Profile

I am head of the theory group in the Center for Individual Nanoparticle Functionality. My main research interests are

• Shape and functionality of nanoparticles: What determines the details of a nanoparticles shape, and how does this influence its catalytical properties.
• Hot-electron assisted surface reactivity: Is it possible to use a nanostructured device to generate hot electrons (electrons with an energy of a few electron volts) and use them to trigger chemical reactions, which would otherwise only occur at higher temperature (if at all)?
• Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline metals and metallic glasses.

Other information

Teaching and education:

• Programme coordinator (kandidatstudieleder) for the Master programme in Physics and Nanotechnology.
• Responsible or co-responsible for the following courses: 10004 Physical chemistry, Thermodynamics and Materials (1999-2004); 10301 Advanced Nanoscale Materials Physics (2004-2005); 10034 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics (2005-present); 10303 Condensed Matter Physics and Nanoscale Materials Physics (2007-present).
• Thesis advisor or co-advisor for five B.Sc. students and four M.Sc. students. 
• Advisor or co-advisor for six Ph.D. students (bold indicates main advisor): Jesper Christiansen (2000-03), Gregers Kaat (2005-07), Søren Lund Frederiksen (2000-03), Anca Paduraru (2005-08), Jeppe Gavnholt (2006-09) and Thomas Olsen (2007-10).

Major grants:

2005 – 2010: Danish National Research Foundation: DNRF Center for Individual Nanoparticle Functionality (CINF). With Prof. Ib Chorkendorff (center leader), Ole Hansen, Jane H. Larsen and Ulrich Quaade. DKK 36.000.000 over five years.

2005 – 2007: Program Committee for Energy and Environment: Towards 25% efficiency solar cells: modeling and controlling defects in float zone silicon. In collaboration with Ole Andersen, Topsil Semiconductor Materials A/S. DKK 2.247.000 over three years. 

Miscellaneous:

• P. Gorm-Petersens memorial award (1997).
• Reviewing for the following journals: Science, Nature Materials, Phys. Rev. Lett., Phys. Rev. B, Phil. Mag. A, Met. Trans., Acta Mater., Scripta Mater., Comput. Mater. Sci. and Microelec. Eng.
• Maintainer of the Asap molecular dynamics program, released under the GNU General Public License as part of the CAMPOS software.

International Experience:

• Postdoc at Washington University March 1995 to August 1996.
• Participated in approx. 50 international conferences and meetings, including 17 invited talks.

Language Skills:
English
French
Some Icelandic