Structure-property relationships of functional materials
One of the main tasks of modern crystallography is the determination and characterisation of structure-property relationships. The physical properties of functional materials and their structural origin are the focus of some of the research projects of the Institute of Crystallography. The “functionality” of such materials does not only refer to the specific function in a technical product, but also includes functionalities in a broader context. These can, e. g., be magnetic or electrical, optical, mechanical or caloric properties, but also absorption properties, tailor-made pore sizes or -contents in porous structures or the suitability as a matrix for the incorporation of specific species.