Institut für Materialphysik

  • Since 09/2022: Junior Professor (W1)Complex Thin Film Systems / Advanced Epitaxy Institute: Institute for Materials Physics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
  • 12/2019 – 08/2022: Principal InvestigatorDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Individual Research Grant (Basismodul und Eigene Stelle)
  • 08/2019 – 11/2019: Career Bridging grant, Ingenium, TU Darmstadt
  • 08/2018 – 07/2019:'Future Talents' postdoctoral fellow, Ingenium, TU Darmstadt Institute: Advanced Thin Film Technology, Institute of materials science, Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany
    Research keywords: Magnetic materials, Multiferroics, Transparent-conducting oxides, Superconductivity, Energy conversion, Ceramics, Thin films, Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), Reactive Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE)
  • 02/2018 – 06/2018. Senior Project Assistant (Research)
  • 01/2012 – 01/2018. Research Fellow (PhD) Institute: Materials Science and Technology Division, CSIR - National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum, India
    Keywords: Magnetic materials, perovskite oxides, exchange bias systems, hard and soft ferrites, molecular magnets, and dielectric and magneto dielectric materials.
  • 10/2016 – 11/2016 & 11/2015 – 12/2015. Visiting researcher (India – Slovenia bilateral project on ‘Hole Doped Double Perovskites for Sensor and Spintronics Applications’)
    Institute: Materials Research Laboratory, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia
    Keywords: Dielectric and magnetodielectric materials
  • 05/2014 – 06/2014. Visiting researcher Institute: Spintronics Group, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India
    Keywords: Pulsed laser deposition of double perovskites


  • 01/2018: PhD in Science University: AcSIR – Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research, an Indian institute of national importance established by an Act of Parliament, India
    Thesis:     ‘Magnetic, transport and magnetotransport properties of perovskites La2BMnO6 (B=Fe, Cu, and Cr)’
  • 06/2011: Qualified ‘National Eligibility Test’ for lectureship in Physical Sciences, University Grant Commission (UGC), Govt. of IndiaCommission: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
  • 07/2010: Master of Science (MSc) in Physics, University: University of Calicut, Kerala, India
  • 04/2008: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physics, University: University of Calicut, Kerala, India
  • 03/2005: Higher Secondary School Examination in Science, Board: Board of Higher Secondary Examination, Govt. of Kerala, India




  • 2019: Individual Research Grants, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)‚ Germany
  • 2019: Career-Bridging grant, Ingenium, TU Darmstadt
  • 2018-2019: Future Talent short-term fellowship, Ingenium, TU Darmstadt
  • 2018: Future Talent Guest Stay, Ingenium, TU Darmstadt
  • 2014-2017: Senior research fellowship, University Grants Commission (UGC), Govt. of India
  • 2012-2014: Junior research fellowship, University Grants Commission (UGC), Govt. of India




Synthesis/Deposition


  • Solid-state, citrate-gel combustion and sol-gel syntheses
  • Arc melting of alloys
  • Usage of a glove box, high-temperature furnaces like muffle furnaces, vacuum furnace, tube furnaces with flow of different gases
  • Sintering of ceramics by a hydraulic press and a spark plasma sintering
  • Thin film fabrication by Pulsed Laser Deposition technique
  • Thin film deposition by using Oxide Molecular Beam Epitaxy, co-evaporation of elemental sources by high-energy electron beam


Structural characterization


  • X-ray diffraction images, X-ray reflectivity, reciprocal space mapping, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
  • Rietveld Refinement of powder XRD data by the graphical interface EXPGUI for GSAS (General Structure Analysis System)
  • XPS data fitting by different software programs like XPSPEAK 4.1, CasaXPS, MultiPak, etc.


Physical properties


  • Physical property measurement system (Quantum Design PPMS® DynaCool™) - Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), VSM oven, Electrical transport option, AC susceptibility measurements, and Specific heat measurements
  • SQUID-Magnetic Property Measurement System (MPMS 3 and MPMS XL - Quantum Design)
  • Optical characterization by spectroscopic ellipsometry
  • Usage of impedance Analyzer, Cryocoolers, Lake Shore Temperature Controllers, Keithley voltmeter, current source, etc. for dielectric, magneto-dielectric, and resistivity measurements.



  • J. P. Palakkal, T. Schneider, L. Alff,
    Oxygen Defect Engineered Magnetism of La2NiMnO6 Thin Films’, AIP Advances, 12 (3), 035116 (2022).
  • S. Dasgupta, P. Komissinskiy, P. Nukala, I. Radulov, A. Rogalev, F. Wilhelm, M. Major, J. P. Palakkal, A. Radetinac, and L. Alff,
    Charge-transfer driven ferromagnetism in a disordered three-dimensional 3d-5d spin system’ Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 539, 168330 (2021).
  • N. Bäumer, K.K. Kartha, S. Buss, J.P. Palakkal, C.A. Strassert, G. Fernández,
    Exploiting coordination geometry to tune the dimensions and processability of metallosupramolecular polymers’, Organic Chemistry Frontiers, 8, 4138 (2021).
  • N. Bäumer, K.K. Kartha, S. Buss, I. Maisuls, J.P. Palakkal, C.A. Strassert, G. Fernández,
    Tuning energy landscapes and metal–metal interactions in supramolecular polymers regulated by coordination geometry’, Chemical Science, 12, 5236-5245 (2021).
  • J. P. Palakkal, L. Zeinar, M. Major, P. Komissinskiy, T. Schneider, and L. Alff,
    Thickness-Dependent Magnetism in Epitaxial SrFeO3-δ Thin Films’, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 57, 1-5 (2021).
  • L. Herkert, P. Selter, C.G. Daniliuc, N. Bäumer, J.P. Palakkal, G. Fernández, M.R. Hansen,
    Tuning the Molecular Packing of Self-Assembled Amphiphilic PtII Complexes by Varying the Hydrophilic Side-Chain Length’, Chemistry – A European Journal, 27, 4617-4626 (2021).
  • K. Aswathi, J.P. Palakkal, M.R. Varma, ‘Observation of Griffiths-like phase in Y2CrMnO6 perovskites’,
    Observation of Griffiths-like phase in Y2CrMnO6 perovskites’, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 514, 167276 (2020).
  • N. Schäfer, N. Karabas, J.P. Palakkal, S. Petzold, M. Major, N. Pietralla, L. Alff,
    Kinetically induced low-temperature synthesis of Nb3Sn thin films’, Journal of Applied Physics, 128, 133902 (2020).
  • N. Bäumer, K.K. Kartha, J.P. Palakkal, G. Fernández,
    Morphology control in metallosupramolecular assemblies through solvent-induced steric demand’, Soft Matter, Soft Matter 16 (29), 6834-6840 (2020).
  • J.P. Palakkal, T. Faske, M. Major, M. Radulov, P. Komissinskiy, L. Alff,
    Ferrimagnetism, exchange bias and spin-glass property of disordered La2CrNiO6’, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 508, 166873 (2020).
  • K. Aswathi, J.P. Palakkal, P.N. Lekshmi, M.R. Varma,
    A Griffiths-like phase and variable range hopping of polarons in orthorhombic perovskite Pr2CrMnO6’, New Journal of Chemistry 43, 17351-17357 (2019).
  • K. Aswathi, J.P. Palakkal, R. Revathy, M.R. Varma,
    Sign reversal of magnetization in Sm2CrMnO6 perovskites’, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 483, 89-94 (2019).
  • J.P. Palakkal, C.R. Sankar, M.R. Varma,
    Magnetism and magnetoresistance in Al half doped LaNiO3’, Materials Chemistry and Physics, 225, 316 (2019).
  • K. Aswathi, J.P. Palakkal, M.R. Varma,
    Magnetization sign reversal, exchange bias, and Griffiths-like phase in orthorhombic perovskite Pr2FeMnO6’, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 476, 45-53 (2019).
  • J.P. Palakkal, R.S. Cheriyedath, P.N. Lekshmi, M. Valant, M.V. Mihelj, M.R. Varma,
    Large positive and negative magnetodielectric coupling in Fe half-doped LaMnO3’ Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 474, 183-186 (2019).
  • J.P. Palakkal, R.S. Cheriyedath, M.R Varma,
    Structural, magnetic, and magnetotransport properties of LaFe0.5Ni0.5O3’, Ceramics International, 44, 22401-22405 (2018).
  • J.P. Palakkal, M. Rijila, A.P. Paulose, R.S. Cheriyedath,
    Collective dipolar relaxations in a molecular nanomagnet, Mn12-acetate’, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 466, 289-294 (2018).
  • A Kaipamagalath, J.P. Palakkal, M.R. Varma,
    Griffiths-like phase in High TC Perovskite La2FeReO6 prepared in a controlled reducing atmosphere’, AIP Conference Proceedings, 1953, 120041 (2018).
  • J.P. Palakkal, M.R. Varma, C.R. Sankar,
    Memory and aging effects of molecular nanomagnet Mn12 benzoate’, AIP Conference Proceedings, 1953, 120050 (2018).
  • J.P. Palakkal, O.Reddy, A.P. Paulose, C.R. Sankar,
    Surface spin tunneling and heat dissipation in magnetic nanoparticles’, Materials Research Express, Materials Research Express, 5, 036101 (2018).
  • J.P. Palakkal, C.R. Sankar, A.P. Paulose, M.R. Varma,
    Hopping conduction and spin glass behavior of La2FeMnO6’ Journal of alloys and compounds, 743, 403-409 (2018).
  • J.P. Palakkal, C.R. Sankar, A.P. Paulose, M. Valant, A. Badasyan, M.R. Varma,
    Unusual magnetodielectric effects in La2CuMnO6 induced by a dynamic crossover in dielectric relaxation at TC’, Materials Research Bulletin, 100, 226-233 (2018).
  • A Kaippamagalath, J.P. Palakkal, A.P. Paulose, M.R. Varma,
    Structural and Magnetic Properties of Multiferroic Y2NiMnO6 Double Perovskite’, Ferroelectrics 518 (1), 223-231 (2017).
  • J.P. Palakkal, C.R. Sankar, M.R. Varma,
    Multiple magnetic transitions, Griffiths-like phase, and Magnetoresistance in La2CrMnO6’, Journal of Applied Physics 122 (7), 073907 (2017).
  • J.P. Palakkal, P.N. Lekshmi, S.Thomas, M.Valant, K.G. Suresh, M.R. Varma,
    Polarons induced electronic transport, dielectric relaxation and magnetodielectric coupling in spin frustrated Ba2FeWO6’, Materials Research Bulletin 76, 161-168 (2016).
  • J.P. Palakkal, P.N. Lekshmi, S. Thomas, K.G. Suresh and M.R. Varma,
    Observation of high-temperature magnetic transition and existence of ferromagnetic short-range correlations above transition in double perovskite La2FeMnO6’, RSC Advances 5 (128), 105531-105536 (2015).



Book chapter
J. P. Palakkal, L. Alff, ‘Functional double perovskites from bulk to thin film heterostructures: The example of La2NiMnO6’, in the book titled ‘Perovskites Ceramics: Recent Advances and Emerging Applications’ by Elsevier (Expected publication date: 10. November. 2022).