In the future, we will use sunlight for water splitting—as a source of hydrogen gas—and to create valuable chemicals from the greenhouse gas CO₂. Metal oxides like hematite (Fe₂O₃) or bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) can do this directly without first converting sunlight into electricity, but the efficiency is still rather low. To improve this technology, one needs to better understand the dynamics of light-generated charges in transition metal oxides and the interaction with defects and dopants, and this is exactly what the research group will do. Giada Franceschi will take advantage of her experience with sample growth by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and characterization in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV), Laerte Patera will use advanced techniques based on atomic force microscopy (AFM), and long-term collaborator Michele Reticcioli will join the Surface Physics group for theory support.

The “Research Groups” Program of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is an opportunity for teams of three to five scientists pursuing inter- or multidisciplinary approaches in their research. This year, only three such grants were awarded. Getting the award in such a highly competitive situation is a special achievement and distinction for the team!