The Christian Doppler Laboratory for Nanoscale Phase Transformations investigates challenges in current materials science, focusing on physical-chemical phenomena in semiconductor and steel systems that are important to transition to a CO₂-neutral economy and use energy more efficiently.

Examples include advanced high-strength, lightweight steel and energy efficient vehicle bodies, materials to support hydrogen technology (such as electrolyzers), and bonded semiconductor systems, such as SiC, to support high-performance electronics with applications for electric drives or renewable energy technology.

These material systems generally require precise optimization, oftentimes at the limit of what is technically possible. Challenges tend to arise from changes at the system's nanoscale, occurring during production, processing and operation - particularly at the interfaces and grain boundaries - and are not always understood. This applies to, for example, precipitation phenomena in semiconductor systems, and  in the complex interaction of steel alloy elements with the Zn coating.

This CD laboratory is investigating how to influence undesirable phenomena and, ideally, prevent it from happening. Segregation, diffusion and transformation processes are examined live under controlled thermal conditions, in situ, and as snapshots, ex situ, using methods that include electron diffraction, electron microscopy, and spectroscopy, resolved down to the atomic level.

This way, we can better understand the physical-chemical processes at semiconductor layers and phase boundaries in various coated metal systems and contribute significantly to modern, resource-efficient material and process development to support energy transition at our industrial partners, voestalpine Stahl GmbH, Robert Bosch AG, and the EV Group E. Thallner Ltd.