The Clarke group’s research aim is the discovery of new compositions in the solid state with the aim of ultimately exploiting their physical or chemical properties. We use a wide range of synthetic methods and we correlate properties with compositions and crystal structures using a wide range of characterisation techniques. Many technological developments are driven by the discovery of solids with particular magnetic, electronic or chemical properties. The compounds we make may also be desirable model materials with which to test theories of magnetism or superconductivity in condensed matter physics.