Research focus of the Working Group Kaskel
Table of contents
Energy Materials
Sustainable energy supply and storage is the most important challenge of the 21th century. Functional porous and nanostructured materials play a key role for stationary and mobile storage of chemical and electrical energy. The increasing proportion of renewable and fluctuating energy supply requires the development of novel technologies for
- Energy storage (batteries, supercaps, gas storage, heat storage)
- Energy conversion (catalysts, electrocatalysts, fuel cells)
- Energy harvesting (Solar cells)
The Kaskel group focuses on the development of novel functional materials for energy storage and conversion:
a) Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
b) Nanoporous Carbon Materials
c) Perovskite Solar Cells
Environmental Materials
Clean air and water, especially in Megacities, require novel materials for environmental catalysis, water treatment and protective filter systems from toxic industrial chemicals. World-wide increasing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the tightening of water resources require the development of innovative technologies and materials for
- Environmental catalysis
- Catalytic conversion of toxic chemicals
- conversion of CO2 into valuable chemicals
- Filter materials for water and air reuse
- Water purification systems
- Adsorption of pharmaceutical products
The team focuses on the development of nanostructured catalysts and adsorbents for environmental technologies:
a) Oxide-based catalytic nanoparticles
b) Metallic nanoparticles and supported catalysts
c) Porous filter materials
Light and Surfaces
The design and coating of nanostructured surfaces is crucial for light management in efficient modern lighting applications and energy harvesting (solar cells) but also for sensing and smart surfaces.
Nanoparticle coatings and surface functionalization enable composite coatings and polymer integration of inorganic nanomaterials. Light management and responsivity by functional surfaces is an enabling technology in various application fields
- Optoelectronic applications
- Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs)
- Solar cells
- Chemical sensors
The team focuses on the development of nanostructured surfaces with tunable optical and electronic properties:
a) Precursor development
b) New optoelectronic materials
c) Nanostructured surfaces
Industrial Inorganic Chemistry
The production of inorganic raw materials and intermediates is an important industry sector. More than 80 % of large scale chemicals are produced via catalytic processes. Improving catalyst performance or reducing deactivation can lead to significant cost benefits for producers. Consumer products and fine chemical companies profit from new formulations, improved production processes, improved quality of their products, or novel performances.
In close cooperation with industry, we develop
- Catalysts for industrial processes
- Separation processes
- Industrial production processes for materials, particles and coatings
- Fine chemical processes
The team focuses on the following areas:
a) Catalytic Industrial Processes
b) Industrial separation/purification processes
c) Industrial production of inorganic materials and chemicals
d) Fine chemicals