As a student of the Master’s in Applied Physics with a specialisation in Materials Science, you will be taught by leading professors of various research groups. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to contribute to high-end research yourself. In the second year of your Master’s, for example, when you will write your master’s thesis.
Find out more about the research groups that are related to this specialisation, and the research they are conducting, below:
- Computational Chemical Physics
Computational Chemical Physics (CCP) is a computational research group in the field of electronic structure theory that focuses on the methodological development of accurate approaches for investigating the electronic properties of materials. They focus on the theory and simulation of physical phenomena which span wide spatial and dynamical scales, from photoexcitations of electrons to the dynamics of structure formation of biomolecular systems.
- Energy Materials Science
The main focus of the Energy Materials Science (EMS) group is on sustainable energy, with the ambition of developing technologies, materials and systems that play a key role in our future energy chains. They investigate the application of superconductivity in the power grid (e.g. superconducting cables for transport of electric power), as well as the application of cryogenic technologies and materials for liquid energy carriers such as liquid natural gas and hydrogen.
- Inorganic Materials Science
The Inorganic Materials Science (IMS) is devoted to thin film growth studies, (nano)structuring techniques, and properties of complex materials, in particular oxides. Its research field is focused on thin films with modified properties by doping or by artificial layered structures and superstructures. Applications are found in, e.g., nano-electronics and spintronics, optical systems, fuel and solar cells, fluidics, and bio-nano sensors.
- Nanoelectronic materials
The Nanoelectronic Materials (NEM) cluster specialises in creating and characterising thin films and in designing, modelling, and constructing low-dimensional nanomaterials for electronic and optical applications. With the help of atomic engineering they are developing, for instance, circuits inspired by the brain, graphene-like materials such as silicene and germanene, and high-tech mirrors for the chip industry: fundamental physics with clear applications.
- Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials
The Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials (PIN) group develops and characterises quantum materials with the aim of tailoring and controlling correlated electron phenomena and charge transport. Their research involves controlled preparation and understanding of interfaces, low-dimensional (nano)structures and nanomaterials and the focus is on (device) applications, ranging from low-energy nanoelectronics to functionalised interfaces.
- Quantum Transport in Matter
The research of the chair of Quantum Transport Matter (QTM) addresses quantum aspects of electronic transport in novel materials and devices. Examples of materials they study include correlated electron systems such as novel superconductors, oxides interfaces, and topological insulators. They combine state-of-the-art materials science and nanotechnology with ultrasensitive transport measurements to reveal novel quasiparticles, such as Majorana fermions and magnetic monopoles.
- XUV Optics Group
The XUV Optics Group focuses on advanced thin film research with atomic scale physics and chemistry topics, with key expertise on nanoscale film physics and the design and engineering of new XUV and soft X-ray optics. The group is closely involved with high-tech research and development at ASML Research, Carl Zeiss SMT, Malvern Panalytical, TNO and SolMateS.