Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
: ''Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung'') was founded in 1969 and is one of the 82 Max Planck Institutes of the
Max Planck Society The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science (german: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e. V.; abbreviated MPG) is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes. ...
. It is located on a campus in Stuttgart, together with the
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems Founded on 18 March 2011, the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) is one of the 86 research institutes of the Max Planck Society. With locations in Stuttgart and Tübingen, it combines interdisciplinary research in the growing ...
.


Research focus

Research at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research is focused on the physics and chemistry of condensed matter, including especially complex materials and nanoscale science. In both of these fields, electronic and ionic transport phenomena are of particular interest.


Organization

The institute currently has eight departments.


Electronic Structure Theory

Led by
Ali Alavi Ali Alavi Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (born May 10, 1966) is a professor of theoretical chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge and a Director of the Max Planck ...
, the Department of Electronic Structure Theory is concerned with the development of
ab initio ''Ab initio'' ( ) is a Latin term meaning "from the beginning" and is derived from the Latin ''ab'' ("from") + ''initio'', ablative singular of ''initium'' ("beginning"). Etymology Circa 1600, from Latin, literally "from the beginning", from ab ...
methods for treating correlated electronic systems, using
Quantum Monte Carlo Quantum Monte Carlo encompasses a large family of computational methods whose common aim is the study of complex quantum systems. One of the major goals of these approaches is to provide a reliable solution (or an accurate approximation) of th ...
, quantum chemical and many-body methodologies. Ab initio methods (including density functional theory) will be applied to problems of interest in heterogeneous catalysis, surface chemistry, electrochemistry, and photochemistry.


Solid State Spectroscopy

The Department of Solid State Spectroscopy is headed by Bernhard Keimer.
Collective quantum phenomena A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together to achieve a common objective. Collectives can differ from cooperatives in that they are not necessarily focused upon an ...
in highly correlated electronic materials are studied by spectroscopic and scattering techniques. Topics of particular current interest include the interplay between charge, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom in transition metal oxides, the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity, and the control of electronic phase behavior in metal-oxide superlattices. The department also develops new spectroscopic methods such as high-resolution neutron spectroscopy and spectral ellipsometry.


Nanoscale Science

Research efforts in the Department of Nanoscale Science, directed by Klaus Kern, are centered on nanometer-scale science and technology with a focus on the bottom-up paradigm. The aim of the interdisciplinary research at the interface between physics, chemistry and biology is to gain control of materials at the atomic and molecular level, enabling the design of systems and devices with properties determined by quantum behavior on one hand and approaching functionalities of living matter on the other hand.


Nanochemistry

The Lotsch department employs modern techniques of nanochemistry and combines them with classical methods of solid-state synthesis to develop materials with complex property profiles, including two-dimensional systems and layered heterostructures, porous frameworks, photonic nanostructures, and solid electrolytes for applications in (photo)catalysis, sensing, and solid-state batteries. Our research vision is to translate fundamental research into sustainable material solutions to meet today’s global challenges, specifically in energy conversion and storage.


Physical Chemistry of Solids

Under Joachim Maier, the Department of Physical Chemistry of Solids is concerned with
electrochemistry Electrochemistry is the branch of physical chemistry concerned with the relationship between electrical potential difference, as a measurable and quantitative phenomenon, and identifiable chemical change, with the potential difference as an outco ...
and ion transport. Emphasis is laid on ion conductors (such as inorganic or organic proton, metal ion and oxygen ion conductors) and mixed conductors (typically perovskites). The research ranges from the exploration of basic mechanisms to the design of materials for electrochemical applications (batteries, fuel cells, sensors). Of special significance is the scientific foundation of the field Nanoionics.


Solid State Quantum Electronics

Induced by quantum mechanical phenomena, heterostructures grown from complex materials offer a fascinating potential to create novel electron systems. Many have outstanding properties that are not otherwise found in nature. The design, growth, and exploration of such electron systems are at the focus of the Department of Solid State Quantum Electronics spearheaded by
Klaus von Klitzing Klaus von Klitzing (, born 28 June 1943, Schroda) is a German physicist, known for discovery of the integer quantum Hall effect, for which he was awarded the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physics. Education In 1962, Klitzing passed the Abitur at the Ar ...
. The group is led by Jochen Mannhart.


Quantum Many-Body Theory

Directed by Walter Metzner, Electronic properties of solids are analyzed and computed in the Department of Quantum Many-Body Theory with a main emphasis on systems where electronic correlations play a crucial role, such as cuprates, manganites and other
transition metal oxides An oxide () is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom and one other element in its chemical formula. "Oxide" itself is the dianion of oxygen, an O2– (molecular) ion. with oxygen in the oxidation state of −2. Most of the E ...
. Besides symmetry-breaking phase transitions leading to
magnetism Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that are mediated by a magnetic field, which refers to the capacity to induce attractive and repulsive phenomena in other entities. Electric currents and the magnetic moments of elementary particles ...
, orbital and charge order, or
superconductivity Superconductivity is a set of physical properties observed in certain materials where electrical resistance vanishes and magnetic flux fields are expelled from the material. Any material exhibiting these properties is a superconductor. Unlike ...
, correlations can also cause electron localization and many other striking many-body effects not described by the independent electron approximation.


Quantum Materials Quantum materials is an umbrella term in condensed matter physics that encompasses all materials whose essential properties cannot be described in terms of semiclassical particles and low-level quantum mechanics. These are materials that present s ...

Entanglement of electrons in solids, in combination with details of the crystal lattice structure, produce a surprisingly rich variety of electronic phases, that are liquid, liquid-crystal and crystalline states of the charge and spin degrees of freedom. These complex electronic phases and the subtle competition among them very often give rise to novel functionality. The Department of Quantum Materials, led by Hidenori Takagi, is studying these interesting novel phases in transition metal oxides and related compounds where the narrow d-bands, which give rise to strong electron correlations, in combination with the rich chemistry of such materials provide excellent opportunities for new discoveries.


Scientific members

*
Ali Alavi Ali Alavi Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (born May 10, 1966) is a professor of theoretical chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge and a Director of the Max Planck ...
*
Bernhard Keimer Bernhard Keimer (born 24. August 1964 in Ratingen) is a German physicist and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. His research group uses spectroscopic methods to explore quantum many-body phenomena in correlated-electron ...
*
Klaus Kern Klaus Kern (born 24 March 1960) is a German physical chemist. Kern received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft in 2008. Biography Kern studied at the University of Bonn chemistry and physics, and receiv ...
*
Bettina Lotsch Bettina Valeska Lotsch (born 7 September 1977 in Frankenthal (Pfalz)) is a German chemist. She is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany. Life Lotsch studied chemistry at the Ludwig Maximilian Unive ...
*
Joachim Maier Joachim Maier (born 5 May 1955) is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart (Germany) and heads the department of Physical Chemistry. Education and career Maier studied chemistry at Saarland University in Saar ...
* Jochen Mannhart *
Walter Metzner Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 1 ...
*
Hidenori Takagi Hidenori (written: 秀典, 秀憲, 秀則, 秀徳, 英則, 英徳 or 英智) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese sound effects editor *, Japanese manga artist *, Japanese ice hockey player *, Japan ...


Research groups

13 research groups have been established at the institute since 2005: * Organic Electronics (Hagen Klauk, since 2005) * Ultrafast Nanooptics (Markus Lippitz, junior professorship at the University of Stuttgart, 2006-2014) * Theory of Semiconductor Nanostructures (Gabriel Bester, 2007-2014) * Tunneling Spectroscopy of Strongly Correlated Electron Materials (Peter Wahl, 2009-2014) * Computational Approaches to Superconductivity (Lilia Boeri, 2009-2013) * Solid State Nanophysics (Jurgen Smet, since 2011) * Nanochemistry (Bettina Lotsch, 2011-2016) * Dynamics of Nanoelectronic Systems (Sebastian Loth, Collaboration with the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, 2011-2018) * Nanoscale Functional Heterostructures (Ionela Vrejoiu, 2012-2015) * X-ray spectroscopy of oxide heterostructures (Eva Benckiser, since 2014) * Ultrafast Solid State Spectroscopy (Stefan Kaiser, junior professorship at the University of Stuttgart, since 2014) * Electronic Structure of Correlated Materials (Philipp Hansmann, 2015-2018) * Computational Quantum Chemistry for Solids (Andreas Grüneis, 2015-2018)


International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS)

The International Max Planck Research School for Condensed Matter Science (IMPRS-CMS) is a joint program of the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Max Planck Institut für Festkörperforschung) and the University of Stuttgart. The objective of the research school is high-quality fundamental research on condensed matter using advanced experimental and theoretical methods. The IMPRS takes on the challenge of creating an exciting, interdisciplinary PhD program that will motivate young scholars to choose a career in research.


Max Planck Graduate Center for Quantum Materials (GC-QM)

Several Max Planck Institutes all across Germany contribute to the overall research activities in this very intriguing field, and the Max Planck Graduate Center for Quantum Materials builds on the complementary research activities at the participating institutes. More specifically, we choose a strategy which will lead to strong synergy effects: the activities of the center will primarily allow students to experience every aspect of world-class research in a highly competitive field and - in a more general sense - also strengthen the existing bonds and collaborations, thus driving the field as such into the future.


Max Planck Center

The ''Max Planck-EPFL Center for Molecular Nanoscience and Technology'' serves as a forum for cooperative research by bringing together scientists of the Max Planck Society and the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL). The center explores novel scientific aspects of molecular nanostructures with a particular focus on new science relevant for sustainable energy, chemical sensing and biomedical technologies. The ''Max Planck-UBC-UTokyo Center for Quantum Materials''
is a collaborative venture between the Max Planck Society (Germany), University of British Columbia (Canada), and the University of Tokyo (Japan) featuring internationally recognized leading scientists and extensive infrastructure for research in quantum materials. This partnership supports collaborative projects, scholarly exchanges, annual workshops, and joint schools for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The center provides a platform for interdisciplinary exchange and cooperation.


Emeritus scientific members

* Ole Krogh Andersen (1978-2012) *
Martin Jansen Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austr ...
(1998-2012) *
Klaus von Klitzing Klaus von Klitzing (, born 28 June 1943, Schroda) is a German physicist, known for discovery of the integer quantum Hall effect, for which he was awarded the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physics. Education In 1962, Klitzing passed the Abitur at the Ar ...
*
Hans-Joachim Queisser Hans-Joachim Queisser (born 6 July 1931, Berlin, Germany) is a solid-state physicist. He is best known for co-authoring the 1961 work on solar cells that detailed what is today known as the Shockley–Queisser limit, which is now considered the ke ...
(1970-1997) *
Arndt Simon Arndt Simon (born 14 January 1940) is a German inorganic chemist. He was a director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart. Life Simon studied Chemistry at the University of Münster from 1960-1964. He worked on his doc ...
(1974-2010) * Peter Wyder (1984-2001)


Infrastructure

The Institute employs approximately 430 people, including 110 scientists, 90 PhD students and 70 guest scientists.


External links


Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research

International Max Planck Research School for Condensed Matter Science

Max Planck-EPFL Center for Molecular Nanoscience and Technology

Max Planck-UBC-UTokyo Center for Quantum Materials

Max Planck Society

Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems


References

{{Authority control Solid State Research Materials science institutes Physics institutes