Institut für Physikalische Chemie - RWTH Aachen University

Oxides play an ever increasing role as advanced functional materials. Examples are tarnishing layers during high temperature oxidation, oxygen ion conducting oxides in high temperature fuel cells, mixed conducting oxides in oxygen permeation membranes, lithiumoxides for batteries, high temperature superconductors, ferroelectrics, catalysts etc. The oxides that are used are complex oxides, i.e. they contain normally several cations and they exist in complicated crystal structures with several sublattices. The properties of these oxides are determined to a large extent by the thermodynamics and kinetics of point defects. Basic research concerning defect chemistry, transport properties and chemical reactivity is the basis for the improvement and optimization of functional materials.

In our research we are using the following techniques:

Thermogravimetry
in situ X-ray diffraction
in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Radiotracer diffusion
Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)
Electron microscopy with chemical analysis (SEM/EDX)
Impedance spectroscopy
Computer simulation and modeling
Density functional theory

and we are interested in the following topics:

Non-stoichiometry
Cation and oxygen diffusion
Tracer diffusion
Electrical conductivity
Oxidation kinetics
Heterogeneous catalysis
Solid oxide fuel cells.

Current research projects:

- Collaborative project "GRACIS - Chemical gradients in CIS" (BMBF)

- Collaborative project "MEM-OXYCOAL - Oxygen permeable ceramic membranes
for coal-fired power plants" (BMWi)

- HGF Alliance "MEM-BRAIN - Gas separation membranes for zero-emission fossil
power plants"

- DFG Priority program 1415 "Crystalline non-equilibrium phases"



		Physical Chemistry of Solids

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		Oxides play an ever increasing role as advanced functional materials. Examples are tarnishing layers during high temperature oxidation, oxygen ion conducting oxides in high temperature fuel cells, mixed conducting oxides in oxygen permeation membranes, lithiumoxides for batteries, high temperature superconductors, ferroelectrics, catalysts etc. The oxides that are used are complex oxides, i.e. they contain normally several cations and they exist in complicated crystal structures with several sublattices. The properties of these oxides are determined to a large extent by the thermodynamics and kinetics of point defects. Basic research concerning defect chemistry, transport properties and chemical reactivity is the basis for the improvement and optimization of functional materials. In our research we are using the following techniques: Thermogravimetry in situ X-ray diffraction in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy Radiotracer diffusion Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) Electron microscopy with chemical analysis (SEM/EDX) Impedance spectroscopy Computer simulation and modeling Density functional theory and we are interested in the following topics: Non-stoichiometry Cation and oxygen diffusion Tracer diffusion Electrical conductivity Oxidation kinetics Heterogeneous catalysis Solid oxide fuel cells. Current research projects: - Collaborative project "GRACIS - Chemical gradients in CIS" (BMBF) - Collaborative project "MEM-OXYCOAL - Oxygen permeable ceramic membranes for coal-fired power plants" (BMWi) - HGF Alliance "MEM-BRAIN - Gas separation membranes for zero-emission fossil power plants" - DFG Priority program 1415 "Crystalline non-equilibrium phases"