"Autonomous Materials Thermodynamics – AutoMaT" – Rico Friedrich's Lab
Any technology relies on a specific materials platform. As such, information technology is based on silicon and modern batteries are made of lithium compounds. The "Autonomous Materials Thermodynamics - AutoMaT" lab focuses on the self-guided, data-driven computational design of two-dimensional (2D) materials and high-entropy compounds for applications in information technology and the energy sector.
We leverage and develop state-of-the-art computational materials science methods and target three main research directions:
- The discovery and design of 2D non-van der Waals materials - an emerging class of nanoscale compounds with qualitatively new electronic and magnetic features.
- The data-driven modelling and prediction of novel high-entropy ceramics based on maximizing entropy instead of minimizing enthalpy.
- Computational method development for the accurate description of ionic materials as provided by the coordination corrected enthalpies method.
The DRESDEN-concept Research Group AutoMaT is jointly run by the Chair of Theoretical Chemistry at TU Dresden and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. DRESDEN-concept is the research alliance of TU Dresden and the Dresden-based non-university research as well as cultural institutions.
Recent Publications
| 2025 | |||||
| 1. | S. Divilov, H. Eckert, S. D. Thiel, S.D. Griesemer, R. Friedrich, N. H. Anderson, M.J. Mehl, D. Hicks, M. Esters, N. Hotz, X. Campilongo, A. Calzolari, and S. Curtarolo, AFLOW4: heading toward disorder High Entropy Alloys & Materials 3, 178 (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s44210-025-00058-2 |
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| 2. | V. Shamraienko, R. Friedrich, S. Subakti, A. Lubk, A. V. Krasheninnikov, A. Eychmüller, Weak Spots in Semiconductor Nanoplatelets: From Isolated Defects Toward Directed Nanoscale Assemblies Small 21, 2411112 (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202411112 |
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| 2024 | |||||
| 3. | M. A. Herz, J.-M. Hübner, J. Sichelschmidt, R. Friedrich, and M. Ruck, Atom Cluster Chains with Strong Spin–Orbit Coupling and Magnetic Cations in Mn[PtBi6I12] Inorganic Chemistry 63, 23867 (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c04166 |
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Jobs
The AutoMaT group has frequent openings for PhD and Postdoc positions for individuals interested in data-driven/computational materials design, 2D materials, high-entropy systems, materials thermodynamics, and magnetism.Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application documents to r.friedrich@hzdr.de
Contact: Dr. Rico Friedrich
Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 3718 | Email: r.friedrich@hzdr.de
