Boost for Bremen-Cardiff semiconductor physics alliance
1 April 2025
New research links kick-started during Bremen academics’ visit to Cardiff
Bremen University academics attended a semiconductor physics workshop at the School of Physics and Astronomy in February as part of the wider Bremen-Cardiff partnership.
The workshop, also supported by Cardiff University’s Net Zero Innovation Institute, aimed to strengthen the existing Bremen-Cardiff semiconductor physics alliance through supporting existing research links and kick-starting new ones.
Professor Wolfgang Langbein, Head of the Condensed Matter and Photonics Group said: “A range of new research ideas emerged from this engaging workshop, which included presentations, visits to our Translational Research Hub and laboratories and individual discussions for project development”.
We’re delighted to support this collaborative workshop, bringing together leading experts from Cardiff and Bremen to advance semiconductor research. The innovations discussed—ranging from energy-efficient devices to ultrawide bandgap materials—are critical to accelerating our net zero ambitions. By strengthening these research partnerships, we’re laying the groundwork for transformative solutions that will benefit both industry and society for years to come.
New research collaborations discussed included cutting edge technologies such as thermal imaging, STEM microscopies on colloidal CuInS2 quantum dots, ultrafast dynamics in 2D materials with alloy disorder and LEEM of polycrystalline diamond surfaces.
The hybrid event saw talks given by both universities covering subjects from diamond and aluminium nitride (AlN) growth on high-power electronic materials to the optical properties and applications of Ga2O3 and AlN emerging ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, which are important for Net Zero.
Professor Jens Falta, University of Bremen, said: “This was a great workshop with excellent contributions from both universities.”
“Two days of intense discussion and a friendly dinner offered the opportunity for personal exchange and gave a strong impetus to expand existing and establish further collaborations on new materials and their properties for semiconductor physics and quantum technology. We would like to thank our colleagues from Cardiff for their commitment and hospitality.”
Cardiff University’s partnership with the University of Bremen began in 2019 in a bid to strengthen European relations in the wake of Brexit.
A unique aspect of the partnership is the affiliation of academic staff members from one university to the other. This enables staff to take part in long-term collaborative research projects and supervise PhD students.
The semiconductor physics element of the alliance supports the development of common research and funding applications to UK and German funding schemes.
It also enables several Cardiff University students to go on a summer exchange, funded by Taith, to the University of Bremen as well as a Bremen-based Erasmus+ student to carry out a placement at Cardiff University.