The scientific aims of this program, involving 10 researchers 2 functional scientists, are (i) the synthesis of novel magnetic, superconducting and multiferroic materials, in bulk form (alloys/powder/ single crystals), coordination chemistry materials, as well as thin films, nanoparticles and colloidal particles, (ii) functionalization of nanostructures with selected properties, and (iii) their detailed experimental and theoretical study at both the microscopic and macroscopic levels. The ultimate goal is to exploit their intrinsic magnetic, electronic, optical and structural properties in innovative applications, such as magnetic information storage systems, permanent magnets, electromechanical devices, microelectronics/ nanoelectronics, spintronics, quantum computing, topological insulators and semimetals, energy storage, environmental protection, photocatalysis, biomedical and medical applications. The program carries out research within several disciplines including: condensed matter physics (magnetism/superconductivity), materials science, nanoscience, inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, chemical engineering, and metallurgy.

In line with the Horizon Europe strategy of economic growth through excellence in science, the program’s current research activities concern experimental and theoretical studies of fundamental physical problems in areas such as: (a) magnetic and multiferroic properties and interactions in nanoparticles, thin films, bulk alloys and oxides, molecules and transition metal and lanthanide coordination complexes and polymers, strongly correlated electron and multiferroic systems, (b) metal insulator transitions, spin and charge density waves, (c) superconductivity in conventional, new and hybrid superconductors, (d) graphene, batteries and supercapacitors, (e) topological phenomena in thin film nanostructures, (f) photocatalytic pollutant decomposition and hydrogen production and (g) bioinspired electron transfer coupled to proton translocation for energy harvesting and water splitting photocatalysis.

The program’s laboratories host a comprehensive and complementary set of experimental techniques: state-of-the-art preparation techniques for bulk and nanostructured magnetic/superconducting materials, characterization techniques such as X-ray single-crystal, powder crystallography and thin film studies, magnetic, resistivity and heat capacity measurements, and Mössbauer, Raman, solid-state broad band Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and continuous wave Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopies. In addition, systematic and regular experiments at Large Scale Neutron and Synchrotron X-ray facilities worldwide under various sample environments are carried out on the above materials, accompanied by in depth structural analysis at INN.

Low-temperature studies are supported by the Helium Liquefaction Unit supervised and operated by program researchers.