Bio

​Post-doctoral fellow, Ecole Polytechnique - University of Montréal (Canada), Department of Engineering Physics, research group Prof. L. Martinu, 1992–1994)Ph.D. Physics, Technical University Munich/ Max-Planck Institute for Plasmaphysics (Germany), 1992M.S. Chemistry, University of Konstanz (Germany), 1989B.S. Chemistry, University of Konstanz (Germany), 1989

"Surfaces are the key to Nanoscience - this is where reactions happen, and nanostructures are made. Our research looks at surfaces at the atomic scale."

Petra Reinke, Professor

Professor, Materials Science & Engineering, University of Virginia, 2018-present

Heinz & Doris Wilsdorf Distinguished Research Associate Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Virginia, 2016-2018Habilitation in Experimental Physics, University of Basel, Physics Institute, Switzerland, 1994-2000

Visiting Professor, Lund University, Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research, and the Nanometer Consortium, Sweden, Fall 2011

Associate Professor, University of Virginia, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, 2003-2016

Research Group Leader (Assistant Professor), University of Göttingen, II, Physics Institute, Germany, 2001-2003

Petra Reinke received her first degree, a diploma (M.S.) from the University of Konstanz in Germany, in Chemistry where she focused on physical chemistry. Her thesis was on the study of hydrogen bonding in solids. Her interest in physics led her to the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasmaphysics in Munich where she earned a Ph.D. She studied low-pressure plasma which are used in the growth of amorphous hydrogenated carbon. From here, it was only a small step to investigate the growth of diamond films and ion-matter interactions in materials like BN, diamond, silicon and other semiconductors. After a Postdoc at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, Canada, her focus shifted to the reactions at surfaces and interfaces, which are also a versatile canvas for the synthesis of nanomaterials. She pursued these interests at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and received the venia legendi (Habilitation) in 2000. After a short stay at the University of Goettingen, Germany, as a research group leader she jumped at the opportunity to move to UVA and built a surface science research group in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Research Interests

  • Nanoelectronics and 2-D Materials
  • Corrosion and Electrochemical Sciences and Engineering
  • Surface and Interface Science and Engineering
  • Materials Characterization
  • Nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing
  • Catalysis

Selected Publications

  • Magnetism in Mn-Nanowires and -Culsters as Delta-doped Layers in Group IV Semiconductors (Si, Ge). Appl. Physs. Lett. Materials 6, 016105 ABS Simov, K., Glans-Suzuki, A., Jenkins, C.A., Liberati, M., Reinke, P., 2018.
  • Evolution of NiO Island Size Distributions during the Oxidation of a Ni-5Cr Alloy: Experiment and Modeling. ACS Appl. Mat. and Interfaces 10, 9136-9146 Ramanathan, R., Ramanlingam, G., Perepezko, J., Reinke, P., Voorhees, P., 2018.
  • Alternative route to Silicene Synthesis via Surface Reconstruction on h-MoSi2 Crystallites. Nano Lett., 17, pp 299–307 (2017) ABS Volders, C.J., Monazami, E., Ramalingam, G. and Reinke, P.
  • Strain Lattice Imprinting in Graphene by C60 Intercalation at the Graphene/Cu Interface. Nano letters, 15, pp.7421-7430 (2015) ABS Monazami, E., Bignardi, L., Rudolf, P. and Reinke, P.
  • Electronic Structure and Band Gap of Fullerenes on Tungsten Surfaces: Transition from a Semiconductor to a Metal Triggered by Annealing. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 8, pp.34854-34862 (2016) ABS Monazami, E., McClimon, J.B., Rondinelli, J. and Reinke, P.
  • "Inorganic Nanostructures- Properties and Characterization" (2012) -ISBN-13: 978-3527409259 P. Reinke,Wiley
  • "Nanoscale probing of electronic band gap and topography of VO 2 thin film surfaces by scanning tunneling microscopy." Journal of Applied Physics 109, 024311 (2011) ABS Yin, W., S. Wolf, C. Ko, S. Ramanathan, and P. Reinke.
  • Manganese Nanostructures on Si (100)(2× 1) Surfaces: Temperature-Driven Transition from Wires to Silicides. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 114, pp.19727-19733 ABS Nolph, C.A., Simov, K.R., Liu, H. and Reinke, P., 2010.
  • Fractal structures in fullerene layers: simulation of the growth process. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 112(12), pp.4687-4695 ABS Liu, H., Lin, Z., Zhigilei, L.V. and Reinke, P., 2008.

Courses Taught

  • MSE 4055 Nanoscience and Technology every Fall semester
  • MSE 7220 - Surface Science Fall 2016
  • MSE 6167 - Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of materials Spring 2016
  • MSE 3670 - Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of materials (UG)

Featured Grants & Projects

  • "Acquisition of an X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer for In-situ Experiments to advance Corrosion Studies, Surface and Interface Engineering"


    PI: P. Reinke, DURIP-ONR ((8/1/16 – 7/31/18) Program Manager: Dr. D. Shifler.

  • “MRI: Acquisition of an X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer for Chemical Mapping of Evolving Surfaces: A Regional Instrument for Research and Teaching”


    NSF-MRI (9/1/16 – 8/31/19) E. Opila, P. Reinke, I. Harrison, S. Macko

  • “Nanosphere Synthesis and the Impact of Curvature on Molecule Adsorption”


    PI: P. Reinke, National Science Foundation – Division of Chemistry (8/1/15-7/31/18)

  • "Understanding Atomic Scale Structure in Four Dimensions to Design and Control Corrosion Resistant Alloys"


    PI: L. Marks and others, Co-PI at UVa: J. Scully, P. Reinke, MURI-ONR, (7/1/14 – 6/30/17), Program Manager: Dr. D. Shifler.

  • "Challenges in the physics and chemistry of complex surfaces"


    PI: J. Schnadt (Lund University, Sweden), P. Reinke, and A. Mikkelsen (Lund University, Sweden). STINT-The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation Research and Higher Education. Initiation Grant (8/30/2014 - 9/1/2015)

  • “Investigation of the oxidation of stoichiometric and carbon-rich tungsten carbide surfaces”


    PI: P. Reinke, National Science Foundation – Division of Materials Research– Ceramics (8/1/10-7/31/15)