Placement Information

Year you started your placement
2019

Placement period
May – August, September – December

Supervisor’s name
Alexander Komarek

Project Details

Overview
Over 8 months I worked on the synthesis and characterization of transition metal compounds with potentially interesting physical and magnetic properties. Day to day work consisted of characterizing a synthesized compound with either powder x-ray, MPMS, or PPMS measurements in the morning and starting new synthesis in the afternoon. Over my time I have synthesized over 40 compounds. Additionally I was able to travel to multiple beamlines around the world to gain experience with larger scale physics experiments.

Project objectives
My project was to substitute different sites in a copper oxychloride compound. This consisted of doping palladium into the copper site or substituting the chlorides for a sulfate group. Products were characterized through powder x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, dielectric constant, and single crystal x-ray diffraction. I also completed the growth of copper oxysulfate single crystals through a chemical vapour transport reaction.

Research outcomes
Copper oxysulfate was synthesized as a single crystal whereas palladium-doped copper oxychloride could only be synthesized as a powder. Palladium doping could be observed to decrease the magnetic transition temperature. The magnetic transition in copper oxysulfate could be enhanced by increasing the intensity of an applied magnetic field.

Project status
Completed

My Co-op Experience at MPI/ UTokyo

Why did you apply for this placement?
I applied for this position because the of the opportunities that I have heard could come from working at the Max Planck Institute. Also it was a unique opportunity to go learn a different culture and travel in Europe.

What recommendations do you have for students who wish to participate in this exchange program?

I would recommend that students considering this opportunity be able to learn material themselves and manage their own schedule. The position requires a ton of autonomy. I would not recommend the position as a first co-op.

Tell us about your travels and cultural experiences
Living in Dresden had a lot of opportunities to learn German, as English is not spoken commonly. Dresden's central location makes it possible to travel to both Eastern and Western Europe as well as around Germany.