The focus of our research at the Chair of Materials Science (Paul Mayrhofer) is directed towards developing the science underlying the relationships between synthesis, chemistry, structure, properties and performance in structural, nanoscale and functional materials. To address these relations, we integrate experimental and computational studies with all the aspects of materials science from developing the fundamental understanding to the design, synthesis and testing of new materials. Specifically, our research focuses on a detailed atomic-level understanding of the microstructure-properties relations, kinetic processes, mass transport mechanisms, chemical reaction paths, material thermodynamics and phase transitions. We use a wide variety of in-situ as well as ex-situ characterization tools such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with analytical techniques, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), submicron synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy (SXRTM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Computational studies involve density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD), TEM image simulations, and continuum mechanics.

The focus of our research at the Chair of Materials Science (Paul Mayrhofer) is directed towards developing the science underlying the relationships between synthesis, chemistry, structure, properties and performance in structural, nanoscale and functional materials. To address these relations, we integrate experimental and computational studies with all the aspects of materials science from developing the fundamental understanding to the design, synthesis and testing of new materials. Specifically, our research focuses on a detailed atomic-level understanding of the microstructure-properties relations, kinetic processes, mass transport mechanisms, chemical reaction paths, material thermodynamics and phase transitions. We use a wide variety of in-situ as well as ex-situ characterization tools such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with analytical techniques, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), submicron synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy (SXRTM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Computational studies involve density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD), TEM image simulations, and continuum mechanics.