Materials Physics - Research fields

Research fields

We study a range of problems relating to the physics of materials.

Illustration of a superlattice composed of two different materials (yellow and gray). The relevant lenghtscales in a superlattice are the atomic distance, chemical repeat distance and the total thickness.

There is a particular interest in the size and structure and how these parameters relate to the observed physical properties of materials. Work often involves studies with order in just one or two dimensions.

Magnetic properties of superlattices and hydrogen in artificial materials are examples of current research topics. The influence of the extensions of the samples is of special interest. Changing the extension can be viewed as a way to alter the dimensionality of, for example, the magnetic or elastic interactions.

Soft matter such as polymers and dispersions of nanoparticles (colloids), provides interesting materials properties. The study of phase behaviour and interactions provides routes to control self-assembly enabling the tailoring of new materials classes. These offer routes to obtain completely new materials properties, not accessible by other means.

Beside the problem oriented research, we develop instrumental approaches for addressing interesting scientific issues. This includes growth and characterisation techniques relevant for the research efforts we pursuit.