Current Success Stories

two sided inkjet printed catalyst layers on membrane for application in fuel cell — © Fraunhofer ENAS

Functional Materials Focusing on Sensors

IMMENSE

The project is focusing on the material development for inkjet printing of catalytic layers directly on top of a membrane. The aim is to generate catalyst coated membranes (CCM) for use in fuel cells for automotive applications. We are working on the project since 7 months. There was no showstopper yet. Our specific success at this point of time is to work according to the project plan. The achievements so far are: first ingredients of the catalyst ink has been generated, catalyst layers based on existing ink have been manufactured.

© Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology

High Performance Composites / Biobased Performance Material

DURACER

The DURACER project developed ceramic tool composites based on alumina reinforced with super-hard cubic boron nitride (cBN) particles. The composites, in accordance with the project assumptions, were obtained using the Spark Plasma Sintering method. The main challenge was the metastability of cBN under SPS conditions. At high temperatures, cBN transforms into a hexagonal, graphite-like form and therefore ultra-high pressure must also be ensured during its sintering to avoid cBN-->hBN transition.

Innovative Surfaces, Coatings and Interfaces

SLIM-FIT

Main objective of "SLIM-FIT" is to establish an advanced battery cell design based on innovative, interpenetrating electrode and separator coatings aiming for stable and safe Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries for mobile applications. The concept uses a widely un-explored regime of "slim" electrode dimensions (10 µm – 20 µm thickness compared to 80 µm - 100 µm in state-of-the-art battery cells), specifically "fitted" to the requirements of high performance Li-S technology. Aim is to demonstrate the new concept in prototype Lithium-Sulfur battery cells in an application-relevant evaluation.

Materials for Additive Manufacturing

SYMPA

Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing method, which enables high-precision processing of thermoset resins, mostly acrylate- or epoxy-based photopolymers. Material consumption is comparable low because the unused resins can be re-used and even transparent components can be manufactured. However, mechanical properties and long-term stability of such components are rather low, hindering their use for durable automotive applications.

Multifunctional materials

NanoElMem

The NanoElMem project presents an innovative approach towards the design and fabrication of materials for the creation of direct alkaline ethanol fuel cells (DAEFC). Emphasis was put on the development of platinum (Pt)-free anode catalysts and nano-composite membranes, where environmentally friendly and sustainable polysaccharides and inorganic materials were employed. The vast potential of graphene, from a scientific and applied point of view, was harnessed as an active component in polysaccharide-based nanocomposite membranes.

Multifunctional materials

SunToChem

The main aim of the SunToChem project was to design new efficient H2-evolution photocatalysts. The engineering of the photocatalysts was performed based on an in-depth understanding of nucleation-crystallization phenomena and supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The research was focused on perovskite titanates, particularly on two-dimensional (2D) SrTiO3/Bi4Ti3O12 nanoheterostructures, 2D SrTiO3 nanoplatelets, SrTiO3 cube-like particles with different types of exposed facets and Al-doped SrTiO3 particles.