Projects and Thesis

A single crystal, defined as a material consisting of continuous repetition of the unit cell in three dimensions, has no grain boundaries except the surface. The absence of the defects related to grain boundaries offers single-crystal unique properties. For instance, depending on the type of crystallographic structure, thermal and electrical transport properties can be highly anisotropic[1]. Besides, a single crystal is desirable to probe a clear picture of a material’s intrinsic properties. There are many methods for growing a single crystal: Bridgman technique[2], Solution/flux growth [3], etc.

This project aims to

1) grow half-Heusler NbCoSn and ZrNiSn single crystals with different compositions by flux method, and their intrinsic thermal and electrical properties will be investigated. (2 students)

2) grow Fe2(P,Si) single crystals with different compositions by flux method, and their intrinsic magnetic properties will be investigated. (2 students)

[1] L. D. Zhao, et al., Nature 508, 373-377 (2014).

[2] P. W. Bridgman. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 60 (6): 305-383.

[3] P. C. Canfield & Z. Fisk, Philosophical Magazine B, 1992, 65 (6), 1117-1123

For more information, please contact Dr. Wenjie Xie, wenjie.xie@mr.tu-darmstadt.de