Present Members

    Former Members

    Dr. Kwing To Lai Chinese University of Hong-Kong (January 2015 -)

  • Project title: Synthesis and characterization of new transition metal based, layered chalcogenides and pnictides.
    Project description: To explore novel bichalcogenides and pnictide oxides with preferences for 2D layered systems containing either Fe or Co. Thereby should the local symmetry around the transition metal be low to envoke structural polarity. The goal is to find situations where electric and magnetic properties connect.

    Dr. Wei Liu Wuhan University of Technology, China (Dezember 2015 - October 2016)

  • Project title: New materials with composite anionic lattices.
    Project description: By extensive exploration of phase-diagrams with the common AE-TM-Ch-O constituents (AE = alkaline-earth, TM = transition metal, Ch = S-Te) new compounds are sought for. Thereby are their crystal structures and electrical properties important parts of the aims. Especially, novel thermoelectric materials are in focues, but transition metals in rare coordinations are also of interest and will be investigated by x-ray- and Mössbauer-spectroscopy.

    Jinkwang Kim Postech, Pohang University, Republic of Korea (August 2015 - February 2016)

  • Project title: Magnetic transition metal chains within an anionic superlattice with or without centrosymmetry.
    Project description: One new and one already known complex sulfide oxide will be prepared in pure form to investigate the influence of crystallographic symmetry on physical properties, like magnetism and conductivity. Moreover, a claimed spin-state transition has to be confirmed by spectroscopic means.

    Christina Jessica Wong University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (May 2015 - December 2015)

  • Project title: Syntheses and characterizations of new compounds in the Ba-V-S-O system.
    Project description: Using home made BaO, vanadium metal, vanadium oxide, and elemental sulfus, the quarternary phase diagram will be explored further to reveal novel compounds. Every discovered phase will be made pure as powder and the magnetic and electric properties will be determined. Self-flux or in alkali metal halide melt grown crystals are subjects to crystal structure analyses. This enables the understanding of property-composition-crystal structure relations.

    Taylor Wright University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (May 2015 - December 2015)

  • Project title: Investigations of Fe-based complex chalcogenides through syntheses and crystal structural determinations.
    Project description: Using solid state reactions in closed vessels, two new Fe-based bichalcogenides will be synthesized to high purity. Subsequently, the compounds will be investigated to determine their magnetic and electric properties. Pure powders of the compounds is the initial goal, but single crystal growths in alkali metal halide melts or by self-flux will be tried to form larger crystals.

    Pi-Shan Chang National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan (August 2014 - March 2015)

  • Project title: Optimizing the synthesis of a new bichalcogenide compound and investigate its physical properties.
    Project description: The temperature program for the solid state synthesis of a new bichalcogenide was optimized to reach highest possible sample purity. This included reacting the constituents under inert conditions, determining the purity of the sample by X-ray diffraction, and measuring the magnetic, specific heat, and electric conductivity of the purest sample.

    Emily Jane Hopkins University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (May 2014 - December 2014)

  • Project title: New compounds in the Ba-V-S-O system, including crystal structure determination and investigations of physical properties.
    Project description: To determine magnetic and electric properties of samples, the compounds need to be fully pure. The first aim is to synthesize pure powders of rare-earth- transition-metal selenide oxides: solid-state reactions inside close silica ampoules will be used. In search of completely new compound, metals will be reacted with at least two different strongly electronegative elements under controlled conditions. When indications of self-transport are obvious, a controlled temperature gradient could initiate single crystal growth.

    Sungjoon Huh University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (May 2014 - December 2014)

  • Project title: Fe spin-ladder compounds within an anionic lattice containing two chalcogenides: Syntheses and extensive characterization.
    Project description: By reacting self-made alkaline earth metal oxide, iron metal, and elemental chalcogens under controlled conditions, two new spin-ladder compounds should be synthesized and their physical properties compared with similar compounds to see the effect of "chemical pressure" on the ladder lattice.

    Dr. Qiang Liu (August 2013 - March 2014)

  • Project title: Physical properties of single phased oxygen poor selenide oxides. New materials containing two of the heavier chalcogenides, pnictogens, or halogens.
    Project description: To determine magnetic and electric properties of samples, the compounds need to be fully pure. The first aim is to synthesize pure powders of rare-earth- transition-metal selenide oxides: solid-state reactions inside close silica ampoules will be used. In search of completely new compound, metals will be reacted with at least two different strongly electronegative elements under controlled conditions. When indications of self-transport are obvious, a controlled temperature gradient could initiate single crystal growth.

    Dr. Liane Schröder (March 2013 - March 2014)

  • Project title: Single crystal growth in alkali metal halide melts.
    Project description: By using low melting ionic salts, it is possible to inhance the reactivity of several consituents. The relatively long diffusion path of the reactants ensure a grain growth process instead of multiple nucleation. This can be compared with spacial sepration of starting species in a very poor solvent.
    Metals in presence of two or more chalcogenides will be reacted, in e.g. CsCl or KCl, close to the melting point of the ionic salt, followed by a long, slow cooling to allow for crystal growth. As the reaction is highly air sensitive, all reactions will be performed in closed, evacuated silica ampoules.