Great news for material science in Berlin!
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved the new Collaborative Research Centre (CRC 1772) Heterostructures of Molecules and 2D Materials, to be funded from October 2025 with an initial budget of €10.6 million. The CRC brings together leading expertise from physics and chemistry to explore novel material combinations and investigate their fundamental interactions. It is part of a broader initiative to strengthen top-level research across Germany, with CRC 1772 being one of thirteen newly funded centres.
The CRC, coordinated by Freie Universität Berlin, includes key contributions from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg.
Among the PIs are four scientists from the CSMB:
- Dr. Benedikt Haas (HU, CSMB & Dept Physics)
- Prof. Stefan Hecht, PhD (HU, CSMB & Dept Chem)
- Prof. Christoph Koch, PhD (HU, CSMB & Dept Physics)
- Prof. Dr. Norbert Koch (HU, CSMB & Dept Physics)
The research focuses on layered structures – so-called “sandwiches” – in which organic molecules are embedded between atomically thin, two-dimensional materials. This design aims to combine the distinct advantages of both material classes: the chemical versatility of organic molecules and the unique physical properties of 2D materials.
By tailoring these hybrid systems, the researchers seek to gain precise control over electrical conductivity, fine-tune responses to light, and potentially access entirely new quantum states.
A heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in making this happen.