Max-Planck-Institut für Nachhaltige Materialien GmbH

Welcome to Peter Schweizer 😊 Peter recently established the QuanTEM group at #mpisusmat . His team uses high-resolution transmission #electron #microscopy , big data, and #machineLearning to better understand and predict material behaviour at the atomic scale. From tackling #hydrogen embrittlement to improving metal #recycling strategies, Peter’s group is helping design more efficient and #sustainable materials - one atom at a time. Read more about Peter's research: https://lnkd.in/dWTeA3hc #MaterialsScience #Nanotechnology

#Luminescent materials are key to #technologies like LED phosphors, upconversion nanocrystals, and luminescent thermometers. Join our webinar "Design of sustainable luminescent materials - from basics to real applications" with Markus Suta from the Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. In his talk, he will explore how understanding the balance between radiative and non-radiative decay enables smarter, more efficient #materials. From rare-earth-based #phosphors to Mn²⁺/Cr³⁺ alternatives, discover how fundamental insights lead to sustainable innovations. 📅 Date: 29th April 🕒 Time: 4.00-5.00 pm local time Germany 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e_hpNTTS The colloquia series is organized by our doctoral program IMPRS SusMet | SurMat #materialsscience #sustainability #colloquia

High-performance #magnets are essential for #energy conversion technologies, but their reliance on rare-earth elements comes with high costs and supply risks. A new study by Liuliu Han and colleagues, recently published in Nature Magazine, presents a promising alternative. By introducing nano-lamellar structures into a Co-Fe-Ni-Al material system using thermo-magnetic field processing, the scientists achieved simultaneous improvements in magnetic and mechanical performance. This innovation not only enhances coercivity and mechanical strength but also paves the way for more durable, high-efficiency magnets - ideal for high-speed motors and generators in harsh conditions. Check their #openaccess paper: https://lnkd.in/e6E7pfcY #MaterialsScience #RareEarthFree #Sustainability #Energy

#Science isn’t just about eureka moments - it’s about patience, perseverance, and problem-solving, says Tuğçe Beyazay. Her path into chemistry wasn’t always easy. In high school, she struggled with the subject, but instead of giving up, she pushed through - and that decision led her to a career in #materialsscience. Today, Tuğçe works on green #steel production, tackling one of the biggest challenges in #sustainability: reducing steel’s 8% share of global CO₂ emissions. Using #hydrogen plasma instead of carbon, she and her colleagues are working toward a CO₂-free future. Her advice to aspiring scientists? Be patient, stay curious, and keep going. Every step, even the small ones, brings progress. Enjoy the interview with Tuğçe : https://lnkd.in/dd7qJQid #WomenInScience #STEM #GreenSteel #womenInTech

March calendar image: A microstructure far from equilibrium: Crystal flakes of #aluminium oxide (Al2O3) solidified in red mud melt Red mud is a poisonous byproduct of aluminium production. Currently pilled up in huge landfills around the globe, it is a threat for humans and nature. Matic Jovičević-Klug and his team found a way to extract #iron ore from red mud and use it for #steel production. The image shows Al2O3 organized crystals that form on the surface of a plasma melted oxide mixture. The crystals grow due to point nucleation and preferential growth along specific crystallographic planes dictated by local nonequilibrium conditions. The morphology of such crystals is related to the solidification and partitioning of the oxides. Knowing the morphology helps understanding the reduction kinetics of complex oxide mixtures, like red mud, at high temperatures. Many thanks to Matic for providing us with this beautiful image 😊

Ancient Innovation: High-Quality Steel in Archaic Greece? Can you imagine that ultra-high carbon steel was already used over 2,500 years ago? Ümit Güder and his colleagues analysed #iron objects from the Sanctuary of Apollo in Didyma and revealed that precision tools and semi-formed objects were crafted from medium to ultra-high carbon #steel, some of exceptional purity and homogeneity. How did ancient artisans achieve such high-quality steel over 2,500 years ago? What motivated this metallurgical advancement? Check out this #openaccess paper that explores the production, function, and significance of these objects in Archaic Greece: https://lnkd.in/e4SamHe4 #Archaeometallurgy #AncientTechnology #MaterialsScience #History

Welcome to Lilian Vogl who is leading the newly established Environmental & Analytical Electron Microscopy Group at #mpisusmat 😊 Her team focuses on advancing #materials for green #technologies by replacing rare-earth elements, improving durability, and enhancing efficiency in applications such as #photocatalysis , solar cells, #batteries , and energy-efficient #computing . Lilian: “While a lot of attention goes into decreasing CO2 emissions through new carbon-free technologies, my research group will also focus on ways to store the already existing #CO2 . Therefore, we will study metal-organic structures and crystals that capture and retain carbon emissions." Lilian will soon announce open positions in her research group - so stay tuned 👍

Outstanding Paper Award 2024 👏 Our #openaccess publication on the heterogeneous reduction behaviour of #iron ore pellets and how their local microstructure affects the efficiency of #hydrogen based direct reduction, won the Outstanding Paper Award 2024 by the International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials. Our findings reveal that current #pellets are not optimized for hydrogen-based reduction. By refining their size, porosity, and microstructure, carbon-free #steel production can become more efficient and cost-effective. Congratulations to Yan MA, Isnaldi Souza Filho, Xue Zhang, Supriya Nandy and all other authors 🥳 Check out the paper: https://lnkd.in/g68rpwGb

Accelerating #battery innovation with #artificialintelligence - Congratulations to Yug Joshi and Chuanlai Liu who are participating in the European wide project FULL-MAP. The project is funded with 20 million euros by the European Commission and aims at developing next-generation battery materials. The consortium with 33 partners from academia and industry will develop a materials acceleration platform based on AI, #machinelearning and high-throughput experiments. Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/dH3wdQHa #materialsscience #materials #batteries #greenenergy

How does light impact our health? 💡 Last Wednesday, we had the pleasure of hosting Manuel Spitschan PhD from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics for a great public lecture on this topic. Light plays a crucial role in our daily lives - whether it's natural daylight, artificial lighting, or screen light. Our exposure to different types of light at various times of the day is key to our well-being. A big thank you to Dr. Spitschan for sharing his expertise and insights! 👏 And a big thank you to Erik Bitzek and Dierk Raabe who moderated the event 😊 The lecture was part of our public lecture series, KopfSalat, which invites advanced researchers from various fields to give accessible, engaging talks to the public.