معرفی
Dr. Frank Lichtenberg serves as a Researcher at ETH Zurich's Department of Materials within Prof. Nicola Spaldin's division, where he has operated an oxide synthesis laboratory since 2011. His work focuses on crystal growth of complex oxides using the floating zone method and investigating their physical properties for applications in superconductivity and multiferroics.
- 1983-1989: Physics studies at University of Heidelberg
- 1989-1992: PhD research at IBM Zurich Research Laboratory under Dr. Georg Bednorz, awarded by University of Zurich in 1991
- 1992-1997: Research scientist at VARTA battery company (nickel metal hydride technology)
- 1997-2007: Research scientist at University of Augsburg's Institute of Physics
- 2007-2010: Independent research and development of novam-research.com
- Since 2015: Consulting for Quantum Power Munich GmbH
Lichtenberg's research centers on the synthesis and characterization of perovskite-related oxides, particularly Carpy-Galy phases (AnBnO3n+2) that exhibit unique combinations of ferroelectricity, magnetism, and metallic conductivity. His investigations target materials that are simultaneously (anti)ferroelectric and (anti)ferromagnetic, with emphasis on quasi-one-dimensional systems like SrNbO3.4 where conduction electrons exist within ferroelectric environments. His work has contributed to understanding high-temperature ferroelectrics (e.g., Sr4Nb4O14 with Tc=1615K) and potential superconducting mechanisms in layered oxides.
Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate advanced methodologies in crystal growth and characterization, including custom instrumentation for floating zone furnaces, electron diffraction studies of non-centrosymmetric structures, and investigations of photoinduced metal-insulator transitions. His research shows consistent focus on structure-property relationships in complex oxides, with particular attention to charge density waves, quantum confinement effects, and magnetic ordering in layered systems.
As a research scientist, Lichtenberg has contributed to collaborative projects within Spaldin's group at ETH Zurich and previously with Nobel laureate J. Georg Bednorz at IBM. His work spans fundamental materials discovery to applied technologies, including patents for nickel-metal-hydride batteries during his industrial tenure at VARTA. He maintains active involvement in both experimental methodology development and theoretical interpretation of oxide properties.
Lichtenberg operates a specialized oxide synthesis laboratory at ETH Zurich equipped with a Cyberstar mirror furnace for floating zone crystal growth. His facility supports comprehensive materials characterization through powder x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, SQUID magnetometry, piezoresponse force microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. This integrated approach enables systematic investigation of structure-property relationships in newly synthesized oxide compounds.
