It is the objective of the research group „Molekülphysik“ to study structure-property relationships in soft supramolecular systems like glassforming liquids, liquid crystals, polymers and elastomers of varying molecular architecture and biomolecules. Special emphasis is given to the dynamics in confining systems as realised in nanoporous materials, in thin (polymer) - layers or in nanoparticles. In these studies mainly Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) is employed. Another versatile tool to study structure – property relationships is (time resolved) Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR – Spectroscopy) which is for instance used to analyse the molecular origin of the extraordinary mechanical properties of spider – silk. Futher promising experiments on the nanometer scale are carried out by use of optical tweezers (OT) which enable one to measure on a single molecule level forces of interaction within isolated chains of DNA or between (DNA-grafted) pairs of colloids in media of varying ionic strength or caused by receptor/ligand interactions. Completely new perspectives offer novel experiments with nanometric holes through which e.g.isolated DNA – chains are threaded.