Research Centre
Centre for Solid State Chemistry and New Materials

The centre for Solid State Chemistry and New Materials (German: Zentrum für Festkörperchemie und Neue Materialien, ZFM) was established at Leibniz Universität Hannover in 1998. It was one of the first projects accepted by the Scientific Commission of the State of Lower Saxony as part of its innovation offensive. This is a consequence of the fact that Leibniz Universität Hannover is one of the main centres for chemically-orientated solid state research in Lower Saxony. Solid state chemistry is indeed an important sector of the research activities at Leibniz Universität Hannover, which has successfully competed nationally and internationally for many years, as demonstrated by Collaborative Research Centre 173 (1985 - 1996) and by numerous research grants in the field of solid state chemistry. The same holds for materials science. With the interdisciplinary cooperation of selected scientific groups specializing in the areas of solid state chemistry, materials science, mineralogy, and soil science in the ZFM, a solid state research centre has been formed that comprises both fundamental and application-orientated activities.

The structural overview illustrates the connections and interactions between the 28 research groups within the ZFM, that come from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute of Solid State Physics of Leibniz Universität Hannover, the Hannover Laser Centre, the Continental AG Hannover, the Salzgitter AG, the Volkswagen AG, the German Centre for Rubber Technology, the Geoscience Centre of Göttingen University, the Institute of Metallurgy of Clausthal University of Technology, the Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry of Bonn University and the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, the Institute for Particle Technology and the Institute of Technical Chemistry of Braunschweig University of Technology. Their research activities in solid state science can be schematically assigned to the three areas "Model systems", "New materials", and "Natural solids". They concentrate on the preparation and characterization of novel synthetic and natural compounds as well as on the development of new materials.

The primary goals of the ZFM are to provide a focus for the chemically orientated solid state research, to initiate and establish externally funded projects (Collaborative Research Centre, researcher group) within the ZFM, to initiate and develop cooperation projects, to make use of and extend the joint facilities of the ZFM, to improve the mutual exchange of information and know-how by organizing seminars and conferences, and to integrate and promote graduate students in the ZFM as a "Centre of Excellence".

For more information one can visit the following website:

• www.zfm.uni-hannover.de