Researchers from Germany, Italy, and the UK have achieved a major advance in the development of materials suitable for on-chip energy harvesting. By composing an alloy made of silicon, germanium and tin, they were able to create a thermoelectric material, promising to transform the waste heat of computer processors back into electricity. With all elements coming from the 4th main group of the periodic table, these new semiconductor alloy can be easily integrated into the CMOS process of chip production….

A new theory has finally deciphered the physical mechanisms of fracture in soft materials. This revolutionary discovery will soon lead to new, defect-free materials that are more resistant and durable, thus “environmentally friendly”! The article Elastic Instability Behind Brittle Fracture was recently published by Physical Review Letters. “We have revealed that fracture propagates from the free surface of the material, starting from an elastic instability that breaks the symmetry of the object. Then, the rupture drastically extends with an intricate network of…

Calyo, Benedex Robotics and Cranfield University have joined forces to improve safety in self-driving vehicles. The new partnership, part of the DRIVEN BY SOUND project led by Calyo, will develop a functional safety sensing platform based on 3D ultrasound, capable of operating effectively in even the most challenging environmental conditions. The new technology allows autonomous vehicles to detect their surroundings in 3D in real time. It complements existing sensing and safety detection systems, providing an additional layer of safety and…

– new project SUPREMAS has started. The EU funded SUPREMAS project has officially started in May 2024. The project’s kick-off meeting took place at the headquarters of the consultancy company RINA-C, the project coordinator, in Genoa, Italy, on 16th May 2024. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum is one of the project partners and supports the market analysis and stakeholder mapping. Many EU countries are net importers of oil and gas (in 2022 the EU’s natural gas import dependency rate was 97 %),…

… reveals new potential for the 2D materials. Drexel and UCLA researchers perform first scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy inspection of 2D material with unique properties. In the decade since their discovery at Drexel University, the family of two-dimensional materials called MXenes has shown a great deal of promise for applications ranging from water desalination and energy storage to electromagnetic shielding and telecommunications, among others. While researchers have long speculated about the genesis of their versatility, a recent study led…

Project MesSi develops silicon-based photodiodes for the near-infrared range. Image sensors and their core component, the photodiode, are indispensable in numerous applications, whether in process, measurement, automotive or safety technology. In the near-infrared range, which is important for many analytical applications, silicon-based photodiodes do not yet offer sufficient sensitivity. Therefore, other materials are used, but they are expensive and partly harmful to the environment. In a new project at the Fraunhofer IPMS, sensitive silicon-based photodiodes, which are more cost-efficient in…

Researchers at Fraunhofer IPM have developed a contactless flow measurement method based on magnetic fields. For the first time, they have been able to show the quantitative impact of the flow profile on the magnetic signal. This opens up new possibilities for improving the measurement method. The results were recently published in the “Journal of Applied Physics”. There are many manufacturing processes across various industries where flowing liquids play a key role. Controlling or automating such processes requires reliable data…

Fraunhofer researchers have developed a method of creating biogenic construction materials based on cyanobacteria. The bacteria multiply in a nutrient solution, driven by photosynthesis. When aggregates and fillers such as sand, basalt, or renewable raw materials are added, rock-like solid structures are produced. Unlike traditional concrete production, this process does not emit any carbon dioxide, which is harmful to the environment. Instead, the carbon dioxide is bound inside the material itself. The construction industry has a problem. Cement, the main…

From smart electric meters to tachometers, wherever consumption or mileage is read out electronically, the data transmitted should not be open to manipulation. That is especially true for verification of payment transfers made via credit card. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS have developed a solution that makes it possible to configure the functions of security elements to address this issue after manufacturing, reliably and cost-effectively providing them with multidimensional protection. From payment transfers to smart electric…

A research team led by Professor Hyoung Seop Kim from the Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Eco Materials Technology and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Jeong Ah Lee, a PhD candidate, from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in recent collaboration with Professor Figueiredo from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais’s Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in Brazil, has developed an optimal artificial intelligence model to predict the yield strength of various metals, effectively addressing traditional…

Würzburg researchers from the Bavarian initiative Solar Technologies Go Hybrid are reporting progress on the road to more efficient utilisation of solar energy: they have developed an innovative light-harvesting system. In order to convert sunlight into electricity or other forms of energy as efficiently as possible, the very first step is an efficient light-harvesting system. Ideally, this should be panchromatic, i.e. absorb the entire spectrum of visible light. The light-collecting antennae of plants and bacteria are a model for this….

A research team from the University of Jena has developed a small optical lens, only a few millimetres in size, whose refractive behaviour changes in the presence of gas. As reported by the researchers in the journal Nature Communications, this “intelligent” behaviour of the micro-lens is enabled by the hybrid glass material from which it is made. The molecular structure of the lens consists of a three-dimensional lattice with cavities that can accommodate gas molecules, thereby affecting the optical properties…

Makino and Fraunhofer ILT expand the possibilities of Additive Manufacturing. Makino and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT are using EHLA and EHLA3D to redefine the boundaries of Additive Manufacturing. By integrating EHLA3D into a five-axis CNC platform, they have developed a process that can efficiently produce, coat or repair complex geometries with high-strength materials. Result of the collaboration: shorter production times and extended component life in critical industries, while laying the foundations for future innovation in the circular…

Without lithium-ion batteries, environmentally friendly mobility and a sustainable energy supply would be virtually inconceivable. However, the increasing demand for batteries and the associated raw materials poses major challenges. The REWIND project aims to overcome important obstacles on the way to an efficient and ecologically sustainable circular economy. REWIND is part of the BattFutur program of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The project goal is clearly defined: To significantly improve the recyclability of batteries in order…

Radial or axial fans that are currently frequently used to cool electronic devices are often too large and too loud. The University of Stuttgart has now developed a membrane fan that is small and quiet. The newly developed mini membrane fan is energy-saving and can be manufactured without the use of environmentally harmful materials. TLB GmbH has been commissioned with the commercialisation of this pioneering technology and offers manufacturers opportunities for licensing or project cooperation. Computers, cell phones, and other…

Eliminating damages in offshore wind turbines is very expensive. When turbines are idle due to defective transmissions, repairs often require special cranes – high waves, strong winds, and poor visibility can hinder the deployment teams and further extend downtime. In the GEARFORM project, Fraunhofer IWU and its industry partners developed a hot rolling process to manufacture durable, large-module gears. In contrast to hobbing, hot rolling also boasts an outstanding material utilization rate and significantly shorter production times. With a diameter…