Energy and Materials Physics (Master)

Energieeffizienz und nachhaltige Energieversorgung sind Eckpfeiler der Energiewende. Sie erfordern auch neue Wege der Materialentwicklung für Energiewandlung und Energiespeicherung. Insbesondere ist die Erforschung und Kontrolle fundamentaler physikalischer und chemischer Prozesse und Wirkmechanismen, oft auf atomarer Skala, Voraussetzung für technologische Durchbrüche beispielsweise bei der Entwicklung neuer und effizienter Materialien für die Photovoltaik und für wiederaufladbare Batterien.

Graduates of the Master's program in Energy and Materials Physics have excellent career opportunities. Industrial jobs, mostly in research and development, represent the main job market for most graduates. A large number of graduates also find employment in public institutions such as universities and research institutes. In addition, with its scientific orientation and focus on energy-relevant and material-physical study content, graduates of this degree program are particularly qualified for versatile jobs in high-tech and energy-oriented growth industries. The job market opportunities in the field of physics/physical technologies are among the best of all academic professions.

The new Master's program in Energy and Materials Physics offers the unique opportunity of a thematically broad and in-depth education in materials physics and materials chemistry of regenerative energy technologies. Special focal points of the course are photovoltaics, batteries, fuel cells and solid-state sensors, as well as the solid-state physics fundamentals required for these. Participation in research projects within the framework of research internships and master's theses prepares students for activities in industrial and university research. Materials science, economics and law courses closely related to the core topic of energy broaden the education and qualify students for versatile activities in industry and public authorities.

In their interdisciplinary education leading to a Master of Science (M. Sc.) degree, students benefit from the special opportunities offered by a small university, such as personal mentoring. The solid-state physics expertise at Clausthal University of Technology, current large-scale research equipment for materials synthesis and characterization, and the special opportunities offered by the Energy Research Center of Lower Saxony (EFZN) and the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute in neighboring Goslar, as well as the new Clausthal Center for Materials Technology (CZM), provide ideal conditions for a versatile and research-oriented course of study.

Areas of specialization:

• Solid State Physics
• Semiconductors and energy functional interfaces
• Photovoltaics
• Fuel cells and chemical energy storage
• Batteries
• Solid state sensors
• Nanostructures and nanomaterials
• Materials for energy technology
• Research Practicum

Superdisciplinary qualifications:

• Management
• Energy law, energy and environmental economics
• Scientific work

Thesis:

• Six-month master thesis

The aim of the Master's program in Energy and Materials Physics is to provide a thematically broad and in-depth education in materials physics and materials chemistry with close reference to regenerative energy technologies. Special focal points of the study are photovoltaics, batteries, fuel cells and solid-state sensors, which are supplemented by further, freely selectable topics from the field of energy and materials. The material and system competencies that students acquire in these areas of specialization require, among other things, an in-depth education in solid-state and semiconductor physics, which is also taught in the corresponding modules of this degree program. This not only gives students a comprehensive understanding of physical and chemical energy conversion processes with particular relevance to current regenerative energy technologies, but also provides them with materials science skills for future energy technologies. Thus, in the module photovoltaics not only the current generation of solar cells on the basis of solid-state physics fundamentals are dealt with, but also concepts and realizations of future solar cells of the 3rd and 4th generation as well as photoelectrochemical concepts for solar energy conversion are addressed. By participating in research projects during a research internship, students gain in-depth knowledge of current and future materials and energy technologies, practice methods of scientific work and are prepared for activities in industrial and university research. Materials science, economics and law subjects closely related to the core topic of energy broaden the education and qualify the students for versatile activities in industry and public authorities.