Klaus Kern

Klaus Kern is Professor Emeritus at EPFL and Director and Scientific Member at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany. He also is Honorary Professor at the University of Konstanz, Germany. His present research interests are in nanoscale science, quantum technology and in microscopy at the atomic limits of space and time. He holds a chemistry degree and PhD from the University of Bonn and a honorary doctors degree from the University of Aalborg. After his doctoral studies he was staff scientist at the Research Center Jülich and visiting scientist at Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill before joining the Faculty of EPFL in 1991 and the Max Planck-Society in 1998. Professor Kern has authored and coauthored more than 700 scientific publications that have been cited more than 70'000 times. He has served frequently on advisory committees to universities, professional societies and institutions and has received numerous scientific awards and honors, including the 2008 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize and the 2016 Van't Hoff Prize. Prof. Kern has also educated a large number of leading scientists in nanoscale physics and chemistry. During the past twenty-five years he has supervised one hundred PhD students and sixty postdoctoral fellows. Today, more than sixty of his former students and postdocs hold prominent faculty positions at Universities around the world. Key Publications Y. Luo, S. Sheng, A. Schirato, A. Martin-Jimenez, G. Della Valle, G. Cerullo, K. Kern, and M. GargVisualizing hot carrier dynamics by nonlinear optical spectroscopy at the atomic length scaleNature Commun. 16, 4999 (2025)Y. Luo, S. Sheng, M. Pisarra, A. Martin-Jimenez, F. Martin, K. Kern, and M. GargSelective excitation of vibrations in a single molecule Nature Commun. 15, 6983 (2024)K. Anggara, L. Sršan, T. Jaroentomeechai, X. Wu, S. Rauschenbach, Y. Narimatsu, H. Clausen, T. Ziegler, R. L. Miller, and K. KernDirect observation of glycans bonded to proteins and lipids at single molecule levelScience 382, 219 (2023)S. Karan, H. Huang, C. Padurariu, B. Kubala, G. Morrás, A. Levy Yeyati, J. C. Cuevas, J. Ankerhold, K. Kern, and C. R. AstSuperconducting Quantum Interference at the Atomic ScaleNature Physics 18, 893 (2022)M. Garg, A. Martin-Jimenez, M. Pisarra, Y. Luo, F. Martín, and K. KernReal-space subfemtosecond imaging of quantum electronic coherences in moleculesNature Photonics 16, 196-202 (2021)H. Ochner, S. Szilagyi, S. Abb, J. Gault, C. V. Robinson, L. Malavolti, S. Rauschenbach, and K. KernLow-energy electron holography imaging of conformational variability of single-antibody molecules from electrospray ion beam depositionProc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 118, e2112651118 (2021)X. Wu, M. Delbianco, K. Anggara, T. Michnowicz, A. Prado-Vargas, P. Bharate, S. Sen, M. Pristl, S. Rauschenbach, U. Schlickum, S. Abb, P.H. Seeberger, and K. KernImaging Single GlycansNature 582, 375 (2020)H. Huang, C. Padurariu, J. Senkpiel, R. Drost, A. Levy Yeyati, J.C. Cuevas, B. Kubala, J. Ankerhold, K. Kern, and C.R. AstTunneling dynamics between superconducting bound states at the atomic limitNature Physics 16, 1227 (2020)M. Garg and K. KernAttosecond coherent manipulation of electrons in tunneling microscopyScience 367, 411 (2020)C. Leon, A. RosÅ‚awska, A. Grewal, O. Gunnarsson, K. Kuhnke, and K. Kern Photon superbunching from a generic tunnel junction Science Advances 5, eaav4986 (2019)A. RosÅ‚awska, P. Merino, C. Große, C.C. Leon, O. Gunnarsson, M. Etzkorn, K. Kuhnke, and K. Kern Single Charge and Exciton Dynamics Probed by Molecular-Scale-Induced Electroluminnescence Nano Lett. 18, 4001 (2018)L. Schlipf, T. Oeckinghaus, K. Xu, D.B.R. Dasari, A. Zappe, F. Fávaro de Oliveira, B. Kern, M. Azarkh, M. Drescher, M. Ternes, K. Kern, J. Wrachtup, and A. FinklerMolecular quantum spin network controlled by a single qubitScience Advances 3, e1701116 (2017)P. Jacobson, M. Muenks, G. Laskin, O. Brovko, V. Stepanyuk, M. Ternes, and K. KernPotential Energy Driven Spin Manipulation via a Controllable Hydrogen LigandScience Advances 3, e1602060 (2017)J-N. Longchamp, S. Rauschenbach, S. Abb, C. Escher, T. Latychevskaia, K. Kern, and H-W. FinkImaging proteins at the single-molecule levelProc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 114, 1474 (2017)C.R. Ast, B. Jäck, J. Senkpiel, M. Eltschka, M. Etzkorn, J. Ankerhold, and K. KernSensing the Quantum Limit in Scanning Tunneling SpectroscopyNature Commun. 7, 13009 (2016)B. Wurster, D. Grumelli, D. Hötger, R. Gutzler, and K. KernDriving the oxygen evolution reaction by nonlinear cooperativety in bimetallic coordination networksJ. Am. Chem. Soc. 138, 3623 (2016)S Abb, L. Harnau, R. Gutzler, S. Rauschenbach, and K. KernTwo-Dimensional Honeycomb Network through Sequence-Controlled Self-Assembly of OligopeptidesNature Commun. 7, 10335 (2016)P. Merino, C. Große, A. Roslawska, K. Kuhnke, and K. KernExciton dynamics of C60-based single-photon emitters explored by Hanbury Brown-Twiss scanning tunneling microscopyNature Commun. 6, 8461 (2015)C. Grosse, A. Kabakchiev, T. Lutz, R. Froidevaux, F. Schramm, M. Ruben, M. Etzkorn, U. Schlickum, K. Kuhnke, and K. KernDynamic Control of Plasmon Generation by an Individual Quantum SystemNano Letters 14, 5693 (2014)E. Schäfer-Nolte, L. Schlipf, M. Ternes, F. Reinhard, K. Kern, and J. WrachtrupTracking Temperature Dependent Relaxation Times of Individual Ferritin Nanomagnets with a Wide-band Quantum SpectrometerPhys. Rev. Lett. 113, 217204 (2014)Ch.S. Kley, Ch. Dette, G. Rinke, Ch.E. Patrick, J. Cechal, S.J. Jung, M. Baur, M. Dürr, St. Rauschenbach, F. Giustino, S. Stepanow, and K. KernAtomic-scale observation of multi-conformational binding and energy level alignment of ruthenium-based photosensitizers on TiO2 anataseNano Letters 14, 563 (2014)D. Grumelli, B. Wurster, S. Stepanow, and K. KernNanocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction: a novel bio-inspired approachNature Commun. 4, 2904 (2013)Y. Zhang, S. Kahle, T. Herden, C. Stroh, M. Mayor, U. Schlickum, M. Ternes, P. Wahl, and K. KernTemperature and Magnetic Field Dependence of a Kondo System in the Weak Coupling RegimeNature Commun. 4, 2110 (2013)Z. Deng, N. Thontasen, N. Malinowski, G. Rinke, L. Harnau, S. Rauschenbach, and K. KernA close look at proteins: Submolecular Resolution of Two- and Three-Dimensionally Folded Proteins at Solid SurfacesNano Letters 12, 2452 (2012)S. Kahle, Z. Deng, N. Malinowski, C. Tonnoir, A. Forment-Aliaga, N. Thontasen, G. Rinke, D. Le, V. Turkowski, T.S. Rahman, S. Rauschenbach, M. Ternes, and K. KernAddressing the Quantum Magnetism of Individual Manganese-12-Acetate Molecular Magnets Anchored at SurfacesNano Letters 12, 518 (2012)J. Bork, Y.-H. Zhang, L. Diekhöner, L. Borda, P. Simon, J. Kroha, P. Wahl, and K. KernA Tunable Two-impurity Kondo system in an atomic point contactNature Physics 7, 901 (2011)S. Fabris, S. Stepanow, N. Lin, P. Gambardella, A. Dmitriev, J. Honolka, S. Baroni, and K. KernOxygen Dissociation by Concerted Action of Di-Iron Centers in Metal-Organic Coordination Networks at Surfaces: Modeling Non-Heme Iron EnzymesNano Letters 11, 5414 (2011)S. Bose, A. M. García- García, M. M. Ugeda, J. D. Urbina, C. H. Michaelis, I. Brihuega, and K. KernObservation of shell effects in superconducting nanoparticles of SnNature Materials 9, 550 (2010)T.C. Tseng, C. Urban, Y. Wang, R. Otero, S. L. Tait, M. Alcamí, D. écija, M. Trelka, J.M. Gallego, N. Lin, M. Konuma, U. Starke, A. Nefedov, C. Wöll, M. Ángeles-Herranz, F. Martín, N. Martín, K. Kern, and R. MirandaCharge Transfer-induced Structural Rearrangements at Both Sides of Organic/Metal InterfacesNature Chemistry 2, 374 (2010)L. Vitali, G. Levita, R. Ohmann, A. Comisso, A. De Vita, and K. KernPortrait of the potential barrier at metal-organic nanocontactsNature Materials 9, 320 (2010)P. Gambardella, S. Stepanow, A. Dmitriev, J. Honolka, F. de Groot, M. Lingenfelder, S. Sen Gupta, D.D. Sarma, P. Bencok, S. Stanescu, S. Clair, S. Pons, N. Lin, A. P. Seitsonen, H. Brune, J. V. Barth and K. KernSupramolecular control of the magnetic anisotropy in two-dimensional high-spin Fe arrays at a metal interfaceNature Materials 8, 189 (2009)E. J. H. Lee, K. Balasubramanian, R.T. Weitz, M. Burghard and K. KernContact and edge effects in graphene devicesNature Nanotechnology 3, 486 (2008)C. Gómez-Navarro, R.T. Weitz, A.M. Bittner, M. Scolari, A. Mews, M. Burghard, and K. KernElectronic transport properties of individual chemically reduced graphene oxide sheetsNano Letters 7, 3499 (2007)C. R. Ast, J. Henk, A. Ernst, L. Moreschini, M.C. Falub, D. Pacilé, P. Bruno, K. Kern, and M. GrioniGiant spin splitting through surface alloyingPhys. Rev. Lett. 98, 186807 (2007)P. Wahl, P. Simon, L. Diekhöner, V.S. Stepanyuk, P. Bruno, M.A. Schneider, and K. KernExchange interaction between single magnetic atomsPhys. Rev. Lett. 98, 056601 (2007)M. Lingenfelder, G. Tomba, G. Costantini, L. Colombi Ciacchi, A. De Vita, and K. KernTracking the Chiral Recognition of Adsorbed Dipeptides at the Single Molecule LevelAngew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 119, 4576 (2007)G. Costantini, A. Rastelli, C. Manzano, P. Acosta-Diaz, R. Songmuang, G. Katsaros, O.G. Schmidt, and K. KernInterplay between thermodynamics and kinetics in the capping of InAs/GaAs(001) quantum dotsPhys. Rev. Lett. 96, 226106 (2006)J.V. Barth, G. Costantini, and K. Kern,Engineering atomic and molecular nanostructures at surfaces,Nature 437, 671 (2005)P. Wahl, L. Diekhöner, G. Wittich, L. Vitali, M.A. Schneider, and K. KernKondo effect of molecular complexes at surfaces: Ligand control of the local spin couplingPhys. Rev. Lett. 95, 166601 (2005)L. Vitali, M. Burghard, M.A. Schneider, L. Liu, S.Y. Wu, C.S. Jayanthi, and K. Kern,Phonon spectromicroscopy of carbon nanostructures with atomic resolution,Phys. Rev. Lett 93, 136103 (2004)S. Stepanow, M. Lingenfelder, A. Dmitriev, H. Spillmann, E. Delvigne, N. Lin, X. Deng, C. Cai, J.V. Barth, and K. Kern,Steering molecular organization and host-guest interactions using two-dimensional nanoporous coordination systems,Nature Materials 3, 229 (2004)M. Knez, A.M. Bittner, F. Boes, C. Wege, H. Jeske, E. Maiß, and K. Kern,Biotemplate synthesis of 3nm Nickel and Cobalt nanowires,Nano Letters 3, 1079 (2003)P. Gambardella, S. Rusponi, M. Veronese, S.S. Deshi, G. Grazioli, A. Dallmeyer, I. Cabria, R. Zeller, P.H. Dederichs, K. Kern, C. Carbone, and H. BruneGiant magnetic anisotropy of Co adatoms and nanoparticles on Pt(111),Science 300, 1130 (2003)S.E. Kooi, U. Schlecht, M. Burghard, and K. Kern,Electrochemical modification of single carbon nanotubes,Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 41, 1353 (2002)P. Gambardella, A. Dallmeyer, K. Maiti, M.C. Malagoli, W. Eberhard, K. Kern, and C. Carbone,Ferromagnetism in one-dimensional monatomic metal chains,Nature 416, 302 (2002)N. Knorr, H. Brune, M. Epple, A. Hirstein, M.A. Schneider, and K. Kern,Long-range adsorbate interactions mediated by a two-dimensional electron gas,Phys. Rev. B 65, 115420 (2002)L. Nilsson, O. Gröning, C. Emmenegger, O. Küttel, E. Schaller, L. Schlapbach, H. Kind, J.M. Bonard, and K. Kern,Scanning field emission from patterned carbon nanotube films,Appl. Phys. Lett. 76, 2071 (2000)J.V. Barth, J. Weckesser, C. Cai, P. Günter, L. Bürgi, O. Jeandupeux, and K. Kern,Building supramolecular nanostructures at surfaces by hydrogen bonding,Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 39, 1230 (2000)L. Bürgi, O. Jeandupeux, H. Brune, and K. Kern,Probing hot-electron dynamics at surfaces with a cold scanning tunneling microscope,Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 4516 (1999)H. Brune, M. Giovannini, K. Bromann, and K. Kern,Self-organized growth of nanostructure arrays on strain relief patterns,Nature 394, 451 (1998)K. Bromann, Ch. Félix, H. Brune, W. Harbich, R. Monot, J. Buttet, and K. Kern,Controlled deposition of size-selected Ag nanoclusters,Science 274, 956 (1996)H. Brune, H. Röder, C. Boragno and K. Kern,Microscopic view of nucleation on surfaces,Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 1955 (1994)H. Röder, E. Hahn, H. Brune, J.-P. Bucher, and K. Kern,Building one- and two-dimensional nanostructures via diffusion controlled aggregation at surfaces,Nature 366, 141 (1993)K. Kern, H. Niehus, A. Schatz, P. Zeppenfeld, J. George, and G. Comsa,Long range spatial selforganization in the adsorbate induced restructuring of surfaces : Cu(110) - (2xl)O,Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 855 (1991)Profile in Google Scholar https://scholar.google.de/citations?hl=de&user=9FTiahEAAAAJ Teaching & PhD Past EPFL PhD Students Vittorio Marsico, Hansjörg Schief, René Becker, Karsten Bromann, Ornella Cavalleri, Lorenz Nedelmann, Nicolas Waelchli, Andreas Hirstein, Alexander Menck, Martial Blanc, Björn Fischer, Lukas Bernhard Bürgi, Oliver Leifeld, Maximilian Epple, Marcella Giovannini, Hannes Kind, Pietro Gambardella, Jens Weckesser, Samuel Sarbach, Dietrich Peterka, Nikolaus Knorr, Vojislav Krstic, Paolo Messina, Christian Klinke, Dominik Hoffmann, Alexandre Dmitriev, Xiaochun Wu, Alpan Bek, Carlos Manzano, Olaf Kirfel, Ulrich Schlecht, Erik Delvigne, Tae-Yon Lee, Kannan Balasubramanian, Michael Vogelgesang, Sebastian Stepanow, Diego Repetto, Thomas Roland Classen, Manxi Zhu, Sinan Balci, Dietmar Payer, Rubén Esteban Llorente, Tilman Assmus, Magalí Lingenfelder, Stephan Rauschenbach, Ralf Thomas Weitz, Eduardo Jian Hua Lee, Alexander Langner, Holger Jens Böttcher, Violetta Sessi, Jens Dorfmüller, Tzu-Chun Tseng, Alexander Kabakchiev, Ravi Shankar Sundaram, Maximilian Assig, Adarsh Singh Sagar, Daniel Dominik Kälblein, Theresa Lutz, Frederik Sebastian Ante, Isabella Gierz, Nicha Thontasen, Liza Herrera Diez, Vivek Pachauri, Nasiba Abdurakhmanova, Thomas Dufaux, Alberto Crepaldi, Christopher Seiji Kley, Eberhard Ulrich Stützel, Moritz Esslinger, Gordon Rinke, Eva Carmen Peters, Seth Cullen White, Seyedmostafa Enayat, Pascal Gehring, Matthias Alexander Eltschka, Carola Strasser, Christoph Grosse, Berthold Jäck, Benjamin Wurster, Ivan Pentegov, Verena Katharina Schendel, Christian Dette, Daniel Pablo Rosenblatt, Reinhold Rödel, Alexander Ronald Hoyer, Claudius Morchutt, Roberto Urcuyo Solorzano, Kristina Vaklinova, Sabine Abb, Sebastian Koslowski, Daniel Eduardo Hurtado Salinas, Soudabeh Sheikholharam Mashhadi, Diana Hötger, Jacob Senkpiel, Anna Maria Roslawska, Shai Mangel, Alessio Scavuzzo, Patrick Eduard Alexa, Katharina Polyudov, Haonan Huang, Sven Alexander Szilagyi, Hannah Julia Ochner, Abhishek Grewal, Jz -Yuan Juo, Dinesh Pinto, Lukas Powalla, Moritz Alexander Edte Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector Bart Willem Stel, Tobias Wollandt Courses Advanced experimental methods in condensed matter and nanophysics PHYS-630 The objective of the course is to expose PhD students to experimental measurement techniques and principles applied infront end research of condensed matter and nanophysics. Besides providing a solid background, it will focus on thecrucial details which will make cutting edge experiments work. Past PHD in 1994 Elmar Hahn, Holger Röder, Christoph Romainczyk . Awards Ter Meer Prize Universität Bonn 1987 Gerhard Hess Prize Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 1990 Honorary Professor Universität Konstanz 2000 Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz Prize Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 2008 Elected Member Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften 2008 Honorary Member Israeli Chemical Society 2009 Honorary Doctorate University of Aalborg 2009 ChinaNano Award Chinese Academy of Sciences 2015 Van't Hoff Prize Deutsche Bunsen Gesellschaft 2016