Focus on the fundamental physics and chemistry of inter-atomic interactions of solid-state systems made up of functional components with nanoscale dimensions.

Exploitation of novel phenomena aimed at understanding the relationship between the microscopic structure and macroscopic properties for designing technologically important materials (bad metals, doped semiconductors, magnets, superconductors).

Syntheses, manipulation and application of functional materials to devices are based on the control of matter at the atomic or molecular level.

The research team is working in the area of advanced nanomaterials architectures (be it a complex solid-state system or indeed a specific morphology, such as an interface, a nanoporous form or a thin film) governed by correlated electron physics.

We encourage our team members to prepare/grow nanocrystal structures (for magnetoelectronic or photonic applications) in our facilities. Basic physical properties, such as magnetic susceptibility and electrical/thermal transport or optical activity, can be measured at our laboratory. We correlate the macroscopic physical properties with the results of X-ray and neutron scattering or muon-spin relaxation (μ+SR) methods.

Experimental tools involving external stimuli (pressure, magnetic field, ultra-fast laser light) are developed as keys to understanding materials properties and applications. More elaborate measurements are done with the collaboration of other research groups around the world. Strong links with theoretical teams assist our experimental efforts to choose the optimum set of materials and to justify our experimental findings.