The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will show experts from the hydrogen industry how advanced laser technologies are helping to pave the way for the breakthrough of hydrogen technology at the international trade fair and conference Hy-fcell, which will take place in Stuttgart on October 8 and 9, 2024. At stand 4E51 in hall 4, the Aachen-based institute will be demonstrating which innovations can meet the growing demand for hydrogen technology and how laser technology increases efficiency, reduces costs…

A group from Nagoya University in Japan has created a new technique for growing the tiny metal nanowires (NWs) that are expected to be used in next-generation electronics. Their results suggest a way to mass produce pure metal NWs, which has until now limited their use. The new technique promises to enhance the efficiency of electronics production, including circuitry, LEDs, and solar cells. The study was published in Science. Mass production of NWs has been challenging because of the difficulties of scaling…

…paves way for light, energy-efficient vehicles. When cars, planes, ships or computers are built from a material that functions as both a battery and a load-bearing structure, the weight and energy consumption are radically reduced. A research group at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden is now presenting a world-leading advance in so-called massless energy storage – a structural battery that could halve the weight of a laptop, make the mobile phone as thin as a credit card or increase…

Fraunhofer IZFP at InnoTrans 2024: Material inspection of wheelsets for rail cars is an integral part of safe rail transportation. In smaller workshops, this inspection is usually carried out manually. Due to the fleeting nature of the data, it has not been possible to store and thus trace the inspection results. The PASAWIS inspection system now represents the next generation of wheelset inspection. How this works, experts from Fraunhofer IZFP will be demonstrating by means of a wheel rim inspection…

Scientists from Swansea University have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximising crop growth while generating solar power. In a recent study published in Solar RRL, academics from the University’s Department of Physics have been exploring the effect of semi-transparent PV materials placed over crops – an exemplary application of agrivoltaics (solar panels combined with agricultural settings). As part of this work, the team has developed an innovative freeware tool that predicts the…

Energy storage systems of the future must be cost-effective and sustainable. To achieve this, it is crucial that the materials used are both readily available and recyclable. A research team at TU Bergakademie Freiberg has now made significant progress in the development of an aluminium battery that meets these requirements. The battery consists of aluminium as the anode, graphite as the cathode and a new type of polymer-based electrolyte developed at the university. The validation of the battery prototype for…

Researchers at Tohoku University have successfully increased the capacity, lifetime durability, and cost-effectiveness of a capacitor in their pursuit of a more power-efficient future. A capacitor is a device used as part of a circuit that can store and release energy, just like a battery. What makes a capacitor different from a battery is that it takes much less time to charge. For example, your cellphone battery will power your phone instantly, but charging that battery back up to 100%…

Offshore wind energy… Public power grids are highly complex systems. Wind turbine manufacturers have to comply with technical guidelines when connecting new turbines to avoid putting grid stability at risk. In the Mobil-Grid-CoP project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES have developed a mobile test platform that enables realistic tests to be performed at full load, even on offshore wind turbines out in the open. The technology is assisting in the process of validating and certifying…

Functionally integrated lightweight design in electric mobility. More charging power, higher range, lower environmental impact: In the COOLBat joint research project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have teamed up with partners to develop next-generation battery enclosures for electric vehicles. The objective is to make the enclosures, a central component in any electric vehicle, lighter and cut the carbon dioxide emitted to manufacture them by 15 percent. The project partners aim to achieve this…

Fungi have more to offer than meets the eye. Their thread-like cells, which grow extensively and out of sight underground like a network of roots, offer huge potential for producing sustainable, biodegradable materials. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam Science Park are using this mycelium to develop a wide range of recyclable products, from wallets and insulation to packaging. To most of us, fungi look like a curved cap and a stem. However, the…

Improved safety and performance: A new type of gel, developed by chemists at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), could help to make lithium-ion batteries safer and more powerful. The gel is designed to prevent the highly flammable electrolyte fluid from leaking. Initial lab studies show that it also improves the performance and service life of the batteries. The researchers report on their work in the journal “Advanced Functional Materials”. Lithium-ion batteries are real powerhouses. “They charge faster than conventional…

Charging lithium-ion batteries at high currents just before they leave the factory is 30 times faster and increases battery lifespans by 50%, according to a study at the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center. A lithium-ion battery’s very first charge is more momentous than it sounds. It determines how well and how long the battery will work from then on – in particular, how many cycles of charging and discharging it can handle before deteriorating. In a study published today in Joule, researchers at…

Since the 1960s, astronomers have wondered how the Sun’s supersonic “solar wind,” a stream of energetic particles that flows out into the solar system, continues to receive energy once it leaves the Sun. Now, they may have discovered the answer. Since the 1960s, astronomers have wondered how the Sun’s supersonic “solar wind,” a stream of energetic particles that flows out into the solar system, continues to receive energy once it leaves the Sun. Now, thanks to a lucky lineup of…

A new ultrashort pulse (USP) laser beam source from TRUMPF, designed for industrial use, will significantly expand the range of applications of USP laser processes. The Fraunhofer ILT will be systematically exploring the potential of this beam source with an average output of 1 kW in the coming months. Among other things, experiments are planned to optimize processes in battery and fuel cell production, toolmaking, semiconductor technology, as well as to test various beam guidance strategies. Many of these pilot…

Fraunhofer IKTS opens Europe’s first R&D center for transparent ceramics in Hermsdorf, Thuringia. See-through like glass, but heat-resistant and scratch-proof like ceramics – transparent ceramics are unique materials. Their manufacturing requires not only special know-how, but also specialized equipment and systems. In future, transparent ceramics will be able to make even greater use of their advantages over glass and sapphire in terms of robustness, hardness, transmission and cost effectiveness. The reason: Fraunhofer IKTS has opened a new research and development…

Researchers at Macquarie University have developed a new way to produce ultraviolet (UV) light sensors, which could lead to more efficient and flexible wearable devices. The study, published in the journal Small in July, shows how acetic acid vapour – essentially vinegar fumes – can rapidly improve the performance of zinc oxide nanoparticle-based sensors without using high-temperatures for processing. Co-author Professor Shujuan Huang, from the School of Engineering at Macquarie University, says: “We found by briefly exposing the sensor to…