Our research is aiming at a fundamental understanding of functional properties of novel materials and exploration of their potential for applications. The basis of our research is sample with specific properties; hence, our work is dedicated to synthesis and crystal growth, full characterization and investigation of materials properties. This strategy involves four different, synergistic aspects: (i) development of synthesis and crystal growth routes towards samples with specific properties (ii) advanced characterization of composition, microstructure and crystal structure of our samples (iii) study of local magnetic, electronic and structural order using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (iv) measurement and analysis of macroscopic physical properties, which is done in close collaboration with in-house partners as well as with national and international collaborators, including numerous neutron and X-ray synchrotron experiments. Our work currently focuses on different classes of emergent materials: intermetallics showing high spin polarization, itinerant antiferromagnetism, first order phase transitions, thermoelectric and hard-magnetic properties, unconventional superconductors, magnetically frustrated materials and materials with strong spin-orbital coupling.

We grow and characterize single crystals of oxides, sulfides and intermetallic materials exhibiting a variety of properties such as unconventional superconductivity, complex magnetism or ionic conduction.  We use the floating zone technique in four optical floating zone furnaces  (including a high-pressure mirror furnace reaching 150 bar), the Bridgman and the flux techniques.