Nearly all materials we encounter in everyday life contain interfaces, which often play a pivotal role for their properties. A deep understanding of how these interfaces are structured at the nano- and atomic scale, and how they can be modified, enables precise manipulation of material properties and the creation of novel, custom-tailored materials.

Our research primarily employs advanced and in-situ electron microscopy to directly observe and analyze interface-driven behaviors in materials under a variety of conditions - ranging from ambient environments to elevated temperatures, applied mechanical loads, electrical stimuli, reactive atmospheres, or combinations of these. We are particularly focused on grain boundaries, exploring their atomic structure, segregation behavior, and their influence on material properties and functionality. By utilizing thin films, we investigate phase boundaries in (multi)layered systems, creating combinatorial material libraries that span large compositional ranges for rapid and efficient material discovery. Additionally, we employ stereolithography-based 3D printing to design architectured materials, or metamaterials, enabling the development of multifunctional materials with unprecedented properties.