innovative laser technologies

Innovative energy technologies in many cases require processes at temperatures above 800 °C. This places special demands on the materials and components to be used. Therefore, for more than 15 years, the scientists in our teaching and research area have been developing and modifying laser technologies that enable the use of different materials under the conditions of high temperature and special environmental conditions. For this purpose, laser-based technologies for joining, for coatings and for surface structuring are developed and applied.

We are active in the following areas:

• Development and testing of laser-based soldering technologies for the high-temperature resistant joining of ceramic-ceramic or ceramic-metal joints. The idea is to use the specifics of the process, the local energy input and the short process times to advantage.
• Development of high-temperature brazing alloys for use under special environmental conditions. The development includes both the group of metallic active metal brazes as well as glass-ceramics.
• Development of a laser-assisted coating technology (PLD process) for producing ultra-dense, chemically precisely defined ceramic coatings, used for example, for the long-term stable, safe confinement of radioactive fission products and for the protection of surfaces against corrosion and abrasion.
• Laser-based structuring of ceramic surfaces to increase the specific surface area and/or to adjust special surface properties.

Another focus of our work is the development of resource-saving technologies for the dismantling of nuclear power plants. Laser-based technologies can make an important contribution to this and we are establishing these personnel- and resource-saving processes as efficient alternatives to conventional methods in practice.

Our main areas of work are:

• Development and testing of innovative procedures for laser-based decontamination of radioactively or chemically-toxically contaminated surfaces. These technologies represent a personnel- and resource-saving alternative to conventional, mechanical decontamination technologies.
• Development of a method for laser-based sampling in concrete boreholes for in-situ analysis.
• Laser-based cleaning of various surfaces, for example to remove oxide layers.

The scientists of the group can use a state-of-the-art laboratory for the research work, equipped with powerful lasers of different wavelengths and working modes as well as the corresponding peripheral equipment.

Student Research Projects

Current tasks of the Chair for Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy can be found here.

Respective Employees

Test facilities

• High Power Laser Laboratory

Projects

Photo Material