López Paz Group

The López Paz Group discovers new quantum materials by combining exploratory chemistry, low-temperature functionalisation and structure-property studies.

Research focus

Solid State Chemistry for New Quantum Materials

Quantum materials underlie many current technologies and may contribute to future technologies, from more efficient energy conversion devices to modern quantum computers.

In these materials, electronic correlation drives collective physical phenomena, including:

  • magnetism
  • superconductivity
  • related complex physical phenomena

The research focuses on discovering new quantum materials by combining an exploratory chemistry approach with directed low-temperature functionalisation.

By designing compositional and structural changes in extended solids, the group aims to establish structure-property relationships towards desired physical properties.

Group leader

Design and characterisation of quantum materials

Illustration of quantum materials research, including crystal growth, materials design and structural characterisation.

Projects

Projects in the group are at the interface between chemistry and physics.

In the lab, project work may involve:

  • materials synthesis in solid state
  • single-crystal growth from the melt and from vapour phase
  • characterisation of crystal structure
  • studies of metal centre coordination and electronic states using X-rays, electrons, neutrons and muons
  • measurement of physical properties, including magnetisation and transport

Current project areas range from low-dimensional and frustrated magnets to ferroelectric photovoltaic materials.

Publications

Tailoring optical and ferroelectric properties in Sb1−xBixSI van der Waals chalcohalides towards solar absorber applications

López-Paz, S. A., Singh, H. K., Méndez, A. S. J., Multian, V., Teyssier, J., Aschauer, U. & von Rohr, F. O., 2026, In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 14, 3, p. 1681-1690 10 p.

Triple Magnetic Stacking in an Iron-Containing Cuprate with Cu-Fe-Cu Magnetic Blocks

López-Paz, S. A., Sari, D. P., Sánchez-Marcos, J., Liborio, L., Sturniolo, S., Ritter, C., Hillier, A. D. & Alario-Franco, M. A., 2024, In: Chemistry of Materials. 36, 17, p. 8199−8207 9 p.

Lukovkina, A., López-Paz, S. A., Besnard, C., Guenee, L., von Rohr, F. O., Giannini, E. Controlling the Magnetic Properties of the van der Waals Multiferroic Crystals Co1–xNixI2. Chem. Mater. 2024, doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c01053 (abstract)

Witteveen, C; Nocerino, E.; López-Paz, S. A. ; Jeschke, H. O.; Pomjakushin, V. Y.; Månsson, M.; von Rohr, F.O. Synthesis and Anisotropic Magnetic Properties of LiCrTe2 Single Crystals with a Triangular-Lattice Antiferromagnetic Structure. Journal of Physics: Materials 2023, 6 (3), 035001 (abstract)

Gómez-Toledo, M; López-Paz, S. A.; Garcia-Martin, S.; Arroyo-de Dompablo, M. Metal-to-Insulating Transition in the Perovskite System YSr2Cu2FeO8−δ (0 < δ < 1) Modeled by DFT Methods. Inorg. Chem. 2023, 62, 8, 3445–3456 (abstract)

López-Paz, A., Guguchia, Z., Pomjakushin, V. Y., Witteveen, C., Cervellino, A., Luetkens, H., Casati, N., Morpurgo, A. F., von Rohr, F.O.; Dynamic magnetic crossover at the origin of the hidden-order in van der Waals antiferromagnet CrSBr. Nature Communications2022, 13, 4745 (abstract)

Collaborations

The research has a strong interdisciplinary scope, with close collaboration with the Niels Bohr Institute and other national and international universities.

The group commonly uses large-scale facilities, including:

  • ESRF
  • ILL
  • PSI
  • ISIS

The group also maintains an active international collaboration network, including collaborations in Spain and Switzerland.

Contact

Sara Lopez Paz
Assistant Professor - Tenure Track