The planned research activities in the topical areas A, B, and C require nanoscale fabrication technologies and microstructural characterization support which will be provided by two projects in the crosstopical area Z of our SFB. The interdisciplinary activities will be based on the special infrastructure of two world-class facilities, the Helmholtz Nano-Facility (HNF) and the Ernst Ruska-Center for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons (ER-C). In cross-topical Project Z2, the world-class instrumentation at the ER-C, which is a joint center between Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University, will be employed for atomic scale characterization of the materials and devices investigated in the SFB. Atomic scale information on crystal and defect structures, valence state and bonding properties will be employed to elucidate the structure/property-relationships and to establish the basis for the modeling activities. The nanoscale fabrication technology will be provided within the new project Z4.
