Boosting the efficiency of power conversion and energy storage systems

This entails boosting the efficiency of internal combustion engines with new maximum-temperature materials while scaling back tribological losses as well as optimizing electrochemical and photovoltaic systems of power conversion. In the latter field, nanotechnology is being used increasingly with nanostructured surfaces being just as essential as electrode and electrolyte materials having nano-scale microstructures or nanoporosity.

Enhancing the biocompatibility and functioning of materials used for medical technology or biotechnology

The interface between biological and technical materials has the decisive influence on biological activity. The Group has extensive experience in tailoring this interface by structural and chemical functionalization. Next-generation materials, some also equipped with nanostructures, lay the foundation for innovations in medicine and biology with diagnosis, new therapeutic agents and artificial organs.

Increasing the integration density and enhancing the useful characteristics of microelectronic and microsystem engineering components

The Group will be coming up with new materials and new material systems for application in microelectronics and information/communication technology for higher integration densities, more cost-effective production techniques or enhancing product characteristics. This centers around high-performance polymers and polymer optoelectronics while simultaneously advancing failure diagnosis techniques to a stage where they can keep pace with the miniaturization of conventional microelectronics. 

Augmenting safety and comfort while driving down the consumption of resources in traffic engineering and machine and plant technology

The progress made in integrated material modeling will enable engineers to simulate crash more precisely, analyze component characteristics more exactly and optimize their performance. The Group develops mechatronic and particularly adaptronic systems based upon a wide range of intelligent functional materials. This requires new techniques for quality assurance and reliability analysis.