This photograph shows an employee who fills powder into a ball-mill of pilot plant size.

Closed view of a piezoceramic actuator. The device is set up from many ceramic fibres, arranged in a resin matrix, being milled into a in meandering pattern.

Development of High-Performance Ceramic Materials

The research of the ANW Chair focuses on the area of combinatorial microelectrochemistry, the development of integratable piezoelectric fibers and laminates, as well as the instrumented uniaxial pressing of powders and granules.

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Fields of research

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Research Fields of the ANW Chair

The chair’s staff and Fraunhofer IKTS work together on a number of research topics. Furthermore, three major research topics were created at the Chair and have been associated with it ever since: combinatorial micro-electrochemistry, the manufacture of integratable piezoelectric fibers and laminates, as well as the instrumented uniaxial pressing of powders and granules. These topics are overseen primarily by employees of the Chair in the form of cross-institutional working groups.

The image shows an artificial tooth crown, made of ceramic material that is activated by ultraviolet light.

Current Projects

Currently (due to 08/2020), the chair is involved into several collaborative projects. The majority of them receive funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Research (BMBF), being part of the framework programs aiming on sustainable energy. Othert collaborative projects are included in the Fraunhofer "Leistungszentrum: Smart Production and Materials". On the other hand, the members of the chair are involved in several funded by DFG, focussing on basic research in the fields of energy materials and hard ceramic composites.

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Publications

The ANW Chair is focused on fundamental research, which is also reflected in a large number of publications. In 2015 alone, 21 articles or papers were published in refereed journals and several contributions to conferences were made in the form of talks or posters. Representatives of the chair participated in internationally renowned symposiums, such as the annual conventions of ECS and ISE, CMCee, and ICACC.

Scanning electron microscope image of a single active material particle for lithium ion batteries. The surface of the particle is strongly rutted.

Research and Development of High-Performance Ceramic Materials

The development of high-performance ceramics comprises a series of development steps, from the synthesis of the ceramic raw materials, their formulation and transformation into processable masses, down to shaping and heat treatment. The accompanying material characterization and diagnostics of all process steps is indispensable for success.

Thanks to our close cooperation with Fraunhofer IKTS, we are able to process a wide range of material concepts and processes on the highest levels of technology and science.

In particular, the ANW Chair’s focus is on the following topics:

Combinatorial micro-electrochemistry
Development of integratable piezoelectric fibers and laminates
Instrumented uniaxial pressing of powders and granules