CTFM Chair

Chair 'Chemistry of Thin Film Materials'

Research Focus

Research in the chair ‘Chemistry of Thin Film Materials’ focuses on the development of preparative methods for nanostructured inorganic materials and interfaces at which various types of energy conversion phenomena can be studied. We create inorganic nanoparticles and nanostructures with accurately tunable geometry, and we study their physical and chemical properties systematically as they vary with the geometric parameters. We are particularly interested in the transport and exchange of electrons and ions at interfaces in solar cells, batteries, and other electrodes. We are part of FAU’s ‘Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Films’ (IZNF).

Research activities are carried in two groups led by Prof. Julien Bachmann and Dr. Ryan Crisp.

News ― Twitter / X and BlueSky feeds (external links)

@CTFM-lab

@CtfmLab

Prof. Dr. Julien Bachmann

Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
Lehrstuhl für Chemistry of thin film materials (Prof. Dr. Bachmann)

Room 02.136
Cauerstr. 3
91058 Erlangen

Phone number: +49 9131 85-70551
Email: julien.bachmann@fau.de
Website: https://chemistry.nat.fau.eu/bachmann-group/

Section

Materials Chemistry

Research areas

Molecular materials:
Energy

Nanostructured interfaces for charge transfer

Extremely thin absorber solar cells

Electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis

Solar batteries

Thin functional coatings: semiconductors, catalysts

Molecular materials:
Information

Atomic layer processing: designer reagents for precision solid deposition

Molecular materials:
Sustainability

Atomic layer processing: precision solid deposition in mild conditions

Atomic-layer additive manufacturing

Member of the following centers

FAU Competence Center Engineering of Advanced Materials (FAU EAM)

FAU Profile Center New Materials and Processes (FAU NMP)

FAU Profile Center Solar (FAU Solar)

SFB 1452: Catalysis at Liquid Interfaces (CLINT)

Dr. Ryan Crisp

Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
Lehrstuhl für Chemistry of thin film materials (Prof. Dr. Bachmann)

Room 02.142
Cauerstr. 3
91058 Erlangen

Phone number: +49 9131 85-70428
Email: ryan.crisp@fau.de
Website: http://www.chemistry.nat.fau.eu/crisp-group

Our commitment

Members of the CTFM chair are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in our laboratory, where all have the opportunity to reach their highest potential as scientists and people. We believe that a diversity of skills, perspectives, and experiences is critical to the success of our research and constitutes our greatest strength as a group. We welcome and value researchers of any ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, socioeconomic status, age and more. Our goal is to create and maintain a culture such that each member of the group feels they belong and each can flourish. This culture is achieved through tailored mentorship, interdisciplinary learning, and a collaborative atmosphere. We are committed to promoting these values of inclusivity and equity within the scientific community and beyond.

Selected sources of funding and collaborative projects

	BTHA project: BaCzALD: ‘Bavarian-Czech alliance for photoactive films by solution atomic layer deposition’	Bavarian-Czech Academic Agenc
	EU H2020 projects: • ‘Fast Track to Innovation’ consortium ‘Atoplot — the atomic layer 3D plotter‘ (coordinated by FAU CTFM, 2020-2022: with Atlant, SAS IEE, Femtika, Sempa) • ‘Factories of the Future’ consortium ‘MESOMORPH – All-in-one machine for hybrid technologies enabling high value added multi-scale integrated micro-optoelectronics’ (coordinated by Prima Industrie)
	• ERC Proof of Concept Grant: ‘ALAMS— Atomic-layer additive manufacturing for solar cells’ (2022-2023) • ERC Consolidator Grant: ‘Solacylin — A preparative approach to geometric effects in innovative solar cell types based on a nanocylindrical structure’ (2015-2021)
	EU COST Actions: • ‘RENEW-PV – Research and International Networking on Emerging Inorganic Chalcogenides for Photovoltaics’ (CA21148)• ‘NETPORE — Network for Research, Innovation and Product Development on Porous Semiconductors and Oxides’ (CA20126)
	DFG projects: • ‘Solar Reduction of CO₂ at Nano-Architectured Photoelectrodes Featuring Advanced Photon Management’ (Ryan Crisp with Katarzyna Siuzdak at IMP PAN) • Coordinated Research Center ‘CLINT’ — ‘Catalysis at liquid interfaces’ • ‘Catalytic and electrochemical release of solar energy stored in strained organic compounds’ • ‘Chemistry for 3D spintronics’ (DFG-ANR, 2018-2022: with Spintec and TU Darmstadt) • ‘Investigation of factors that affect the stability of composite electrode materials’ (DFG-RFBR, 2020-2023: with Saint Petersburg State University until 2/2022)	German National Science Foundation (DFG)
	EAM Starting Grant (2013-2014) Interdisciplinary Center for Nanostructured Films (IZNF)	Research cluster and Competence Unit ‘Engineering of Advanced Materials’ (EAM) and ‘New Materials and Processes’ (NMP)
	BMBF projects • ‘Tubulyze‘ (coordinated by FAU CTFM, 2019-2022: with FAU WTM, DFI, HAW Hamburg, Uniwell, HI-ERN) • ‘ECO₂nvert — Electroenzymatic CO₂ reduction using recombinant CODHs from seafloor habitats recovered via an activity-based screen’ (coordinated by Geomar, 2020-2023) • ‘TubulAir’ (coordinated by HAW Hamburg, 2012-2017)