Molecules in two-dimensional materials are at the center of a new Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) at Freie Universität Berlin. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved the CRC with an initial funding amount of approximately €10 million for nearly four years. The speaker of CRC 1772 is physicist Prof. Dr. Stephanie Reich.

The CRC is expected to begin in October 2025. Collaborative Research Centres are long-term research initiatives—lasting up to twelve years—based at universities to promote fundamental research. Scientists from various disciplines collaborate in CRCs to gain new insights into a central research theme.

“The CRC Heterostructures of Molecules and Two-Dimensional Materials builds a bridge between two of the most exciting fields in modern science—the design of organic molecules and the properties of two-dimensional materials, meaning atomically thin crystal layers,” explains Prof. Dr. Stephanie Reich, speaker of the new CRC 1772 and professor of physics at Freie Universität Berlin.“

In this CRC, we aim to create sandwich-like structures, where the molecules serve as the ‘filling’ between layers of two-dimensional materials—the ‘bread slices’. Such sandwiches are expected to combine the strengths of organic molecules with those of two-dimensional materials. This could allow us, for example, to precisely control the flow of electricity, customize responses to light, or even realize new exotic quantum states. These concepts will be explored and refined theoretically and implemented practically over the course of CRC 1772.

“In this way, we aim to improve the synthesis of industrially relevant chemicals or develop better batteries by enabling electrons to flow between the individual parts of the sandwich,” adds co-speaker Prof. Dr. Siegfried Eigler.
“CRC 1772 will deliver scientific excellence in physics and chemistry at Freie Universität Berlin while also shaping our technological future,” emphasizes the chemist.

The DFG will initially fund the new CRC 1772 with €9.9 million for a period of three years and nine months. A total of 18 scientific projects are included in CRC 1772, involving researchers from Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg.