Research into new materials plays a crucial role in the development of technologies for storing, transporting and converting energy. These technologies are of great importance as they help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and ensure a more sustainable energy supply in the future. They are based on using chemical and electrochemical methods to generate states of high energy, from which these energies can be released again in a targeted manner by chemical or electrochemical processes.
At Faculty 3, we investigate a variety of aspects of this subject area. This includes the development of new materials for energy conversion in solar cells and for future battery storage systems in mobile and stationary applications. In addition to materials for conventional lithium-ion batteries, we are also looking at the next generations of possible energy storage systems and taking into account considerations for increased sustainability. For example, lithium can be replaced by elements with higher availability, which is conceptually conceivable in sodium-ion, magnesium-sulfur and fluoride-ion batteries. In this context, the development of recyclable systems plays a fundamental role, so that considerations of recyclability are central to our investigations. In particular, we pay special attention to solid-state batteries and lithium-sulphur batteries. In addition to the synthesis and characterization of such energy systems, theoretical description and modeling with the computer play an important role.
The development of so-called e-fuels for the seasonally independent availability of renewable energies, requires the conversion of carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons. This process is chemically complex, so effective catalysts are fundamental to increase efficiency. In addition to converting carbon dioxide, such catalysts also play a role in other energy applications. For example, we are investigating new catalytically active materials for use in fuel cells and electrolysers and are investigating the extent to which hydrogen production from water and the use of light energy can be improved with so-called photocatalysts for solar water splitting.
We further synthesize novel functional materials using innovative chemical synthesis processes. In nature, fascinating functional materials are created by biomineralization, the formation of organic-inorganic materials (hybrid materials) by living organisms. How such materials can be made beyond biological systems and thus generate new energy materials is being investigated in depth in our faculty.
Furthermore, a deeper understanding of mixed ion-electron transport is the focus of the investigations. Modern in-situ electrochemical methods are used here, for example, to research redox polymers as flexible electrodes.
Current work from Faculty 3:
Ludwigs, S. (2024). "Flexible, sensitive and reactive" News from chemistry https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nadc.20244140435
Kerner, N. (2024). „Machine learning-assisted measurement of lithium transport using operando optical microscopy“ Acta Materialia https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2024.119867
Du, Q., et al. (2023). „An Energy Storage System Based on Recycled Polypropylene and Its Use in Lithium-Sulfur and Lithium-Ion Batteries“ ACS Applied Polymer Materials https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c00688
Chen, H., et al. (2024). "Effect of Uniaxial Stack Pressure on the Performance of Nanocrystalline Electrolytes and Electrode Composites for All-Solid-State Fluoride-Ion-Batteries." Small Structures https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202300570
Jacob, M., et al. (2024). "Recycling of solid-state batteries—challenge and opportunity for a circular economy?" Materials Futures https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2752-5724/acfb28
Waidha, A. I., et al. (2021). "Structural, Magnetic and Catalytic Properties of a New Vacancy Ordered Perovskite Type Barium Cobaltate BaCoO2.67." Chemistry https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.202101167
Diem, A., et al. (2020). „Binder-Free V2O5 Cathode for High Energy Density Rechargeable Aluminum-Ion Batteries“ Nanomaterials https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nano10020247
Klemm, E., et al. (2021) „CHEMampere: Technologies for sustainable chemical production with renewable electricity and CO2, N2, O2, and H2O“ The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering https://dx.doi.org/ 10.1002/cjce.24397
Santomauro, G., et al. (2020). " In Vivo Shaping of Inorganic Functional Devices using Microalgae" Advanced Biosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/adbi.201900301
