90 minutes; venue: Welcome Center, International University Centre (IUZ), Bahnhofstraße 8)
• Staff focus group: 20 March, 10:00 (duration: 60–90 minutes; venue: Welcome Center, International University Centre (IUZ), Bahnhofstraße 8)

Participation requirements and compensation

Students and staff of Chemnitz University of Technology can participate if they are willing to share experiences in a moderated group discussion and provide feedback on the beta version and concept ideas. No technical background is required. Focus group participants will receive 15 EUR compensation, an official certificate of attendance from the Across alliance, and—optionally—the opportunity to be involved in the future as a „premium beta user“ (early access and further feedback opportunities).

To register interest, students and staff are asked to complete a short pre-survey in advance. Based on the responses, eight to ten participants per focus group will be selected to ensure a broad range of perspectives. For students, selection aims to cover different faculties, study programms, and stages of study. For staff, selection will consider different roles as well as experience with various internal digital systems. Anyone who is interested but cannot attend on the scheduled dates can, upon request, be contacted again for the next development phases of the „Across eCampus“.

Links to the pre-survey

• Students (German): www.mytuc.org/bryq
• Students (English): www.mytuc.org/vxjx
• Staff (German): www.mytuc.org/ntfk
• Staff (English): www.mytuc.org/kjqk

Keyword: Across eCampus

The „Across eCampus” is intended as a central digital access point of the Across university alliance to make study- and work-related services easier to use across institutions. This applies in particular to access to course content and learning offers from partner universities, as well as information and services that facilitate international exchange and mobility. In the long term, a dashboard will serve as the central entry point, bundling user-related information and simplifying access to core services. These include, for example, a digital course catalogue and a learning environment for cross-institutional digital and blended-learning formats, as well as collaboration and communication tools. Within the Across alliance’s „eCampus” sub-project, a digital infrastructure is being developed to centrally bundle and integrate existing services rather than replace them.

Background: Across and the eCampus sub-project

The European University Alliance „Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing“, coordinated by TU Chemnitz, promotes the exchange of knowledge, skills, and resources across national and institutional borders. Through innovative cooperation in education, research, administration, and third mission activities, Across aims to strengthen international collaboration and the long-term visibility of its partner universities. Key activities include the development of joint teaching offers and the expansion of mobility opportunities for students and staff. The „Across eCampus“ is a TU Chemnitz-led sub-project and a central building block within the alliance. As a digital infrastructure, it is intended to systematically facilitate access to cross-institutional offers.

Further information: Dr. Daniel Pietschmann, Co-Leader of the Across Task Team „eCampus“, email: daniel.pietschmann@phil.tu-chemnitz.de

On December 22, 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/70/212, establishing the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Since then, the United Nations, UNESCO, intergovernmental organizations, and numerous institutions from science and civil society have highlighted every year the importance of recognition, participation, and visibility of women in research and science. Despite progress, gender equality remains a major global challenge. Promoting young women, ensuring access to high-quality education, and translating scientific knowledge into practice are key measures to achieve this goal.

At TU Chemnitz, supporting early-career female researchers, strengthening women in leadership positions, and enabling the reconciliation of family, studies, and academic careers are central concerns in an increasingly complex research and work environment. Against this backdrop, TU Chemnitz is aligning with the UN initiative for the third time.

In connection with International Women’s Day on March 8, TU Chemnitz invites female scientists of all career stages, female students and university staff to the 3rd International Women-in-Science Day on March 6, 2026, at the Altes Heizhaus, Straße der Nationen 62, Chemnitz. No registration is required.

Focus Topic: Women’s Health

The 2026 event focuses on women’s health and its relevance for scientific careers, workplace structures, and academic environments. The event provides a platform for interdisciplinary exchange, new perspectives, and the empowerment of women in science.

The hosts of the event are Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel, Vice-Rector for Research and University Development at TU Chemnitz, and Karla Kebsch, Equal Opportunities Officer of TU Chemnitz.

Scientific Lectures and Program

The event opens with a scientific lecture giving psychological perspectives on Menstruation and Mentrual Pain. Further lectures explore the influence of hormonal, physical, and neurological factors on women’s careers and provide practical insights into cycle-oriented nutrition and performance.

A networking break offers space for discussion. In the afternoon, the project TUC_FemAktiv will be officially launched.

The day concludes with “Coffee & Talk”, an informal exchange format in which female students and researchers can connect with the Vice-Rector and the Equal Opportunities Officer, share experiences, discuss research interests, and address individual needs in a relaxed atmosphere.

Program Overview

09:00 a.m.
Welcome
Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel, Vice-Rector for Research and University Development, and Karla Kebsch, Equal Opportunities Officer, TU Chemnitz

09:15 a.m.
Talk (English): Psychological Perspectives on Menstruation and Menstrual Pain – Attitudes, Barriers and Work-Related Outcomes

Dr. Alexandra (Sasha) Cook, University of Amsterdam

10:15 a.m.
Talk (English): Invisible Influences: Hormones, Body, and Brain in Women’s Careers
Dr. Andresa Mara de Castro Germano, HSW, TU Chemnitz

11:15 a.m.
Talk (German): Zyklus-Power freisetzen: Ernährung, die pusht

Jonathan Balkenhol, freelance nutritional scientist

12:00 p.m.
Networking break 

01:00 p.m.
Opening of the project TUC_FemAktiv
Dr. Andresa Mara de Castro Germano, HSW, TU Chemnitz

02:00 p.m.
Coffee & Talk
Informal exchange with Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel and Karla Kebsch

03:00 p.m.
End of the event

(Author: Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel)

On February 5, 2026 from 04:00 pm on, it happens again: The University Library jointly with the University Computer Center, the Foreign Language Center, the Methodological Competence Center of the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Central Course Guidance Service as well as the Student Council, the faculty student bodies and the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau invites again for the “Long Night of Postponed Course Papers”. The concept was adapted to the demands of the students. Thus, this year is provided the opportunity to book in advance individual time slots of 20 minutes for consultation with the respective consultant at the information booths according to the own time planning and orienting at the personal inquiries and needs via OPAL (mytuc.org/gsxv). The information booths provide their offers at the west wing at the ground floor of the Library Building until 10:00 pm.

In order to create the best conditions for finally complete the course paper, also sufficient opportunities for relaxing are provided: Thus, at 05:45 pm and at 08:00 pm a “break for moving” of respectively 15 minutes is offered at the east wing at the ground floor and within the period from 06:00-08:00 pm four times yoga and relaxing exercises of respectively 20 minutes (in the IdeenReich). From 07:00-09:00 pm, twelve time slots for “speed massages” of respectively ten minutes are provided. Those are allocated from 05:00 pm on at the information booth of the Student Union – first come, first serve! For the “breaks for moving” as well as for the yoga and relaxing exercises on the contrary, no prior registration is required. Thanks to the Student Union, also food and beverages are provided.

The event is rounded off by a keynote speech of Sofie Marie Götz of the Junior Professorship Sociology with Specialization in Technology dealing with the topic “Apply Generative AI (right) within studies” in the IdeenReich.

Subsequently, from 10:00 pm on, the course paper may be elaborated – this time, however, not only until midnight but all around the clock as until February 14, 2026 midnight, the University Library stays open 24/7 for the first time and thus fulfills a wish frequently expressed by its users. Consequently, not only the “course paper authors” but all students are cordially invited to extensively make use of this offer and crowd the University Library also during the night within the period mentioned. Please observe to bring with you your TUCcard as you will need it for getting in the Library Building within the time from midnight to 09:00 am by presenting it to a scanning device next to the main entrance.

Detailed information regarding the “Long Night of Postponed Course Papers”: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/ub/aktuell/veranstaltungen/landah.html.en

A stay abroad allows you to acquire new knowledge and skills and expand your social, cultural and professional competencies. Students at Chemnitz University of Technology can choose from exchange places at more than 200 partner universities in 30 countries as part of the Erasmus+ programme.

Anyone who would like to spend a semester abroad with the Erasmus+ programme in the winter semester 2026/27 or summer semester 2027 should now apply to their department for an exchange place at an Erasmus+ partner institution of the department. The online application for participation in the Erasmus+ programme must be submitted to the International University Centre (IUZ) at Chemnitz University of Technology by 31 March 2026. Further information is available online.

Erasmus+ offers a lot

A semester abroad with Erasmus+ has many advantages: the stay can be financially supported, there are no tuition fees at the host university, and the recognition of credits earned abroad and extensive organisational support are also advantages. The monthly funding rates of €600 or €540 are supplemented by a travel allowance and possible additional funding of €250 per month for students with children, physical disabilities, from non-academic backgrounds or in employment.

The IUZ supports Erasmus+ students before, during and after their stay. Numerous counselling and support services, preparatory meetings and intercultural training courses complement the stay at the ‘dream study location’. In addition, the IUZ is in contact with many partner universities and is available as a contact point at all times to ensure that the semester abroad is an unforgettable experience.

For further information please contact: Oliver Sachs, phone: +49 (0)371/531-37972, E-Mail: oliver.sachs@iuz.tu-chemnitz.de

The Physik Journal, the member magazine of the German Physical Society (DPG, Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft e. V.), the most important specialist medium and central information forum for over 50,000 physicists of all disciplines in German-speaking countries, features an overview article in its January 2026 issue on two projects from the TUCculture2025 initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology in recent years that have combined art and physics in a special way. For example, the stele artwork “Thinking and Perception Model for the Phenomenon of Color” by Dresden artist Stefan Nestler, erected in 1998 as part of the construction of the Central Lecture Hall and Seminar Building at Chemnitz University of Technology, demonstrated how abstract concepts of modern physics can be explored through aesthetic experience. From the viewpoint of the end of 2025, the article puts the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz again into a retrospective focus.

Behind a largely regular arrangement of 187 metal steles, which have adorned the forecourt of the Central Lecture Hall and Seminar Building as a work of art since 1998, lies more than just an aesthetic object: it represents a kind of color in itself, a variation on what it conveys as its main message. What sounds like a somewhat convoluted but trivial statement is the result of more than three years of intensive and interdisciplinary scientific observation, funded in part by the projects “Chemnitz: Wood, Light, Sound” and “Wave Plays” as parts of the TUCculture2025 initiative. The work revealed that the artwork “Thinking and Perception Model for the Phenomenon of Color” is the world's largest scientifically described realization of a photonic crystal for electromagnetic waves and, at the same time, represents a phononic crystal that can be used fort he manipulation of sound waves. It thus represents forbidden regions, i.e., barriers for waves in several spectral ranges: the band gaps occur for both sound and radio waves, so that the artwork has its own “color” in each of these two domains.

This special connection between physics, art, and the worlds of human perception and metrological measurement is the focus of the overview article titled “Phoxonic Art” Herein, Prof. Dr. Angela Thränhardt, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Chemnitz University of Technology and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Managing Director of the Research Center for Materials, Architectures, and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology, explain how Stefan Nestler's stele arrangement allowed fundamental wave equations to be examined clearly and how numerical simulations, theoretical models, and metrological experiments were interlinked with the expertise of the faculties of Natural Sciences and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The adjective “phoxonic” in the deliberately pejorative title “Phoxonische Kunst” (Phoxonic Art) refers to the fact that several “forbidden regions” for the propagation of waves, i.e., band gaps, occur in one and the same object. This applies both to the photonic case, i.e., that related to light and electromagnetic waves in the field of established communication technologies, and to the phononic case, i.e., that are related to acoustics and hence sound. An interaction between these domains is also conceivable, at least in principle. This demonstrates the remarkable visionary nature of artist Stefan Nestler, who has imbued his artwork with a unique, phoxonian model of perception that is measurable and therefore verifiable.

The overview article also highlights that physical research not only unlocks new insights into abstract or complex phenomena in nature, but also opens up innovative avenues for science communication through its connection with art: as part of the TUCculture2025 projects, the artwork and its surroundings were transferred to a laboratory environment where the complex wave phenomena of photonics and phononics, such as scattering, interference, and diffraction, became audible and tangible in surprising ways. The artwork thus became the starting point for dialogue between scientists, friends of art, and the general public, for example at the Open House Days (TUCtage) since 2022 or the Christmas market at Chemnitz University of Technology. This is an example of bringing physics out of the “ivory tower” and into the urban and cultural space.

Beyond the specific topic, the overview article provides an outline of other projects with a “physical flavor” from the TUCculture2025 initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology, which since 2022 has bundled many of the university's activities at the interface of science, art, and society since 2022 and was geared toward 2025, when Chemnitz held the title of “European Capital of Culture.” The article also looks back on cultural projects and events in Chemnitz during the European Capital of Culture year that had a special connection to physics and thus became part of the broad cultural program in Chemnitz as scientific sprinklings.

The article has been available as a summary on the Physik Journal website (issue 01/2026) since January 5, 2026 (login required to access the PDF).

For further information, please contact Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, phone +49 (0)371 531-35610, e-mail thomas.blaudeck@main.tu-chemnitz.de, and Prof. Dr. Angela Thränhardt, phone +49 (0)371 531-37636, e-mail angela.thraenhardt@physik.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Translation: Tobias Bollig)

The DFG Research Unit “Proximity-Induced Correlation Effects in Low-Dimensional Structures”, coordinated by Chemnitz University of Technology, investigates how proximity effects and interface engineering in atomically thin materials can be used to design next-generation quantum and optoelectronic devices. The research group explores epitaxial growth and intercalation of heavy carbon-group elements beneath graphene to tune its electronic and optical properties, ultimately forming hybrid systems with enhanced light-matter interaction.

In a recent publication in the renowned journal “Advanced Optical Materials”, researchers from the Professorships of Semiconductor Physics and Analytics on Solid Surfaces at TU Chemnitz reported a breakthrough in coupling light to graphene. Their work introduces tin (Sn) nanoantennas as a new plasmonic material capable of boosting the interaction between light and two-dimensional (2D) systems. This achievement not only expands the palette of plasmonic materials beyond conventional gold and silver but also strengthens graphene’s potential for future applications in molecular sensing, ultrafast photodetectors, and quantum nanophotonic devices.

From challenge to opportunity: how to make graphene absorb more light

2D materials, such as graphene, are highly regarded for their exceptional mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties. Notably, the absence of an energy bandgap in its electronic structure makes graphene particularly well-suited for broadband optical applications, including use in lasers and tunable optical modulators. Despite these remarkable traits, however, these materials interact only weakly with light; monolayer graphene absorbs a mere 2.3% of incident visible light under normal incidence. This low intrinsic absorption has long limited the use in optoelectronics.

One effective strategy to overcome this limitation involves the use of plasmonic nanoantennas, metallic nanostructures that act like tiny optical funnels. Much like a radio antenna concentrates widely spread (far-field) electromagnetic waves into a confined electrical signal, plasmonic antennas efficiently convert incident light into highly localized near-field plasmonic oscillations. This process focuses light into nanoscale “hot spots,” where the electromagnetic fields are dramatically intensified and concentrated far below the diffraction limit of light. Within these confined regions, interactions among electrons, phonons, and molecular vibrations occur much more efficiently, leading to enhanced optical processes such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), high-sensitivity photodetection, and photocatalytic energy conversion.

Sn nanoantennas: a new path to strong coupling

In their recent study, researchers from Chemnitz introduced Sn as a novel plasmonic medium. They successfully demonstrated that Sn nanoantennas can amplify the scattering intensity of graphene’s Raman-active phonons by more than two orders of magnitude. "This significant enhancement was achieved by positioning the graphene in dual-sided proximity to Sn nanostructures, which effectively act as plasmonic nanoantennas,” explains Dr. Narmina Balayeva, a postdoctoral researcher at the Professorship of Semiconductor Physics at Chemnitz University of Technology. “Using a technique called confinement epitaxy, a 2D metallic Sn layer first formed naturally between the graphene sheet and its silicon carbide (SiC) substrate, followed by the growth of Sn nanoislands directly on the graphene surface.”

A window into new physics

Enhancing light-matter interaction is not merely about improving device performance; it unveils possibilities to explore new regimes of quantum and optical physics. “When light is confined to dimensions comparable to atomic scales, it can form entirely new hybrid states, so-called polaritons, where electronic and optical excitations become inseparable,” says Dr. Zamin Mamiyev, a postdoctoral researcher at the Professorship of Analytics on Solid Surfaces, who coordinated the experiments. “Under such extreme spatial and optical confinement, we can probe energy-transfer mechanisms and quasiparticle dynamics that remain entirely hidden in conventional, macroscopic measurements. This effectively allows us to push the boundaries of sensing, photonics, and quantum technologies.”

The ability to manipulate and engineer materials one atomic layer at a time has inaugurated a new era of "materials-by-design," with hundreds of stable 2D crystals now available for combination into complex heterostructures. “Through targeted intercalation, inserting specific atoms between layers, we can form unusual material phases that are difficult to achieve otherwise and precisely control how these ultrathin materials interact at their interfaces,” adds Prof. Dr. Christoph Tegenkamp, head of the Professorship Analytics on Solid Surfaces and spokesperson for the DFG Research Unit. “This unprecedented control allows us to fine-tune and probe electronic and photonic interactions at a truly fundamental level, an essential capability for developing the next generation of high-performance quantum technologies.”

Looking ahead

Building on this success, the research team aims to further refine the plasmonic response of the metallic nanoantennas and their interface with graphene. By precisely optimizing these hybrid structures, they intend to achieve even stronger near-field coupling, ultimately paving the way for entirely new classes of quantum materials and functionalities. This work underlines Chemnitz University of Technology’s leading role in advancing research on 2D materials, plasmonics, and quantum nanophotonics, effectively bridging fundamental science and the future technologies that will shape the light-based devices of tomorrow.

Publication: Enhanced Light–Matter Interactions With a Single Sn Nanoantenna on Epitaxial Graphene; Zamin Mamiyev, Narmina O. Balayeva, Dietrich R.T. Zahn, Christoph Tegenkamp; Advanced Optical Materials

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202500979

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Christoph Tegenkamp, Telefon 0371 531-33103, E-Mail christoph.tegenkamp@physik.tu-chemnitz.de and Dr. Zamin Mamiyev, Telefon +49 371 531-3170, E-Mail zamin.mamiyev@physik.tu-chemnitz.de

(Source: DFG Research Unit “Proximity-Induced Correlation Effects in Low-Dimensional Structures”)

A special highlight of the winter semester is the 12th “Tag des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses” at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC). The Centre for Junior Scientists (ZfwN) cordially invites all interested participants to join the event on 11 November 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the Central Lecture and Seminar Building, Reichenhainer Straße 90. The event is aimed at prospective doctoral candidates, doctoral researchers, postdocs, supervisors, and all other interested persons. Participation is free of charge, but online registration is requested. This year’s event is held under the theme “Academic Qualification in the Age of AI”. It offers various insights into the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence brings to research, teaching, and career development.

Program and Key Topics

The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. with an “Opening and Moderated Talk with Early-Career Scientists”, in which young researchers will share insights into their doctoral experiences. The session will conclude with Prof. Frank Asbrock, Ombudsperson for Good Scientific Practice, who will highlight key aspects of responsible conduct in research.

During the Networking Break (12:30–2:00 p.m.), participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with representatives from various faculties and other university institutions and to establish new contacts.

In the afternoon, the session from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. will focus on the main theme: “Wissenschaftliche Qualifikation im KI-Zeitalter – Chancen, Herausforderungen und Perspektiven”.

After a short Break (3:30–4:00 p.m.), two parallel sessions will follow from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.:

• The PhD Journey from Different Perspectives – with Prof. Dr. Anja Strobel (Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences) and Prof. Dr. Martin Wagner (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering)
• Postdoc Roundtable: Sharing Experiences – an open discussion format for postdoctoral researchers from various disciplines.

The event will be held in both German and English. Each session will be conducted in the language of its respective presentation title.

Further information and the registration link are available online at: https://mytuc.org/tztm

Stay Informed

The ZfwN newsletter provides regular updates on current workshops, events, and news related to doctoral studies, career planning, and academic development. Interested persons can subscribe online.

For questions, feedback, or suggestions regarding the continuing education program or the “Tag des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses”, the ZfwN team is happy to assist.

Contact: Centre for Junior Scientists, E-mail zfwn@tu-chemnitz.de

(Author: Dr. Nadia Lois)

Collagen fibrils are the basic building blocks of skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones. They hold our bodies together. Fats and oils have long been used to soften and protect leather, which consists of collagen molecules. However, it is not known how many fat molecules are contained in natural collagen fibrils. Knowing the precise chemical composition of collagen fibrils is important for understanding biochemical processes involved in tissue growth, aging, and disease. In chemistry, the various molecular components are usually separated to study the properties of pure substances. However, biological systems contain thousands of different chemical molecules, all of which are likely important.

A research team of physicists and chemists from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Chemnitz University of Technology discovered that triacylglycerols—a very common type of natural fat molecule—assemble between collagen molecules, thereby influencing the cohesion of much larger collagen fibrils. This finding is essential for understanding the biomechanics of connective tissue. It also demonstrates how embedded lipids can affect binding forces between proteins at the molecular level.

The researchers examined collagen fibrils from chicken tendons and discovered that they contained a unexpectedly high amount of triacylglycerols, also known as neutral fats. These fat molecules comprise about nine percent of the volume of dry collagen fibrils and are randomly incorporated into the crystal lattice of collagen molecules. The fat molecules act as plasticizers, reducing the water content of the collagen fibrils. This finding challenges the current understanding of the chemical composition of natural collagen fibrils.

To determine the triacylglycerol content and its effects on the mechanical properties of individual collagen fibrils, Dr. Martin Dehnert and Prof. Dr. Robert Magerle of the Chair of Chemical Physics at Chemnitz University of Technology developed a new analysis protocol based on atomic force microscopy. They use a washing sequence in which the fats adhering to the fibrils are first removed with a nonpolar solvent (hexane). Then, they dissolve the fat molecules out of the interior of the fibrils using a polar solvent, a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol. After each washing step, they examined the resulting changes in the collagen fibrils using atomic force microscopy. This allows the shape and mechanical properties of the collagen fibrils, which are approximately 100 nanometers thick, to be determined very accurately. Finally, using Raman and NMR spectroscopy, they identified the fats contained in the collagen fibrils as triacylglycerols.

"Our findings show how fats and water interact in natural collagen fibrils," explains Robert Magerle. He adds: "This suggests that there may be a link between the fats present in our diet and the biomechanics of connective tissue. We plan to investigate this in more detail in the future.”

Publication: Triacylglycerols affect the water content and cohesive strength of collagen fibrils, M. Dehnert, T. Klose, Y. Pan, D. R. T. Zahn, M. Voigtländer, J. F. Teichert, R. Magerle, Soft Matter (9 Sept 2025).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SM00696A

Further information can be obtained from Dr. Martin Dehnert, telephone +49-371-531-39916, email martin.dehnert@physik.tu-chemnitz.de, Prof. Dr. Robert Magerle, telephone +49-371-531-38033, email robert.magerle@physik.tu-chemnitz.de.

Figure caption:

In a major step toward intelligent and collaborative microrobotic systems, researchers at the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology have developed a new generation of autonomous microrobots—termed smartlets—that can communicate, respond, and work together in aqueous environments.

These tiny devices, each just a millimeter in size, are fully integrated with onboard electronics, sensors, actuators, and energy systems. They are able to receive and transmit optical signals, respond to stimuli with motion, and exchange information with other microrobots in their vicinity. The findings are published in the prestigious journal Science Robotics under the title “Si chiplet–controlled 3D modular microrobots with smart communication in natural aqueous environments”. Unlike previous generations of microrobots that relied on much larger wireless control setups to mitigate limited onboard functionality, smartlet microrobots are powered by integrated photovoltaic cells, controlled by tiny microchips, and capable of optical communication through embedded micro-LEDs and photodiodes. "For the first time, we demonstrate a self-contained microrobotic platform that not only senses and moves in water but also interacts with other microrobots in a fully programmable and autonomous manner," explains Prof. Oliver G. Schmidt, one of the corresponding authors of the study and Scientific Director of MAIN.

The microrobots are built using a flexible origami-inspired approach, based on smart multilayer patterned materials, allowing the flat electronic system to roll and fold up autonomously into a tiny scroll-adorned hollow 3D cube, with interior as well as exterior functionality. This opens up the extra surface space needed for each cube to carry its own solar energy harvester, computational logic, and an optical signaling system, in addition to interacting external faces and inboard locomotion. When immersed in water, these smartlets can move up and down by buoyancy forces created by bubble generating engines that fill the hollow interior of the smartlet with gas. They can also emit pulses of optical signals to broadcast instructions to other smartlets nearby. This setup enables multi-robotic interactions in water, including stimulus-driven movement, synchronization, and coordination among multiple smartlets. For example, when one unit receives a light signal, it can decode the information using its onboard processor, triggering a coordinated motion or behavior in others. “The idea of using light as both energy and information opens up a compact and scalable way to create distributed robotic systems,” adds Dr. Vineeth Bandari, co-corresponding author and research group leader at MAIN.

One of the key innovations lies in the smartlets’ use of a “wireless communication loop” that does not require any external cameras, magnets, or antennas. Optical messages are interpreted locally on each robot using custom-coded logic stored on their microchips. The smartlets make use of innovative soft-bonding to origami-films to attach custom microscopic silicon chiplets, called lablets, which were developed in an earlier European Union funded project led by Prof. Dr. John McCaskill, a co-corresponding author and member of MAIN. This permits decentralized control and collaboration—an essential foundation for creating robotic collectives that behave in a coordinated yet flexible way.

Beyond the laboratory, the potential applications of such microrobots are wide-ranging. Because they are untethered, biocompatible, and able to respond to environmental cues, these devices could one day assist in tasks such as monitoring water quality, performing minimally invasive medical diagnostics, or probing confined biological environments. Their ability to form interactive, stimulus-responsive colonies could also be used in soft robotics, autonomous inspection systems, or distributed sensing networks. Dr. Yeji Lee, co-author and specialist in active multi-layer microfabrication, whose recently completed PhD research provided vital contributions, emphasizes that this work is just the beginning. “We’re exploring ways to further increase autonomy by adding chemical and acoustic sensing modules. These smartlets could evolve into multifunctional platforms that sense, act, and adapt in complex fluidic environments.”

Looking forward, the team envisions the progressive evolution of these microrobots into dynamic systems that resemble colonies of digital organisms. Much like zooids in colonial animals such as siphonophores, each smartlet can serve a specialized function—sensing, communicating, moving—and together form an emergent robotic organism. “We’re still far from creating artificial life,” cautions Prof. John McCaskill, who was a founding Director of the European Center for Living Technology in Venice, “but we are starting to see how distributed intelligence and modular hardware can build systems that begin to mirror the adaptive, communicative behaviors of living collectives.” By building such self-contained, communicative microrobots, the Chemnitz team is not only addressing fundamental challenges in microrobotics but also laying the groundwork for future systems that operate, evolve, and perhaps even self-organize—inside water droplets, tissue scaffolds, or miniature ecosystems.

Publication: Si chiplet–controlled 3D modular microrobots with smart communication in natural aqueous environments, Yeji Lee, Vineeth K. Bandari, John S. McCaskill, Pranathi Adluri, Daniil Karnaushenko, Dmitriy D. Karnaushenko, Oliver G. Schmidt, Science Robotics (20 Aug 2025)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.adu6007

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt, Scientific Director of the Research Center MAIN and Chair of the Professorship of Material Systems for Nanoelectronics at the TU Chemnitz, E-Mail oliver.schmidt@main....

Scientists from the Professorships of Experimental Physics with focus Technical Physics (Head: Prof. Dr. Thomas Seyller) and Theoretical Physics of Quantum Mechanical Processes and Systems (Head: Prof. Dr. Sibylle Gemming) at Chemnitz University of Technology are investigating the functionalization of low-dimensional electron gases as part of the research unit “Proximity-induced correlation effects in low-dimensional structures (FOR 5242)” (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Christoph Tegenkamp).

In their latest publication in the renowned journal “Nature Communications”, the research team led by Dr. Philip Schädlich, scientific associate at the Chair of Experimental Physics with focus Technical Physics, has demonstrated the synthesis of bismuthene, protected by graphene, in close cooperation with the Peter Grünberg Institute at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The synthesis is based on the process of intercalation - the introduction of bismuth atoms at the interface between graphene and the substrate material silicon carbide. However, this initially produces an electronically inactive “precursor” layer of bismuth atoms, which can be reversibly activated by additional intercalation of hydrogen to the quantum spin Hall insulator bismuthene.

The position is crucial

For a long time, the hydrogen-induced “switching on” of the quantum material was a mystery to researchers, but it is now clear: "The adsorption site, i.e. the position of the bismuth atoms in relation to the substrate, plays a decisive role. While in the “precursor” state each bismuth atom has bonds to three atoms of the substrate, in the bismuthene state it is only one atom," explains Niclas Tilgner, who played a key role in advancing the study as a PhD student. In this way, the characteristic in-plane bonds can form the honeycomb structure of bismuthene.

The solution was found with the help of the synchrotron-based measurement method of “X-ray standing wave imaging”, which the researchers used at the Diamond Light Source in Didcot, UK. The partners from Jülich are proven experts in this field. Prof. Dr. Christian Kumpf, group leader at Forschungszentrum Jülich, explains: "In this measurement technique, the superposition of incident and diffracted X-rays forms a standing wave whose phase can be varied via the photon energy used. In this way, photoelectrons are preferentially emitted from certain areas of the unit cell, enabling the atomic structure to be determined element-specifically and with a spatial resolution of less than a hundredth of a nanometer."

In this study, the researchers funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) are also relying on a combination of experimental data and results from density functional theory (DFT). "The collaboration of partners from both experimental and theoretical physics makes it possible to reliably describe the complexity of such a system. Experimental structural data enables the modeling of the band structure, which in turn helps to interpret the results of photoelectron spectroscopy," says Dr. Philip Schädlich.

Topologically protected edge channels have the potential for dissipation-less current flow

With their research results, the scientists are making an important contribution to a highly topical issue in solid-state physics: the question of whether all materials with a band gap - i.e. electrical insulators - exhibit the same quantum physical properties as the vacuum - i.e. a state without any conductive structure. The surprising answer is: no. Because there is a whole class of new materials that behave completely differently despite their band gap - so-called topological insulators. Like ordinary insulators, these also have a band gap in their bulk and therefore do not conduct electricity. However, an astonishing effect occurs at their surfaces or edges - conductive channels are created here in which electrons can flow without dissipation. These edge channels are robust against perturbations such as impurities or small defects. They are therefore referred to as topologically protected states.

“Topology is not about shapes, but about the basic structure - for example, how many holes an object has,” explains Niclas Tilgner. An orange, for example, has zero holes, whereas a donut has one. This number - known as the genus - cannot be changed without fundamentally restructuring the object. In solid-state physics, there is a similar distinction between ordinary and topological insulators. When a material changes from one type to the other - metaphorically speaking from a donut to an orange - its band structure must change. This creates a transition region in which electrons can suddenly flow freely: the metallic edge channel. Quantum spin Hall insulators such as bismuthene are particularly fascinating. Their conductive edge channels are not only stable, but also spin-polarized: In this case, the electron spin determines the direction of movement of the electrons. These properties open up far-reaching prospects for current research in electronics and quantum physics.

Background: DFG research unit “Proximity-induced correlation effects in low dimensional structures” under the leadership of Chemnitz University of Technology

Phenomena such as the one described above are at the heart of the DFG research unit headed by Prof. Dr. Tegenkamp. The research unit, which has received over four million euros in funding, is dedicated to investigating correlation effects in 2D materials and is now looking forward to a second funding period. The objective is to manipulate 2D materials in a targeted manner in order to investigate exotic effects such as superconductivity, charge density waves, Mott states, the quantum Hall effect and Klein tunneling.

Publication: Niclas Tilgner, Christian Kumpf, Philip Schädlich et al: Reversible Switching of the environment-protected quantum spin Hall insulator bismuthene at the graphene/SiC interface, Nature Communications (2025).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60440-x

For further information, please contact Dr. Philip Schädlich, e-mail philip.schaedlich@physik.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Authors: Niclas Tilgner, Dr. Philip Schädlich, Christian Kumpf)

Since the university-wide ethics committee was established in 2021, researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC) have been supported by an innovative, dialogue-oriented software when preparing their ethics applications. Based on the experience with this software and with financial support by the Volkswagen Foundation, a new “Ethiktool” has been developed by a project team led by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Bendixen (head of Professorship Structure and Function of Cognitive Systems and chair of the ethics committee). This browser-based, platform-independent software can be used on virtually any device without the need for installation. In addition to a substantially modernized user interface, the new Ethiktool encompasses a series of new functions, including a live preview of the automatically generated application form and participant documents as well as extended options to capture studies with multiple groups and multiple timepoints. The generation of consistent texts for the participant documents from the information queried during the user dialogue has also been extended substantially. Importantly, the Ethiktool is now bilingual: Both the user dialogue and the automatically generated documents are available in English and German language. Bendixen explains the tool’s advantages: “Even more than the previous version, the new Ethiktool allows applicants and members of ethics committees to focus on core issues of content and ethics considerations, while the software takes care of standard phrases, consistency checks and document generation. The Ethiktool also provides persons who so far have had limited ethics-application experience with step-by-step guidance through all ethically relevant aspects of research on and with humans. Last but not least, it will relieve the ethics committee, which handles more than 200 applications per year at TU Chemnitz. And this, in turn, benefits applicants, whose applications will be processed faster and more efficiently.”

The current Ethiktool project team consists of members from TUC, Bielefeld University and the Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID). From now on, ZPID will provide the Ethiktool to all interested research institutes indefinitely and free of charge. “I am delighted that we are already in touch with many more ethics committees to adapt the tool for their use. By introducing software-guided ethics applications four years ago for the TUC ethics committee, we have been pioneers. Now we can use our experience to support ethics committees at other sites and thereby contribute to the advancement of digital research infrastructure”, Bendixen adds.

At TUC, the new Ethiktool is now available to all researchers to generate their ethics proposals. For a transition period, applications with the previous software will still be accepted, but it will eventually be entirely replaced by the new Ethiktool. In due time, the Ethiktool will be evaluated with a structured user survey. Independent of this evaluation, the Ethiktool project team will gladly receive any user feedback at ethiktool@tu-chemnitz.de at any time. As it has been the case with the previous Ethiktool, all feedback will directly foster the further development of the software.

More information is available from Prof. Dr. Alexandra Bendixen, phone +49 371 531-31681, email alexandra.bendixen@physik.tu-chemnitz.de

Coordinator at Chemnitz University of Technology's International Office (IUZ). The program also aims to support sustainable travel, which is why the funding amount for using environmentally friendly means of transport such as trains or long-distance buses is higher than for non-sustainable travel.

In addition, students with children, students with disabilities (GdB from 20) or chronic illness, students from non-academic parents and, to a certain extent, working students for Erasmus+ stays have the opportunity to receive additional monthly funding of up to € 250 for their Erasmus+ stay.

"The new travel grant and the additional funding for fewer opportunities are great additions and extensions to the support provided by Erasmus+. This makes it easier for students to spend time abroad during their studies, even those who may not have previously planned such a stay for various personal reasons." Oliver Sachs is delighted with the increased funding opportunities.

Interested students can find all information on possible additional funding on the Erasmus+ website of the IUZ under “Funding” (https://mytuc.org/qtbh). You can also contact Oliver Sachs at the IUZ directly for personal advice.

Contact and further information: Oliver Sachs, phone: +49 (0)371/531-37972, E-Mail: oliver.sachs@iuz.tu-chemnitz.de

In a recent issue of the renowned “Journal of the American Chemical Society”, the research group of Prof. Dr. Johannes Teichert (Chemnitz University of Technology, Organic Chemistry) discloses the results of a joint research effort together with research partners from the working group of Prof. Dr. Fabian Dielmann (University of Innsbruck, Inorganic Chemistry). They present their results on a new, bifunctional copper catalyst. The novel, “bifunctional” copper-based catalyst molecule consists of two subunits and enables the hydrogenation of other molecules, by first activating and then transferring molecular hydrogen (H₂). “In principle, one part of the catalysts, namely the the copper atom, activates hydrogen - we have been researching this type of reactivity in our research group for a long time. In most cases, however, high pressures of H₂ were required for this, necessitating the use of high-pressure reaction vessels (autoclaves). And that is impractical. We have now discovered that a second catalytically active unit within the same catalyst, a so-called iminopyridine, boosts the reactivity of the copper, so that the reaction now takes place at a low H₂ pressure of 1 bar. This makes the method easier to use in the laboratory,” reports Teichert. The team makes use of their knowledge on bifunctional catalyst design that had already been reported on.

New reactivity enables conversion of seemingly “unreactive” molecule parts 

The new catalyst displays such a high activity that even unreactive functional groups within other molecules can be efficiently converted. These functional groups, so-called enamides, are often structural components of biologically active substances, precisely because they are so unreactive. The new copper catalyst now enables the direct hydrogenation of exactly these groups, which were previously considered unreactive, for the first time under these mild conditions. This can be used for further modification of biologically active molecules. The present work shows that a large number of medicinal compounds can be converted in this way. “In principle, in addition to the simple diversification of known active substances, this strategy now also opens up the possibility of isotope labeling if deuterium, i.e. heavy hydrogen, is used instead of hydrogen itself. This is of great importance for research into biological processes and in particular for degradation studies of biologically active substances,” says Teichert.

Cooperation between differently specialized researchers across borders

This work is the result of a scientific collaboration crossing borders. “In principle, this is a typical example of joint molecular research: one of the two catalyst building blocks comes from TU Chemnitz, the other from Innsbruck,” says Teichert. “We didn't expect this hybrid catalyst to be so active.” The findings now form the basis for further research projects by the international working group, for example within the EU research network CATALOOP, which is led by Teichert. According to Teichert, especially the aforementioned labeling experiments will be studied in more detail.

Publication: Mahadeb Gorai, Jonas H. Franzen, Philipp Rotering, Tobias Rüffer, Fabian Dielmann, Johannes F. Teichert. Broadly Applicable Copper(I)-Catalyzed Alkyne Semihydrogenation and Hydrogenation of α,β-Unsaturated Amides Enabled by Bifunctional Iminopyridine Ligands. Journal of the American Chemical Society. April 16, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c01339

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Johannes Teichert, Tel. +49 (0)371 531-33715, E-Mail johannes.teichert@chemie.tu-chemnitz.de.

When hearing the word "crystal," one inevitably pictures precious stones that glitter impressively, sparkle, or leave lasting impressions with various color effects. Yet this common term does not merely exhaust itself in the decorative appearance of mineral treasures. A careful observation of sunlit, iridescent butterfly wings, shimmering peacock feathers, or the shifting hues of a chameleon reveals not only aesthetic beauty but also conceptual sophistication stemming from a shared physical mechanism: these surfaces are revealed to be highly complex, nanoscale-structured patterns, invisible to the naked eye yet remarkable in their optical effects.

These are known as "photonic crystals," structures that reflect certain ranges of light colors while allowing others to pass through. The interplay of scattering, absorption, and transmission creates spectral dependencies that impressively blur the lines between science and art, at least from a perceptual standpoint. Such phenomena rely on the wave nature of light, first described around 1650 by the Dutch naturalist Christian Huygens. They can be explained through the interaction of light waves with regularly structured surfaces, whose typical structural widths correspond roughly to the wavelength of visible light. This wavelength falls between 400 and 700 nanometers, about one hundredth the diameter of a human hair (approximately 0.05 millimeters, or 50 micrometers). Thus, the spectral properties of peacock feathers or other regularly patterned materials can be well-explained by the wave nature of light and by scattering and transmission effects, logically leading to their identification as photonic crystals.

A Chemnitz artwork and its unexpected significance for science

An interdisciplinary team consisting of members from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, and the Research Center for Materials, Architectures, and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology, along with researchers from the University of Marie & Louis Pasteur in Besançon (France) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems (ENAS), have successfully identified, following in the footsteps of Huygens and Fresnel, a man-made artistic installation the largely regular arrangement and previously unknown wave-breaking properties of which qualify it as the largest realization of a photonic crystal reported hitherto in the scientific community. This installation manipulates the propagation of radio waves—electromagnetic waves in the gigahertz range—which play a crucial role in information and communication technology, including frequencies relevant to modern 4G and 5G mobile standards.

The artwork in the spotlight is "Denk- und Wahrnehmungsmodell zum Phänomen der Farbe" ("Model of Thought and Perception of the Phenomenon of Color") by Dresden-based artist Stefan Nestler, adorning the forecourt of the Central Auditorium Building at TU Chemnitz since 1998. It consists of 187 vertical, regularly arranged hollow steel pillars of varying heights, square in cross-section, originally representing colors from the so-called RAL color scale, widely used in industry and architecture as a reference standard. Accompanying the pillar structure is a glass panel engraved with a quote from philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951), inviting contemplation on the ideal representation of color, concluding with the words: "For do not forget that your gaze wanders, and there is no description of what you see."

As recently reported by researchers from Chemnitz and Besançon in the interdisciplinary journal "Scientific Reports," published by Springer Nature Portfolio, the artwork symbolizes not only an abstract representation of colors but also practically achieves a "color-selective" transmission of radio wave signals. Analogous to the play of colors on a butterfly's wings—though on a considerably larger scale—electromagnetic waves at certain frequencies within the so-called "bandgap" are prohibited from propagating through the material structure and are thus reflected. This is precisely the classic behavior expected from a photonic crystal.

Unexpectedly, the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 now hosts an artwork that, upon detailed scientific analysis, sets new benchmarks. Thus, Chemnitz 2025 will become not only a stage for art and culture but also the setting for an unexpected scientific discovery—highlighting, as quoted by Lichtenberg, the astonishing complexity underlying our human perception of color.

The project received funding from Chemnitz University of Technology under the TUCculture2025 initiative (projects "Chemnitz: Wood, Light, Sound" and "Wave Games"), the Free State of Saxony (Saxon State Doctoral Scholarship), and the French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

Voices from TU Chemnitz on the Scientific Discovery:

David Röhlig, PhD student at the Professorship of Theoretical Physics – Simulation of New Materials at TU Chemnitz, scholarship holder: "This work is a beautiful example of how an initially seemingly utopian idea becomes reality through interdisciplinary cooperation."

Prof. Dr. Angela Thränhardt, Professor of Theoretical Physics – Simulation of New Materials and Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at TU Chemnitz: "It is truly remarkable: Right in the middle of the Capital of Culture Chemnitz, even on the university campus, a work of art opens a real window into the world of a fundamental physical principle – that of the propagation of waves in photonic crystals."

Prof. Dr. Ralf Zichner, Professor of High Frequency Engineering and General Electrical Engineering at TU Chemnitz: "Interdisciplinary collaboration opens up new perspectives and promotes innovation. This exchange between disciplines allows us to gain new insights and overcome existing boundaries of knowledge."

Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Managing Director of the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN): "The work is a beautiful example of how curiosity and serendipity, i.e., the in-depth observation and description of something not previously sought and the intellectual engagement with it, can constitute science."

Original Publication: David Röhlig, Vincent Laude, Ralf Zichner, Felix Thieme, Angela Thränhardt and Thomas Blaudeck "Radio wave attenuation by a large-scale photonic crystal sculpture", Scientific Reports 15, 12317 (2025), DOI 10.1038/s41598-025-95986-9.

Event Notice: The artwork "Model for Thought and Perception of the Phenomenon of Color" by Stefan Nestler also invites visitors to participate in experiments as part of the TUCculture2025 project "Wellenspiele" (Wave Games) on TUCtag 2025 on May 10th. These experiments are intended to spark interest in studying natural sciences and engineering at TU Chemnitz and will take place from 2:00 PM to 5:45 PM at the artwork in front of the Central Auditorium Building of TU Chemnitz, Reichenhainer Str. 90.

Further information can be obtained from: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Phone +49 (0)371 531-35610, Email thomas.blaudeck@main.tu-chemnitz.de, and Prof. Dr. Angela Thränhardt, Phone +49 (0)371 531-37636, Email angela.thraenhardt@physik.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Translation: Tobias Bollig)

Researchers from the Chair of Optics and Photonics of Condensed Matter (led by Prof. Dr. Carsten Deibel) at the Chemnitz University of Technology and other partner institutions are currently working intensively on solar cells made from novel organic semiconductors that can be produced using established printing processes. The scientists are collaborating interdisciplinarily to fundamentally understand these photovoltaic cells made from organic semiconductors to further improve them. This is taking place within the framework of the Research Unit "Printed & Stable Organic Photovoltaics with Non-Fullerene Acceptors - POPULAR", funded by the German Research Foundation, of which Prof. Deibel is the spokesperson.

"Organic solar cells can be produced very easily and cheaply using printing processes," says the Chemnitz physics professor. In contrast to established solar modules made of crystalline silicon, however, the current flow in organic solar cells is very slow. "Due to the production of the solar cells from a kind of ink, the organic, light-absorbing layers are very disordered. Therefore, the current flow is very slow," explains Deibel. A consequence of the slow transport of light-generated electrons and holes is the so-called transport resistance, which reduces the fill factor of the solar cells and thus the power.

Deeper Understanding: Transport Resistance Limits the Performance of Organic Solar Cells

To better understand the performance characteristics of organic solar cells, Deibel and his scientific assistant Maria Saladina have produced and thoroughly investigated different types of organic solar cells and uncovered the negative influence of transport resistance. The current-voltage characteristics under illumination, which result from the interplay of charge generation by light, recombination of electron and holes, and charge transport, were measured.  Theycontain information on the power efficiency of the solar cells. These measurements were compared with the so-called suns-Voc method, which allows to construct an alternative current-voltage curve that is not limited by charge transport losses such as transport resistance. "Transport resistance is a result of the slow charge carriers in the disordered solar cells processed from organic ink. Thus, the charge carriers get in their own way and lead to a loss of fill factor and thus power," says Saladina.

Publications in the Journals "Reports on Progress in Physics" and "Advanced Energy Materials"

The research results were published in the renowned journal "Reports on Progress in Physics" (88, 038001 (2025)) (https://doi.org/n687). Although the optimization of organic solar cells must be re-evaluated due to these new results, there is no fundamental obstacle to producing highly efficient, printed organic solar cells. In a perspective article, written by Chen Wang, Carsten Deibel, and Maria Saladina together with renowned co-authors from various German universities and published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials, the physical origin of transport resistance and its significance for solar cells is explained in detail. "In recent years, charge transport has been continuously improved without the research community knowing the exact relationship between fill factor losses and transport resistance," says Deibel. Saladina adds: "In addition to recombination, transport resistance is also determined by the shape of the density of states of organic solar cells. This shows that we are step by step understanding the physical foundations of these photovoltaic devices better and better." These results have been achieved within the framework of the DFG Research Unit POPULAR, which continues to work on understanding and improving printed organic solar cells.

Background: DFG Research Group "Printed & Stable Organic Photovoltaics with Non-Fullerene Acceptors - POPULAR" under the leadership of TU Chemnitz

The research group "Printed & Stable Organic Photovoltaics with Non-Fullerene Acceptors - POPULAR" (FOR 5387), funded by the German Research Foundation with around five million euros, is leading in the field of optoelectronic characterization of organic solar cells. Prof. Dr. Carsten Deibel, holder of the Chair of Optics and Photonics of Condensed Matter at TU Chemnitz, is the spokesperson for the DFG Research Unit, which involves 14 scientists from several universities in Germany and Great Britain. The common goal is to produce organic solar cells using mass-production-compatible printing processes and to understand and improve them with complementary experiments and simulations.

Publications:

Maria Saladina, Carsten Deibel: Transport resistance dominates the fill factor losses in record organic solar cells. Reports on Progress in Physics, 88, 038001 (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/n687

Chen Wang, Carsten Deibel, Maria Saladina, et al: Transport resistance dominates the fill factor losses in record organic solar cells. Advanced Energy Materials, 2405889 (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202405889

For further information, please contact Maria Saladina, phone +49 (0)371 531-34046, email maria.saladina@physik.tu-chemnitz.de, and Prof. Dr. Carsten Deibel, phone +49 371 531-34878, email deibel@physik.tu-chemnitz.de.

The 3rd Focus Day of the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology was dedicated to the medical application of nanotechnology, coined “Nanomedicine” for short. Around 60 participants from Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz Municipal Hospital (Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH), non-university research institutions, local companies and other interested parties approached the interdisciplinary field from different perspectives on February 13, 2025. In his capacity as Scientific Chair of the event, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn, Deputy Director of Research Center MAIN and holder of the professorship Semiconductor Physics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Chemnitz University of Technology, assembled a spectacular program of plenary and short lectures, scientific posters, and interactive contributions from both the viewpoints of science, engineering, and clinical practice.

The „headliner” of the event was Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc, Ph. D., Professor and Research Coordinator at the Department of Nanobiophysics at the Medical-Pharmaceutical University „Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca (Romania). In his plenary lecture, he provided insights into current developments of spectroscopic analysis methods for biological and body fluids. This methodological toolbox is known under the technical term „liquid biopsy”. The set of methods used in this toolbox represent non-invasive and therefore gentler alternatives to conventional biopsy procedures which always require the at least partial surgical removal of tissue.

The lecture session showcasing the viewppoints of Chemnitz Municipal Hospital (Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH), the third-largest municipally run hospital in Germany and Medical Maximum Provider in the region of Southwest Saxony, was opened by Dr. Paul Warncke, pharmacist and scientific-technical employee at both the Department of Internal Medicine III with focus on Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig. His presentation ranged from the physicochemical and biological characterization of nanomaterials to the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. Prof. Dr. Vinodh Kakkassery and Prof. Dr. Matthias Kirsch, chief physicians at Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, then examined the clinical requirements for research questions in nanomedicine from the perspectives of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery, respectively. Finally, the project „Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz“ (Health Cluster Chemnitz, CGC) – a planned research and transformation cluster for the region of Southwest Saxony was presented by Aline Lohse, program manager at the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology.

Finally, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn shared his research experience from over three decades in the field of nanospectroscopic analysis methods such as Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and surface- or tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS/TERS), which have a very high potential not only in the analysis of semiconductor surfaces but also in medical diagnostics of biological “soft matter”.

The participating experts used the opportunity in the breaks between the respective specialist lectures to network with each other and sought professional exchange at scientific posters and interactive booths in the MAIN Foyer. To name a few, Amir Jafari Moghaddem, Yeji Lee and Dr. Vineeth Bandari, representatives of the Professorship Material Systems in Nanoelectronics at Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (Head: Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt) informed on „Microactuatoric Systems in Action“ using a video installation.

The participants of the 3rd MAIN Focus Day particularly appreciated the exchange on an interdisciplinary level. Prof. Rares Stiufiuc, Ph. D., Professor and Research Coordinator at the Department of Nanobiophysics at the Medical-Pharmaceutical University “Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), explained: “Participation in the MAIN Focus Day ‘Nanomedicine’ was a valuable opportunity to exchange insights into the spectroscopic analysis of biological and endogenous fluids and their transformative potential in medicine. The presentation of my work before such a knowledgeable audience of experts and researchers sparked valuable discussions about advances in non-invasive diagnostics and the future of nanotechnology in healthcare.”

Also Dr. Paul Warncke, pharmacist and scientific-technical employee at both the Department of Internal Medicine III with focus on Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig, was pleased with the way the event took ist path: “The MAIN Focus Day 'Nanomedicine' enabled a rarely experienced, successful interdisciplinary exchange between clinic and science, in which various interesting perspectives, needs and possibilities came to light and could be discussed. Potential starting points for joint research work in the context of the development of the „Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz“ (Health Cluster Chemnitz, CGC) that could make a positive contribution to the further development of Chemnitz as a scientific location were identified.“

“The exchange between clinics and researchers is essential to promote communication and learn from each other. With MAIN, in Chemnitz, we have an institution with a worldwide reputation - nothing could be more obvious than to get the local developments into clinical applications," the Chief Physician for Ophthalmology at Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, Prof. Dr. Vinodh Kakkassery added.

“Events that cross borders – interdisciplinarily, internationally, open to everyone from students to management – bring fresh ideas and new perspectives. They are a real add-on and should be an integral part of everyday research,” concluded Aline Lohse, program manager at the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology, summing up the 3rd MAIN Focus Day.

Background: Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC)

The implementation of a Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC, „Chemnitz Health Cluster“) is an initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology together with Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH. A joint center for transformation is intended to promote the academization of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and strengthen cooperation in research and development between the two institutions. Relevant research fields include artificial intelligence & mixed reality systems, robotics & sensor technology, prevention and early detection, e-health and wound healing.

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Translation: Arthur Dumler)

“Postponed is not abandoned – finally complete the course paper!” Headed by this slogan, the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers" happens again on March 6, 2025 at Chemnitz University of Technology. It starts at 03 pm at the University Library, Straße der Nationen 33. The participation is free of charges.

"Students of Chemnitz University of Technology, who would like to complete their course paper, and doctoral students, who want to proceed with the elaboration of their doctoral thesis, may expect a comprehensive program and lots of time for writing," Angela Malz, Director of the University Library, says. Thus, representatives of faculties and central institutions of Chemnitz University of Technology, of the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau as well as other offer a variety of workshops.

The "Long Night" will be opened by a presentation of Tina Horlitz from the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau dealing with the question “Have you ever thought about yourself?” which would like to provide hints and information on how to take care for oneself in challenging phases of studies in order to charge (new) energy and to stay high-performing. The presentation is followed by workshops dealing with the search for literature for the course paper resp. the doctoral thesis, with the management of literature sources and with ways to avoid frequent mistakes in LaTeX-manuscripts, held parallely in German and English, as well as on how to conduct appropriate surveys in the field of empirical social research. In addition, there will be again a workshop giving answers to the question "And what comes next? Entrepreneurship during and after studies". Furthermore, there are additional new workshop offers regarding “Legal questions about studying” and the working method of the “Digital note box”. Finally, there will be again an offer for exercise.

Moreover, there will be information booths until 09 pm at the foyer of the University Library, where participants may gather information regarding literature search, working methods, texting techniques, IT as well as social and psychological aspects of academic work. Specific questions of international students, regarding residence issues or related to learning German as a foreign language for instance, are answered as well.

A number of persons and institutions of Chemnitz University of Technology were involved in the organization of the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers". Among those are the University Library, the Student Council of Chemnitz University of Technology, the faculty student bodies, the University Computer Center, the Methodological Competence Center of the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Professorship of Intercultural Communication, the entrepreneurship network SAXEED, the International Office, the Foreign Language Center and the Central Course Guidance Service as well as the Student Union Chemnitz-Zwickau. 

Homepage of the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers": www.mytuc.org/landah   

Additional offers of Chemnitz University of Technology regarding "Academic Writing"

In addition to the "Long Night of Postponed Course Papers", also other offers may be used for getting assistance in academic writing. To those belong:

• a course "Academic Writing" during the term on Thursdays from 11:30 am to 01:00 pm,
• an Academic Writing Week  from March 10 to 14, 2025, from 09:00 am to 12:15 pm respectively, and
• consultation hours for academic writing, held during the term on Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 01:00 pm.

The courses and consultation hours are offered by Dr. Burkhard Müller. Please register for participation at the Foreign Language Center of Chemnitz University of Technology.

On February 13, 2025, the Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at Chemnitz University of Technology, together with a renowned international guest speaker and representatives of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology, will be hosting a focus day dedicated to nanomedicine. A plenary lecture, several short presentations, posters, and other scientific and technical exhibits promise a lively professional exchange.

The Focus Day begins at 2 p.m. with the plenary lecture “Spectroscopic Liquid Biopsy: State of the Art and Perspectives” given by Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc, Ph.D. from the Medical-Pharmaceutical University “Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca (Romania). In English language, the speaker will discuss current developments in spectroscopy with a focus on applications in medical analysis. The spectroscopic analysis of biological and body fluids (“spectroscopic biopsy”) has established itself as a powerful, non-invasive method for biomedical diagnostics, disease monitoring and the monitoring of biological markers. Various spectroscopic techniques - including infrared (IR), Raman, fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy - provide molecular insights into the biochemical composition of blood, urine, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid. These techniques allow the identification and quantification of metabolites, proteins and other biomolecules and thus contribute to the early detection of diseases and personalized medicine. Advanced data processing techniques, such as chemometric analysis and machine learning, improve spectral interpretation and increase diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility. A special focus of the plenary lecture will be on the application of ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopic techniques, in particular surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), to analyze various biofluids with the aim of developing new (bio)medical applications. Prof. Stiufiuc will first present the current state of research based on scientific literature. He will then outline key achievements and challenges encountered in the last decade in studies on blood plasma, serum, urine, saliva and DNA. As SERS is a surface-dependent technique, the role of microstructured, plasmonically active substrates in the vibrational spectroscopic analysis of biofluids will also be discussed.

Following the plenary lecture, Dr. Paul Warncke from the Department of Haematology and Oncology at Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH will present a survey of physicochemical and biological characterization methods of nanomaterials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, inspired by everyday clinical practice. Furthermore, ChA Prof. Dr. Vinodh Kakkassery, Chief Physician at the Department of Ophthalmology, and ChA Prof. Dr. Matthias Kirsch, Chief Physician at the Department of Neurosurgery, will also outline the needs and requirements for nanomedical research from a medical perspective as representatives of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH. Aline Lohse, representing the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer (ZWT) at Chemnitz University of Technology will talk about the concept of the emerging Campus Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC). Finally, the host, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn, holder of the Chair of Semiconductor Physics at Chemnitz University of Technology and Deputy Director of Research Center MAIN, and Dr. Vineeth K. Bandari from MAIN Research at the Chair of Materials Systems in Nanoelectronics (Head: Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt) will present current developments in the fields of nanospectroscopy, microactuators and microrobotics with reference to medical applications.

The 3rd MAIN Focus Day “Nanomedicine” will take place in the Conference Area of the MAIN Research Center (conference room C50.001 and foyer C50.013 on the first floor), Rosenbergstr. 6, in Chemnitz. Between the lecture sessions, there will be opportunities to engage in scientific exchange with the speakers and other representatives of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and Chemnitz University of Technology. Interested parties are cordially invited and are requested to register informally by the day before via the office of the MAIN Research Center (e-mail: kontakt@main.tu-chemnitz.de, telephone 0371 531-20100) for the purpose of capacity planning or transmission of dial-in data for online participation in the lectures. Questions will be answered by the host, Prof. Dr. Dietrich R. T. Zahn (e-mail zahn@physik.tu-chemnitz.de, phone 0371/531-33036) or the MAIN Management Office.

About the person: Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc

The speaker of the plenary lecture, Prof. Rares Ionut Stiufiuc, Ph.D. is Professor and Coordinator of Research Activities at the Department MedFUTURE - NanoBioPhysics of the Medical-Pharmaceutical University “Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca (Romania). His research focuses on different types of multifunctional nanohybrids, e.g. magnetic, plasmonic and magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles, nanoliposomes and quantum dots for biomedical applications, e.g. targeted drug delivery, cancer therapy and biosensing. He is also working on the development of new early detection techniques using ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopy techniques on biofluids. Rares Stiufiuc received his PhD in Physics from the University of “Babeș Bolyai” Cluj-Napoca in 2005 and completed his habilitation in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of “Iuliu Hațieganu” in 2017. During his doctoral studies, he completed a Marie Curie Fellowship at the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud XI (2003-2004), followed by a postdoctoral research position at the Institut d'Électronique, Microélectronique et Nanotechnologie (IEMN), Lille, France (2005-2007). For his research achievements, Prof. Stiufiuc received the Romanian Academy of Sciences Award in 2020 for the development of multifunctional nanostructures with applications in nanomedicine. As a research group leader within the framework of the European Union's ERA Chair-Holder Program, Prof. Stiufiuc leads the activities in Cluj-Napoca to establish an interdisciplinary research team in the field of NanoBioPhysics. The work focuses on novel multifunctional nanohybrids with core-shell architecture for therapeutic-diagnostic (“theranostic”) biomedical applications. The aim of these research efforts is to strengthen the integration of the research center into the European Research Area (ERA) for increased international visibility, more intensive participation in collaborative projects and the promotion of translational research.

Background: Research Center MAIN

The Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) was implemented in 2020 as a Central Scientific Institution of Chemnitz University of Technology. In its research building on Rosenbergstraße, 18 working groups from the Faculties of Natural Sciences and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology are currently working together, dedicated to the joint explorative research of the fundamental physical and chemical properties as well as the development of the engineering application potential of flexible nanostructured membranes ('nanomembranes') as a novel class of materials. The term nanomembranes covers very thin (down to an atomic layer), but micrometer-sized functional structures that are characterized by special electronic, optoelectronic or electrochemical properties with high mechanical flexibility. They form the basis for new types of tiny components that can be bent, stretched and shaped and are therefore extremely adaptable. The aim is to incorporate the findings of this research into the development of future-oriented fields of materials science for the benefit of society. This can lead to new technologies and products in areas ranging from mobile communication and energy technology to medical technology. Research Center MAIN offers lectures, research seminars, and forus or topical days at irregular intervals. MAIN Focus Days are characterized by the consideration of a central topic through lectures and poster contributions from various specialist perspectives. Previous focus days were dedicated to the material class of Semiconductor Quantum Dots (keynote speaker: Dr. Oleksandr Stroyuk, Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energies, January 2024) and Concepts for a Circular Economy for Electronics (keynote speaker: Dr. Christian Hagelüken, expert and former Director of EU Affairs at Umicore AG, November 2024).

Background: Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC)

The implementation of a Cluster Gesundheit Chemnitz (CGC, „Chemnitz Health Cluster“) is an initiative of Chemnitz University of Technology together with Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH. A joint center for transformation is intended to promote the academization of Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH and strengthen cooperation in research and development between the two institutions. Relevant research fields include artificial intelligence & mixed reality systems, robotics & sensor technology, prevention and early detection, e-health and wound healing.

(Author: Dr. Thomas Blaudeck, Translation: Arthur Dumler)

In the year 2030, the University Library has turned into a „5D-Library”. This is the objective determined in the strategy of the University Library of Chemnitz University of Technology which she has published now in short version on a website (mytuc.org/xrfv). In this context, “5D” stands for: digital, dynamic, durable, divers and discursive. Within those thematic fields, the University Library has defined 24 measures in total which will be implemented by already established task teams step by step within the next five years.

“Naturally, we do not start at zero but we may rely on a lot of what we already achieved, for example regarding the engagement for Open Science, the promotion of Open Access, the digitization of our collections, the modularization of services and within sustainability” comments Angela Malz, Director of the University Library. And as so-called “Third Place”, the University Library offers, in addition to the place of work and the own home, a variable location of learning and knowledge inviting to relax, to learn, to stay and to participate in a variety of events and which, within the upcoming years, enhances its portfolio by i.a. a Virtual Reading Hall. Complementarily Malz adds: “Within the strategy, however, we start also a lot of other projects, for example in the field of enhanced engagement in internationalization, in dealing with new AR- and AI-technologies in the library sector as well as in our engagement for long-time-archiving.”

All started with the moving of the University Library to the Old Spinning Mill building in the year 2020. With respect to the concentration from three de-centralized to one central library location, the geographic location and the related task, the new functionalities of the building like an exhibition and an event area as well as to the merging to one team, it was decided to jointly also determine a direction for the short-, mid- and long-term development of the Library. In this context, i.a. workshops with all staff members of the University Library were organized who merged to working groups dealing with respective thematic key fields. At the beginning of 2023, a comprehensive survey among its users consisting of students and scholars of Chemnitz University of Technology, non-scientific staff members as well as external users was implemented. Non-users were included as well. The objective consisted on including the internal as well as the external point of view in the strategy development process. “In total, 630 online-surveys were filled in completely and integrated in the evaluation of results for deriving action measures”, Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht, Deputy Director of the University Library, reported.

From this emerged a strategy document comprising of more than 40 pages which was presented in summary to the Library Board of Chemnitz University of Technology in December 2024 and was highly appreciated. The short version of the strategic approaches may now be read on the Library-website mentioned above. “I am very delighted that we completed the strategy development process as scheduled so that we may now, right in time of the year of the Capital of Culture, proceed on our way to a 5D-Library” Malz says. In the mid of the strategy period, a mid-term assessment of the way to the “5D-Library” is envisaged where again adherents of Chemnitz University of Technology and external Library users will be asked for their engagement.

(Translation: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)