Professor Gunther Andersson

Professor

College of Science and Engineering

place Physical Sciences (2111)
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Professor Gunther Andersson has a focus on using electron spectroscopy and ion scattering to understand surfaces and interfaces, and to use that understanding to develop and improve applications of materials. This research has been facilitated by Gunther's research group developing new methods and equipment for investigating surfaces, including under ultra-high vacuum conditions as well as liquid surfaces with finite vapour pressure. The latter capability enables the analysis of surfaces relavent for atmospheric research.

In 1998 Gunther completed his PhD applying ion scattering spectroscopy on liquid surfaces at the University of Witten/Herdecke (Germany) under the supervision of Prof Harald Morgner. The following two years he at the Technical University Eindhoven on a project on polymer based light emitting diodes. In 2000 Gunther moved to Leipzig University (Germany) were he developed the method neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (NICISS) for investigation of soft matter surfaces to its current stage. He completed his Habilitation in 2006. In 2007 he was appointed at Flinders University. He is now a full Professor, leading a research group with activities in liquid and polymer surfaces and catalysis based on nano-clusters.

Qualifications

Flinders Foundations of University Teaching, Flinders University (2007)

Habilitation in Physical Chemistry,Leipzig University, Faculty of Chemistry (2006)

PhD in Physics (Dr. rer. nat.) University of Witten/Herdecke, Institute for Physics (Prof. Morgner). Thesis: “Ion Scattering Spectroscopy as Method for Investigating Surfaces of Organic Liquids” (1998)

Master Thesis (Diplomarbeit), Institute for High Frequency Technology at Dortmund University (Prof. Voges) in collaboration with Raith GmbH. (1994)

Degree in Physics (Diplom), Dortmund University. Thesis: ”Development of a Tracking Control System for E-beam writing of Elements for Integrated Optics" (1994)

Honours, awards and grants

Recently Awarded Funding

Australian Research Council - Chemical Signature Analysis of Surfaces, $540,000 2019 - 2020

Australian Research Council - Unravelling the dominant drivers of ion specificity, $533,000 2019 - 2021

Australian Renewable Energy Agency - Preliminary Assessment of the Potential of CST to Add Value to Liquid Fuel Production, $730,000 2019 - 2021

United States Army International Technology Center - Solar Fuels, $240,000 2016 - 2019

Key responsibilities
Topic coordinator
PHYS4721 Advanced Physics (Space and Surface Science)
PHYS1102 Physics 1B
PHYS1332 Engineering Physics
PHYS2712 Thermodynamics and Electromagnetic Waves
Topic lecturer
PHYS1102 Physics 1B
NANO3702 Frontiers of Nanotechnology
PHYS2712 Thermodynamics and Electromagnetic Waves
PHYS4711 Advanced Physics (Quantum Theory)
PHYS1101 Physics 1A
Supervisory interests
Catalysis
Heterogeneous catalysis
Liquid surfaces
Polymer surfaces
Solar cells
Solar fuels
Higher degree by research supervision
Current
Principal supervisor: photocatalysis, solar fuels, metal clusters on surfaces (2), graphene and carbon nanotubes (1), interfaces in polymer based photovoltaic (2), interfaces in organic based photovoltaic (1)
Associate supervisor: graphene and carbon nanotubes (1), corrosion protection, silanes on surfaces (1)
Completion
Principal supervisor: liquid surfaces, foam films (1)
Associate supervisor: interfaces in polymer based photovoltaic (1)
Higher degree by research student achievements
Lily Ellis-Gibbings

University Medal - DEC 2010