Research

We are interested in the synthesis and in-depth structural and physical characterization as well as the design and potential applications of new materials with a variety of chemical, physical, or electronic properties.

As far as the physical properties are concerned, areas of interest include magnetoresistance, charge density wave behavior, superconductivity or transparent magnetic and conducting materials. We seek to obtain deeper understanding of synthesis/structure relationships and structure/function relationships. We apply theoretical methods for the prediction and rationalization of materials properties and work closely together with colleagues in theoretical and experimental condensed matter physics at Mainz, Kaiserslautern and other labs in Germany around the world. We collaborate with experts in other specialities in materials science, such as the neutron scattering facilities at Jülich, Saclay or Grenoble.

A second goal of our research is to investigate the chemistry of organized matter. In particular, we are interested in bio-inspired chemically-derived routes to complex inorganic materials. For this, we are attempting to integrate concepts and knowledge of how organisms fabricate biominerals such as bones, shells and teeth, within a biomimetic approach to the synthesis of organized inorganic-based materials with structural hierarchy and morphological complexity across a range of length scales

The topics of our current activities include

  • Solid State Chemistry of Chalcogenides
  • Chalcogenide Nanoparticles
  • Magnetic Oxides
  • Combinatorial methods applied to the synthesis of intermetallics
  • Chemistry of Organized Matter - Nucleation and Crystallization at Organic-Inorganic Interfaces
  • Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles
  • Nanostructured Architectures for Solar Energy Conversion
  • Nanostructured Materials for Thermoelectrics
  • Anodization of valve metals