Institute of Solid State Physics

Materize is a platform for innovation and collaboration with industry. We combine the best of scientific expertise formed into a process and language that is easily accessible for industry to make scientific expertise beneficial to business.

Materize is a part of the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, with its 40 years of experience and team of more than 230 employees.

Most of the international services and applications are being delivered in partnership with the industrial partners, providing a solid base for test-beds infrastructure, scaling-up services and ensuring high quality and time-to-market needs. 

Materize is a part of national innovation ecosystem for smart materials and photonics. 

The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL), is the leading research centre in Latvia that can provide internationally competitive research in materials science and provide innovative solutions for industrial applications. 

The Institute is a national contact point and beneficiary in EUROfusion consortium coordinating national activities for development of new fusion reactor (ITERA and DEMO). 

The institute is a member in Baltic Scientific Network and Baltic Photonic Cluster. 

The key international research partners in delivering maximum performance are KTH and RISE, from Kista Science City, Sweden. 

Our expertise:

Functional materials for electronics and photonics:

We make innovations together with industry, developing new materials valuable for sensors, photonic, electronics, energy storage and harvesting. A wide variety of material classes ranging from inorganic single crystals to amorphous polymers, as well as lead-free ferroelectric ceramic and multi-ferroic materials. 

Special attention is given to prototyping of photonic and sensor devices based on the new materials in close cooperation with SMEs.

Nanotechnology, nanocomposites and ceramics:

We cover novel nanomaterials and nanostructures, nanoceramics, polymer nanocomposites, glass and glass ceramics. These activities will, in particular, pursue innovations and development of different nanomaterials in form of thin films, nanowires, nanotubes and nanoparticles. We develop technologies for developing nanostructures using various technologies starting from electron beam lithography to wet chemistry. 

Materials for energy harvesting and storage:

We innovate and develop materials for batteries including metallic lithium coatings, materials for hydrogen production and storage, as well as thermoelectric devices and solar photovoltaics. These materials are transformed into prototypes for new lithium and sodium ion batteries, new materials and innovative technologies for hydrogen energetics.

Thin films and coating technologies:

Our R&D activities address Green Thin Film Nanotechnologies, which are based on vacuum technologies as PVD and pulsed laser deposition (PLD), as well as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and organic and inorganic spray-wet technologies. Development of infrastructure, technological processes and a search for new applications in the field are also of high economical priority for Latvia, which has one of the largest vacuum technology industries from amongst the Baltic countries.

Theoretical and experimental studies of materials structure and properties:

From theoretical modelling to design of ceramics, thin films, nanowires, piezo and other materials with desired properties for application in fuel cells, electronics, actuators. We are experts in modelling defects in various functional materials including radiation induced ones.