Event

Quantum materials are hoped to change technology in various aspects. However, most of the desired applications are hindered by the lack of suitable materials. While we know tens of thousands of crystalline inorganic compounds, we studied only a tiny fraction of those for their potential as quantum materials. As synthesis of such materials, especially in single crystal form, can be challenging, a brute force experimental study of all know crystalline inorganic compounds is not feasible. In my group, we are developing simple concepts that guide to find those materials worth growing and studying. We are using concepts from chemistry to understand, predict and synthesize new quantum materials. In this talk, I will show how simple concepts derived from the theory of chemical bonding allow us to make predictions about electronic structures of materials, which we can then use to find various types of new quantum materials. For example, thinking about the degree of delocalization in a chemical bond can be helpful to find kagome or linear-chain materials with band structures that better resemble simple tight binding models, and therefore can fulfill predictions made for certain materials based on “pen and paper” theory. I will give a general overview how powerful chemical concepts are in materials discovery and highlight a flute of materials that were discovered in this light.