Polar metals and bad metal behaviour: conceptional studies on amalgams

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Constantin Hoch
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 545158079

This project is meant to investigate those mechanisms which are responsible for the so-called bad metal behaviour of polar intermetallic compounds. It is the basis of a number of important modern functional materials, such as thermoelectrics, data storage materials, catalysts or quantum computers. The physical background for the particular metallic behaviour has been established some time ago and is well understood, however, the chemical parameters which are decisive for the fabrication of materials with optimised properties still are unknown. Within a preceding project, we were able to identify three chemically modifiable parameters; polarity in the sense of Coulombic charge transfer from the less-noble to the noble component, structural complexity and disorder phenomena. Moreover, we could show over the last years that compounds of mercruy with less-noble metals (alkaline, alkaline earth or lanthanoid metals) are excellent model systems for the huge class of intermetallic compounds. On the example of these amalgams, all the important interrelations can be studied. The choice of systems suitable for targeted studies on the influence of the three parameters stated above could already be made based on recent results, enabling a promising and stringent work schedule could be established. The project still has enough flexibility to allow for the inclusion of unexpected and interesting new insights and findings. The success of this project will have a major impact on gaining new insights in structure-property relations of polar intermetallic compounds.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Jan Minar