Synthesis of Magnetic and Conducting Nanoscopic Particles
Our synthetic work focuses on the development of new materials and the controlled synthesis of nanoscopic particles. The formation of pronounced anisotropic morphologies (fibers, rods, tubes) is here of special interest. Once fibrous materials are formed, we are able to coat them by different processes in order to obtain multilayer composites [1].
The discovery of superconductivity in MgB2 has directed our attention to further investigate several isoelectronic materials discovered by us, namely LiBC and MgB2C2 [2]. Theoretical calculations predict a superconducting transition temperature as high as 100 K for hole doped LiBC. Doping with other metals, removal of cations by different methods as well as high pressure experiments are currently performed to modify the electronic structure and subsequently the conductivity properties of these compounds.
Our materials are structurally characterized via X-ray diffraction experiments on single crystals and powders. Magnetic and electric properties are investigated by us with a SQUID-magnetometer and a self designed conductivity measurement setup, which allows us to work also with air-sensitive samples.
References:
[1] R.Nesper & G. Patzke, Nachrichten aus der Chemie 49, 886 (2001).
[2] M. Wörle et al., Swiss Soc. Cryst., Ann. Meet., Yverdon, Oct. 2001.
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