Novel Functional Oxide Materials

Oxides are among the materials with the widest tunability of physical properties. Spanning insulators, semiconductors, metallic conductors and superconductors, magnetic materials, ferro-/antiferro- and other dielectrics, oxides are a materials class with high potential for a new generation of electronic devices for energy and sensing applications. Traditionally, oxides have been synthesized by pulsed laser deposition or sputtering, which both have drawbacks in terms of material quality. A higher material quality can be achieved by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), which is the growth method used at PDI.

This CReA aims to establish oxides as a key material platform for future electronics by focusing on:

• High-quality, scalable epitaxial synthesis of novel oxide systems to ensure precise control over material properties.
• Comprehensive in-house characterization to investigate structural, electronic, and magnetic properties with advanced spectroscopy and transport measurements.
• Prototypical device demonstration to showcase the potential of oxide-based electronics in real-world applications.
• Seamless integration with established material platforms to enable compatibility with current semiconductor technologies.

By advancing the understanding and fabrication of functional oxides, this research paves the way for innovative, energy-efficient devices, such as next-generation memory, logic, and sensing technologies. The ability to integrate oxides with conventional semiconductors could lead to breakthroughs in quantum information processing, neuromorphic computing, and sustainable electronics. Ultimately, this work supports the development of cutting-edge materials and devices that address critical technological and environmental challenges.

This CReA benefits from exposure to a large extended network of experts through its role as coordinator of the Leibniz ScienceCampus: Growth and Fundamentals of Oxides for Electronic Applications (GraFOX) from 2016–2024.