Group Leader Profiles

The group works on the development of novel battery systems, among them fluoride ion batteries and solid state batteries. For the former, the intercalation and deintercalation of fluoride ions leads to a change of electronic properties, and can induce novel magnetic phenomena or superconductivity. The development of catalysts for the oxygen redduction reaction is further connected to the chemistry of oxyfluoride compounds. In addition, we target the development of materials for solid state batteries, considering their sustainability and suitability for circular economy. Methods used in the group comprise solid state and wet-chemical synthesis routes, thin film deposition as well as topochemical low-temperature routes, combined with structural, electrochemical and magnetic characterization and compositional analysis.

Solid state physics, correlated electron systems, molecular quantum materials, magnetically frustrated systems, quantum spin liquids, topological materials, Dirac and Weyl electrons, physics of low-dimensional solids, superconductivity, materials for quantum computers, superconducting electronics, electrodynamics of solids, infrared and THz optical measurements of solids, microwave spectroscopy, magneto-optics, ellipsometry,

We are extending the coupled cluster theory, one of the most successful theories for ab-initio simulations of molecules, to study strongly correlated, extended and periodic molecular systems. We are developing novel coupled cluster approaches and embedding methodologies, and use automatic coding techniques to implement the new methods. These methods can be applied to various molecular or model systems, with strongly and weakly correlated electrons, to calculate ground and excited state properties and to predict or explain experimental findings.

Our interdisciplinary research group explores how to teach crystals tricks of living matter by investigating dynamic features of molecular framework materials such as metal-organic and covalent organic frameworks (MOFs and COFs). By specifically tuning the structural topology of the framework, we create soft porous crystals which exhibit pore contraction and/or expansion as a response to the adsorption of gases and fluids or external triggers such as light irradiation. Such materials can act as responsive cargo-release systems, nanoscopic sensors or feature counterintuitive phenomena such as negative gas adsorption. We furthermore construct frameworks which contain molecular machines such as light-driven molecular motors and switches as responsive and intrinsically dynamic building blocks. We aim towards collective operating molecular machines in the solid state which are able to actively transport molecules in the pore space and facilitate dynamic conversion and storage of energy carriers and other small molecules. Our diverse team uses a wide range of synthetic and experimental tools and collaborates in national and international research projects to push the boundaries of dynamic features in crystalline solids.

My research interests deal with the design, synthesis and characterization of novel liquid crystalline materials, hybrid materials of dyes and liquid crystals, as well as biomaterials. We try to understand structure property relationships in such materials towards novel organic electronics, ion conductors and battery materials.

The work focuses on synthesis and detailed characterization of metal-rich compounds, preferentially containing nitrogen as a constituent. First emphasis is the design and development of preparative techniques as basis for synthesis of novel materials. Special attention is granted to structural characterization, electronic and magnetic properties as well as mechanical and chemical behavior. These data are inevitable for any detailed consideration of chemical bonding and potential applications. • Advanced solid state synthesis of functional materials including various high pressure techniques, solvothermal synthesis and crystal growth, high temperature synthesis • Solid state reaction pathways and crystal growth mechanisms • Magnetic and superconducting materials, ionic conductors

Among the possible systems that exhibit quantum properties, molecular spin qubits (MSQs) are one of the most versatile platforms. At the heart of MSQs is the electronic spin, which can originate from unpaired electrons of organic centers, transition metals or lanthanides. The organic ligand surrounding the qubit can also be engineered to tune the electronic and spin properties. My group focuses on the deposition of MSQs on surfaces and investigation using spectroscopic techniques, in particular magnetic resonance. We also aim to extend the operating frequency range from X-band (9 GHz) to THz (> 100 GHz) using plasmonic metasurface magnetic resonators designed and fabricated by us. The group is therefore very multidisciplinary, at the interface of chemistry and physics, and young, having been established in January 2024