More than 100 years ago, scientists invented the mobile camera to take photographs anywhere. More than 30 years ago, engineering scientists invented the mobile phone to make calls anywhere. Now it is time to invent a mobile material detector to identify materials from both arbitrary surfaces and within objects, anywhere. All these groundbreaking inventions are based on technological advancements that enable the transition from electronic components to integrated circuits and eventually to a complete system. In comparison to today's bulky and stationary material detectors, a mobile material detector enables numerous new applications: autonomous detection of fire sources or unconscious persons in smoke-filled, burning buildings, reliable detection of wires and objects within walls, or, more generally, the systematic creation of material maps to find and classify objects in any environment. MARIE's chosen lower measurement frequency, at 250 GHz, represents the current state of research for compact mobile transmitters and receivers; the targeted upper measurement frequency is 5 THz to identify a variety of materials based on their specific absorption lines. MARIE has four research objectives: to measure, analyze, and model the dynamic wave propagation in an almost unexplored frequency range, to miniaturize the transmitter and receiver across this frequency range for mobile material detection, to dynamically characterize both surface materials and internal materials, and to precisely locate such materials with sub-millimeter accuracy. MARIE is divided into three phases, each lasting four years: Static Lab (2017–2020), which is nearing a successful conclusion, focuses on technological advancements, with measurement frequencies extending up to 4 THz in a static laboratory environment. Mobile Sensor (2021–2024), the focus of this continuation proposal, emphasizes energy efficiency to enable mobility in the expanded frequency range up to 5 THz. Dynamic Environment (2025–2028) addresses all remaining challenges, particularly through fusion with other sensor principles, ultimately realizing the vision of the mobile material detector.

The central motivation of the CRC/TRR 270 is to gain a deep understanding of hysteresis in bulk magnets. The goal is to discover new permanent magnetic and magnetocaloric materials that are more efficient and resource-friendly than current ones, capable of being utilized near their physical limits. To achieve this, we are developing innovative concepts for material manipulation and moving beyond the empirical development of magnetic materials. Instead, we aim to establish predictive design concepts based on a comprehensive understanding of structural, magnetic, and electronic interactions at the nano-, micro-, and macroscopic levels. The starting point for our collaborative, interdisciplinary research approach is the persistent discrepancy between intrinsic and extrinsic properties, which—despite significant advances in research—still prevents a complete understanding of hysteresis. Magnetic materials are key components in energy technologies with significant growth potential, such as wind power, e-mobility, and magnetic cooling, with a focus on resource-efficient magnetic materials. Innovations over the coming decades require novel synthesis routes and the development of material design principles for improved nano- and microstructures through defect engineering and unconventional magnetic hardening and texturing techniques. Our approach combines "bottom-up" techniques based on specifically designed nano- and microparticles for additive manufacturing (AM) with "top-down" processes such as severe plastic deformation. Project Area A (Permanent Magnets – Maximized Hysteresis) focuses on controlling phase decomposition reactions in alloy systems to manage anisotropy and magnetization on the nanoscale. New materials with tailored hysteresis and specific stray field distributions will be developed using AM and severe plastic deformation processes to achieve efficiency both in the material and shaping processes. In Project Area B (Magnetocaloric Materials – Minimized Hysteresis), new concepts of coupled magnetostructural phase transitions in magnetocaloric materials are explored. For instance, novel Heusler compounds, MAX phases, and "Compositionally Complex Magnetocalorics" (derived from High-Entropy Alloys) are expected to exhibit extraordinary functionalities. In the long term, we aim to achieve hierarchical structuring of magnetocaloric and permanent magnetic materials with microscopic precision through innovative AM techniques. The project leaders are internationally recognized in the fields of materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering, forming a consortium with an excellent balance between theory and experiment.

The goal of the project is to elevate heterogeneous oxidation catalysis on transition metal oxides in the liquid phase to a level of understanding comparable to that of gas-phase catalysis on metals. To achieve this, the active sites and reaction mechanisms will be identified. The research program of the SFB is based on three hypotheses: The prerequisites for a highly active oxidation catalyst (precursor structural motifs for the active sites) can be determined through experimental structure-activity relationships, focusing on structural motifs beyond the ideal crystal structure. By combining theoretical calculations with experimental in situ and operando methods, the transformation of these sites under reaction conditions can be analyzed, enabling the identification of the working active sites. A systematic comparison of a catalyst in various oxidation reactions with hierarchical complexity in thermal, electro-, and photocatalysis allows for deducing the relevant elementary steps from the multitude of possibilities. This ultimately facilitates collaboration between experiment and theory to determine the reaction mechanism. A central element of collaboration in the SFB is a comparative study aimed at verifying these hypotheses. The material basis for this study consists of iron-cobalt mixed oxides of the spinel and perovskite types. These prototypical transition metal oxide catalysts are active in the reactions included in the study, namely the oxidation of alcohols, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, and the redox chemistry of oxygen. The first funding phase is dedicated to establishing real structure-activity relationships and modeling potential active sites. In the second funding phase, the theoretical and experimental results will converge into a comprehensive description of the active sites and the reaction mechanism. Additionally, the findings will be generalized to other materials and reactions. In the third funding phase, the acquired knowledge will be applied to the rational design of new catalysts, enabling innovative new processes in liquid-phase oxidation.

Ultrafast external stimuli such as light, pressure, electrical voltage, or particles can induce non-equilibrium states in condensed matter. The Collaborative Research Center "Non-Equilibrium Dynamics of Condensed Matter in the Time Domain" aims to develop a cross-material, microscopic understanding of such non-equilibrium states. To achieve this, novel methods in experimental and theoretical physics are being developed to describe the process from the moment of the stimulus to a state near equilibrium in both time and space.

The goal of SFB 1411 is to develop new methods for designing nanoparticulate products, i.e., particle systems with controlled size, shape, and composition. This goal is achieved through a two-step approach. First, predictive models are created to describe structure-property functions. Desired target properties of the particle system are achieved through mathematical optimization of these functions. In the second step, models for process-structure functions are developed. Optimizing these models leads to ideal process conditions for producing particle systems with the desired structure. This vision is realized through four closely connected research areas: particle formation (RA A), chromatographic separation (RA B), comprehensive characterization (RA C), and modeling and optimization (RA D). During the first funding phase, significant progress was made toward the targeted production of isotropic particles, size exclusion chromatography, and structural optimization of particle arrangements in thin films. With the establishment of innovative methods, further improved infrastructure, and strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration in the second funding phase, the approach will be decisively advanced. Continuous particle production will be extended to anisotropic systems, synthesis will be directly coupled with affinity chromatography, and even more powerful interaction-based separation methods will be investigated. Additionally, the role of distributions and non-ideal arrangements in structure formation will be established as a central new focus in the second funding phase. This includes developing a fundamental understanding of the self-organization of particulate building blocks and how functional properties (such as optical effects and chromatographic separation sharpness) are influenced by intelligent structuring. These insights will also allow the role of defects to be understood, leading to the development of robust processes with optimized performance. The state-of-the-art research infrastructure at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, the University of Duisburg-Essen, and the Helmholtz Institute for Renewable Energies provides the ideal platform for SFB 1411. With a broad network of international partners and a series of international conferences and workshops, SFB 1411 is firmly established as a prominent research center for particle technology. Through its interdisciplinary graduate program, cutting-edge data infrastructure, a coherent package of measures to promote equality and diversity, and a dedicated science communication project, SFB 1411 actively shapes the national and international research landscape as well as the profile of FAU and the participating institutes.