Surface Science for Future Materials

Investigating (geo)chemical, solid state physics, catalysis, corrosion and tribological interactions of the surface to bulk level using surface analysis and advanced methods of testing (synchrotron and neutron tehniques).

The Surface Science for Future Materials (acronym Surfaces) group was established by Dr. Patricia Jovičević-Klug in 2024 and is part of Interface Chemistry and Surface Engineering Department and works closely between departments of Interface Chemistry and Surface Engineering and Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design within the institute, which means it works cross-disciplinary and collaborate with internal and external collaborators (national and international).

The main goal of the group is to understand complex surface-bulk material interactions in an in-depth manner from different perspectives. The focus of the group is understanding the mechanism(s) between the surface and underlying bulk material (e.g. interfaces, catalysis, corrosion, geochemistry, wear, tribocorrosion, magnetism etc.).

Metallic material properties, processing and environmental issues require a good understanding in order to improve material performance and reduce environmental impact (lower greenhouse gas emissions, waste and unwanted by-products). Especially metals (ferrous and non-ferrous alloys) used in a high demanding environment, where their properties dictate their applicability in various fields, such as energy sector, transport sector, medicine, tool industry etc.

Group Surface Science for Future Materials carries out research by combining novel processing techniques (e.g. cryogenics), and state-of-art surface, chemical, magnetic and tribological experimental methodologies (e.g. AFM, SKP, XPS, EBSD, EDX, (S)TEM, APT, MOKE, VSM, piezoelectricity, electrochemistry, tribological testing and advanced characterisation (synchrotron and neutron level)) in order to:

fundamentally understand bulk-surface and interface processes, including catalysis
thermochemical and biological extraction and recyling of CRMs (REEs, PGMs etc.)
(geo)chemical analysis of raw materials and metallic materials
corrosion, chemistry, and surface science form the metallurgist´s perspective: how can the microstructure and composition of the material be optimised for corrosion performance and other properties such as wear, friction, etc, improving materials (raw or recycled material) properties and processing of them in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable ways that also deliver lower production and maintenance costs
support science for policy and policy for science changes and implementations
support development and application of (deep) cryogenic treatment for science, energy, medicine and industry

The group acts as a connecting entity between several MPI SusMat groups through strong synergetic collaboration with following groups