"Autonomous Materials Thermodynamics – AutoMaT" – Rico Friedrich's Lab

Foto: Overview AutoMaT ©Copyright: Dr. Rico Friedrich

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
 
BibTeX PDF    
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
 
BibTeX PDF Supporting information  
 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
 
BibTeX Supporting information  

 

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


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