Interdepartmental and Partner Research Groups

The group is dedicated to harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of material science. Our main objective is to tackle critical challenges such as advanced materials design, experimental data analysis, text and data mining for information retrieval. more

The research group aims to achieve sustainability by understanding and engineering the dynamic evolution of materials throughout each stage of their lifecycle, from synthesis to utilization, with a focus on energy efficiency, low carbon emissions, safety, and longevity. more

This research group develops multi-physics and microstructure-resolved continuum models that can accurately represent electrochemical energy devices and processes under operando conditions. These models are designed to enable rationalization and improvement of the electro-chemo-mechanical performance of all-solid-state and liquid high energy density Li-ion batteries. more

The goal of our group is to develop advanced high-entropy materials (HEMs) with exceptional mechanical and multi-functional properties based on the understanding of their structure-properties relations. This is being achieved by combining advanced design strategies and experimental techniques. more

Our research group focuses on one of the most dangerous yet most elusive embrittlement problems frequently observed in high-strength metallic materials: hydrogen embrittlement (HE). The mission is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of HE, as well as to use the acquired knowledge to design novel microstructure concepts with enhanced hydrogen-resistance. Ultimately, we aim to promote the development of high-performance and hydrogen-tolerant alloys that are urgently needed for the dawn of the hydrogen age.
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Additive manufacturing via selected laser melting (SLM) is a promising fabrication technique that can enable unique alloy design pathways due to rapid heating and solidification. This group aims to exploit such process characteristics of SLM to achieve refined micro and nanostructures that will in turn enhance the mechanical and physical performance of complex 3D architectures in both static and dynamic loading conditions. more

The group focuses on advancing the sustainability of magnetic materials and their processing as well as improving the sustainability perspectives of materials recycling and elemental extraction. Ultimately the group strives to provide new understanding and fundamentals for developing the two research perspectives with respect to low-CO2 technologies and cost-effective processes for future materials designing. The group scientifically focuses on providing new experimental and theoretical understanding to bridge sustainability, magnetism and recycling into a common research field in relation to both production of new materials as well as re-use of decommissioned, scrap and waste material. more

Our group is trying to push functional bulk magnets to their physical limits given by their intrinsic properties. Key is the understanding of the critical magnetization reversal processes on the atomic scale. We tackle this with the most advanced correlated electron microscopies and tomographies combined with sophisticated simulation across the length scales applied to modelsystems made by additive manufacturing. more

High temperature materials are used for critical components in gas turbines for power plants and aero engines, chemical/metallurgical plants and motors for ships and cars. more

Future technology challenges will no longer be simply addressed by today's materials and processing solutions, which are often based on trial and error. Instead, guidance will be attained from correlative experimental and theoretical research bridging all length scales.
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This project combinatorially explores multi-component systems based on the concept of high entropy alloys (HEAs).This concept enables experimentally probing compositions that are multi-component in nature and are also located in the middle of phase diagrams. Eqilibrium and non-equilibrium phases can be found and identified for their crystal structures and their magnetic properties as a function of composition by employing multiple methods of combinatorial screening. more

The focus of this group lies on exploring and understanding the atomic-scale degradation behavior of γ/γʹ Ni-based superalloys and new CoNi based superalloys exposed to severe/harsh environmental conditions at high temperatures. Furthermore the role of deformation induced defects on the degradation will also be examined and material design routes to slow down or suppress aspects of the degradation will be defined. more

This project aims to investigate the combined mechanical responses of 3D nano-architected oxides under the influence of electron-beam irradiation, strain rate, and temperature. The intrinsic brittleness of oxides can be alleviated through variations in temperature, material size, and the application of electron-beam irradiation [1,2]. In this study, the combined effects on the mechanical response of 3D nano-architected oxides will be systematically examined using an in-situ SEM micromechanical testing system equipped with a piezo-actuator and precise temperature control systems. This project seeks to deepen the understanding of oxide deformation induced by electron-beam irradiation and its dependencies on size, strain rate, and temperature. more

The research group explores innovative research on the material – light elements interactions, a research field with relevance for nuclear and fusion reactors, as well as for materials required for the hydrogen economy. The major aspects of research are studies on sinks for He and H in metals (e.g., precipitates, interfaces, grain boundaries), and their evolution at elevated temperature. Based on this knowledge, we aim to establish He and H tolerant refractory materials via microstructure tailoring and optimization. more

Alloying elements tend to accumulate in grain boundaries either as atomic segregants or precipitates. The group partners aim to distinguish between the segregation and precipitation impact on local physical properties of the boundaries. more

The focus of the research group is to investigate phase transformation phenomena that occur as a result of metal-gas reactions, which, in turn, generate stresses and lattice defects in the material. more

Our group investigates and develops novel strategies for the sustainable production of metallic materials, integrating the development of synthesis science and technology into material design. Currently the focus lies on the reduction of iron ores with hydrogen in both solid state direct reduction as well as plasma melting processes, for which we investigate the fundamental relationships between processing parameters, phase and microstructure evolutions and reduction kinetics. more