Pressreleases

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells made of stable materials and manufactured using scalable production processes are the prerequisite for the next technological leap in the photovoltaic industry. Over the past five years, six Fraunhofer Institutes combined their expertise in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "MaNiTU" to identify the most sustainable paths for the market launch of such tandem solar cells. They were able to show for one that high cell efficiencies can be achieved using industry-oriented processes, however, that such high efficiencies were only currently achievable with lead perovskite materials. Based on these findings, the researchers developed suitable recycling concepts to ensure sustainability.

The amount of plastic waste is constantly increasing, placing a heavy burden on the climate and resources. This makes it all the more important to develop intelligent recycling strategies that reduce waste and keep resources in the cycle. The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS is working on this and other sustainability-related research. On November 5, 2024, the applied research facility will open its doors from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and invites all interested citizens to gain insights into the latest findings and technologies. The “Open Hub Day” of the Fraunhofer IWKS is part of the pioneering K3I-Cycling project of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The event is free of charge and is aimed at both interested laypeople and visitors from the field.

On Tuesday, July 30, Till Mansmann, Innovation Commissioner for »Green Hydrogen« at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and development policy spokesperson for the FDP, visited the High Performance Center - Green Materials for Hydrogen, Hesse »GreenMat4H2« in Hanau and Darmstadt. In close cooperation with regional partners, the High Performance Center pools the expertise of the Fraunhofer IWKS and the Fraunhofer LBF in order to develop future-proof concepts for a sustainable, geopolitically independent, efficient and safe hydrogen economy. Till Mansmann gained deep insights into the hydrogen activities in Hessen and gathered important impulses from research and science, which he would like to contribute to the public discourse.

How safe is hydrogen as an energy source of the future? Which materials need to be upgraded for the use of hydrogen and how can they be recycled? What do efficient processes look like? Research teams from the Fraunhofer IWKS and the Fraunhofer LBF will be showcasing current developments in the production, transport, storage and use of hydrogen at HANNOVER MESSE, April 22 to 26, 2024, Hall 13, Stand C16, at the LandesEnergieAgentur Hessen LEA stand.

The Energy & Climate Protection Foundation has been organizing the "Energy and the Environment - My Idea for Tomorrow" ideas competition every year since 2011 in order to promote young scientists. It is aimed at young scientists working on the topic of the energy transition and climate protection as part of their doctorate. At the foundation's "Energy Campus" symposium on November 17, 2023, Mario Schönfeldt, research associate at Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS, was delighted to win second place.

Prof. Dr. Anke Weidenkaff was elected as a member of acatech - German Academy of Science and Engineering and will be involved in the Materials Science and Engineering thematic network in the future. The election took place at the last General Assembly on October 10, 2023 in Berlin. The proposal was submitted by the Presidium.

At the 14th European Forum of the FCPAE (Federation of Chinese Professional Associations in Europe) from 20 to 21 October 2023 in Brussels, Dr Guoxing Chen, scientist at Fraunhofer IWKS, was honoured with the “Top 10 Leading Chinese Talents in Science and Technology in Europe” Award 2023.

During the 15th Global Chinese Chemical Engineering Symposium, which took place from August 5 to 9, 2023, in Hong Kong, Dr Guoxing Chen, research associate at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS, achieved the “Award of Future Chemical Engineering Scholar (2023)“. As a recipient of this recognition, he was invited to deliver a keynote talk on the topic of "Plasma-based Technology for Energy Storage and Environmental Applications."

Missed climate targets, scarcity of resources, lack of security of supply - the current world situation is increasing pressure on politics, business and science. This raises the importance of addressing these challenges consistently and comprehensively. The still young conference "ICRC - International Conference on Resource Chemistry", which will take place in Alzenau, Frankfurt area, from March 11 - 13, 2024, will decisively contribute to this. The organizer is Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS.

The safety and reliability of hydrogen-exposed materials and components are essential prerequisites for establishing hydrogen as a future renewable energy carrier or storage system. Increasing the acceptance of hydrogen by validating and improving the reliability and safety of hydrogen-carrying components are key challenges for emission-free mobility and supply infrastructure. At the same time, the recyclability of the materials used plays a central role in securing raw materials and resources as well as in reducing the carbon footprint. In this context, the Fraunhofer Performance Center GreenMat4H2 will present current analysis concepts and individual validation methods for materials and systems in the field of hydrogen technology at the Hessian joint booth at the Group Exhibit Hydrogen + Fuel Cells EUROPE (Hall 13, Booth C36).