Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science

Faculty of Science

Graduate Program: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Condensed matter and materials physics explores how the structure of materials determines their properties, and puts that understanding to work. Research in the Department has a strong focus on clean energy, from lithium- and sodium-ion batteries designed to last for decades to materials for solar cells. It also covers quantum materials and ultrafast spectroscopy, magnetic thin films, electron and heat transport, organic electronics and chemical sensing, glasses and other materials studied by nuclear magnetic resonance, and the quantum simulation of molecules and materials.

Work ranges from first-principles theory and atomistic simulation to materials synthesis and device testing. The group has close ties to Chemistry, through 美女做爱's Clean Technologies Research Institute, and to industry partners.

Where graduates go

Graduates go on to careers in:

  • clean energy, including batteries and energy storage
  • advanced materials and manufacturing
  • semiconductors, photonics and quantum technology
  • scientific instrumentation
  • government laboratories
  • data science and software
  • academia

Our faculty

Interested in working with someone below? Pre-apply for free, then email them about your interests.

Jeff Dahn

  • Interests: Lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, Synchrotron studies, Material synthesis, Multi-decade lifetime batteries, Operando studies
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Website: Dahn research website
  • Email: jeff.dahn@dal.ca

Michael Freund

  • Interests: Electrochemistry, Surface science, Electronic polymers, Organic electronics, Chemical sensing, Machine olfaction
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Website:
  • Email: michael.freund@dal.ca

Kimberley Hall

  • Interests: Quantum technology, Ultrafast spectroscopy, Quantum light sources, Solar cell materials, 2D materials, Carrier relaxation and transport
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Email: kimberley.hall@dal.ca

Ian Hill

  • Interests: Organic solar cells, Perovskite solar cells, Organic electronics, Organic electronic radiation dosimeters, Redox flow batteries
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Email: ian.hill@dal.ca

Erin R. Johnson

  • Interests: Density-functional theory, Intermolecular interactions, Molecular crystals, Layered solids, Electrides
  • Methods: Theoretical, Computational
  • Website:
  • Email: erin.johnson@dal.ca

Jesse Maassen

  • Interests: Materials physics, Electron and thermal transport, Energy conversion, First-principles modelling
  • Methods: Theoretical, Computational
  • Website: Maassen research website
  • Email: jmaassen@dal.ca

Ryan MacDonell

  • Interests: Photochemistry, Theoretical chemistry, Quantum molecular dynamics, Simulation of spectroscopy, Quantum computing
  • Methods: Theoretical, Computational
  • Website:
  • Email: rymac@dal.ca

Michael Metzger

  • Interests: Energy storage, Electrochemistry, Lithium-ion batteries, Sodium-ion batteries, Method development
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Website:
  • Email: michael.metzger@dal.ca

Theodore Monchesky

  • Interests: Growth, characterization and modelling of topological magnetic thin films including skyrmions and frustrated antiferromagnets
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Email: theodore.monchesky@dal.ca

Mark N. Obrovac

  • Interests:聽Li-ion and Na-ion battery materials,聽Sustainable materials synthesis, Layered oxides, Nanocomposite materials, Materials characterization
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Website: Obrovac research website
  • Email: mark.obrovac@dal.ca

Penghao Xiao

  • Interests: Atomistic simulation, Thermal dynamics and kinetics, Machine learning, Materials performance and degradation, Lithium-ion batteries, Alloys
  • Methods: Theoretical, Computational
  • Website:
  • Email: penghao.xiao@dal.ca

Chongyin Yang

  • Interests: Rechargeable batteries, Energy storage, Battery materials
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Website:
  • Email: c.yang@dal.ca

Josef W. Zwanziger

  • Interests: Nuclear magnetic resonance, Optical studies, Thermal analysis, Materials, Optical glass, Concrete composites
  • Methods: Experimental
  • Website:
  • Email: jzwanzig@dal.ca

Next steps