The scientific work of the research group covers a wide area of research on functional thin films, ranging from superconducting materials to electrocaloric films and oxide heterostructures. For the preparation of this variety of functional thin film systems and heterostructures the group operates two sophisticated pulsed laser deposition laboratories, an e-beam evaporation system and an ink-jet printing facility for chemical solution deposition of oxide films. The preparation is accompanied by sophisticated characterization equipment using electron and X-ray diffraction, microstructural investigations as well as various superconducting and ferroelectric measurement tools. We are involved in a number of national and international research projects on superconductor, electrocaloric and functional thin film research.