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European Materials
Laboratory
Our large scientific infrastructure provides a unique set of instruments needed to prepare, characterise and measure samples under extreme conditions.
Discover the largest magnetic field in PragueConnecting theory and experiment
As one of the few departments at Charles, we have both a theoretical and an experimental department, giving us access to a comprehensive background in solids.
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07. 06. 2025From bachelor thesis to publication: Discovery of moiré ferroelectricity in misfit layered compounds
Researchers from the groups of Klára Uhlířová and Tim Verhagen have become the first to discover moiré ferroelectricity in single crystals of chalcogenides with incommensurate crystal structures. The phenomenon was first identified during the work on a bachelor thesis, though the path to publication was a longer journey including detailed crystal structure characterization. A key strength of this discovery is that, unlike artificially engineered moiré lattices, ferroelectricity can now be studied in naturally grown single crystals with ultimately clean interfaces. Local material polarizability was demonstrated using piezoresponse force microscopy, and further studies—carried out during master’s and doctoral research—explored polarizability using electron beam lithography. A subsequent study even revealed catalytic behaviour linked to specific polar domain orientation. Electrical transport and other physical properties of these materials are currently under further investigation.
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23. 05. 2025
Last Saturday, there was a Garden party organized by our group head Ross Colman for (not only) our department colleagues in Tuchotice yard. This already traditional meeting complements our friendly collective relationship on more informal basis and brings more open atmosphere within our group.
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31. 03. 2025
In last months we have succeeded in implementation of a new experimental method - measurement of structural parameters upon application of high pressure (at room temperature). This method uses the commercially bought diamond anvil pressure cell (DAC) from Almax easyLab bv company in combination with the Rigaku Rapid II diffractometer in our X-ray laboratory. The nominal pressure of the cell is 20 GPa. Nevertheless, the highest pressure reached so far with real sample and measured XRD pattern was 30 GPa. By using this cell we are able to obtain pressure dependence of the lattice constants and distinguish a pressure-induced structural transition or sign of the pressure-induced valence transition.
Upcoming events
Seminars on Structure analysis
more speakers: 311. Rozhovory o aktuálních otázkách v rentgenové, neutronové a elektronové strukturní analýze
18. 06. 2025 9:30
» Show pastAbout our department
We are a physics department dedicated to the study of condensed matter, i.e. the physics of solids and liquids. We are a research department with a strong focus on theoretical and experimental condensed matter physics. Our department also houses the scientific infrastructure of MGML, which is a state-of-the-art facility for research in condensed matter physics.
What do we do?
We work on the latest problems in condensed matter physics. We have 4 groups: Group of Magnetic Properties studies the physical properties of a wide range of materials, from high-temperature superconductors to rare earth metal alloys and actinides. Group of Structure Analysis focuses on the study structure and microstructure of advanced materials using X-ray diffraction. Group of Theoretical Physics models a wide range of physical phenomena in condensed matter, in particular using quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence. Physics of Nanostructures Group concentrates on comprehensive research of nanostructures with a focus on their use in optoelectronic, biomedical and environmental technologies.
