Research

Chemical Metals Science

Implementing the Institute’s roadmap Chemical Physics of Solids, the Research Field Chemical Metals Science focusses on the Preparation of new classes of intermetallic compounds, on elaborating an enhanced understanding of the relationship between the organization of crystal structures and their atomic interactions as well as their influence on the chemical and physical properties of these materials. These studies involve the development of new experimental and theoretical techniques. These projects are tackled in concert with the Competence Groups Structure, Metallography, Chemical Bonding and Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Chemical bonding in intermetallic compounds

The goal is the complete chemical characterization of the electronic structure of a chemical system on the basis of the first-order (1-RDM) and second-order reduced density matrix (2-RDM) in position and momentum space.

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Chemical properties of intermetallic compounds

The research on intermetallic compounds (IMCs) includes a comprehensive insight into crystal and electronic structures, composition, formation route as well as atomic interactions between the parent ele-ments in the particular crystal structure. [more]

Correlated matter compounds

Electronic correlation effects observed in compounds formed by transition metals carrying itinerant d electrons and rare-earth (RE) metals with more localized f electrons are one of the central topics in solid-state chemistry and physics. These effects give rise to unusual behaviors, such as mixed and intermediate valence states, heavy fermion and non-Fermi liquid behaviors, superconductivity, Kondo insulators, Kondo semiconductors, quantum criticality, etc. Here we give a short overview of a selection of compounds which have been recently studied.

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Nitrides and nitridometallates

The investigation of structures and properties of compounds containing nitrogen like nitrides, nitridometallates, cyanamides, and cyanides is still a fast-growing area of solid state science, although great progress has been made in recent years. In contrast to the vast numbers of oxo-, thio-, and higher pnictide compounds, there is still only limited knowledge about the related nitrides [1]. [more]

HRTEM for studies of real structures of intermetallic compounds

New thermoelectrics

Intermetallic compounds containing actinides

New tools for bonding analysis in real space

Borides

Chemical Vapor Transport

High-pressure crystal chemistry

Metallography of thermoelectric and catalytic materials

New Intermetallic Compounds

Synthesis and characterization of binary and ternary intermetallic compounds are an essential joint project at the institute. Different preparation techniques are applied, e. g., arc-melting, inductive heating, sintering, synthesis by using self-flux etc. Sample quality and reproducibility of synthesis are important requirements for the subsequent investigations on physical properties of these new compounds.

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New preparation routes for intermetallic compounds