Functional materials are promising systems for a wide range of applications in the fields of IT, solar energy, catalysis, etc. In order to design and engineer molecular systems with optimalized function, a throughout understanding of the relationship between function and stucture (both atomic as well as electronic) is indispensable. One of the most prominent investigation group of methods which can give an insight into atomic-scale electronic and structural data is the family of X-ray based high-energy-resolution spectroscopies and complementary scattering. Using these techniques both with laboratory X-ray sources as well as synchrotrons and X-ray free electron lasers can greatly enhance our understanding of the complex behaviour of these molecular systems.

The candidate will be involved in the X-ray spectroscopic and scattering studies of novel functional materials including sulfur and phosphorus based conjugated systems as well as transition metal based complexes at the femtoX group at Wigner RCP. The work will consist of three packages. Firstly, the candidate will be responsible for the development and validation of a novel table-top tender X-ray spectrometer available to study the local and element selective structural data on sulfur and phosporus in a range of selected molecules. Secondly, the results of the laboratory spectrometer will be constrasted to synchrotron measurements (via beamline proposals submitted during the first period of the PhD work) as well as quantum chemistry calculations. Thirdly, he/she will also participate in the already well developed hard X-ray spectroscopic and scattering investigation programme on iron-polypiridine functional complexes running at the femtoX group.