Project examples of the Fraunhofer Nanotechnology Network

Nanotechnology is the solution to many of the challenges currently facing us in the areas of nutrition and the environment.
 

By developing materials at the atomic and molecular level, we can create innovative solutions to improve efficiency in agriculture, increase food safety, and promote more environmentally friendly practices. Nanotechnology can help us use pesticides more effectively, release nutrients in fertilizers in a targeted manner, and extend the shelf life of food packaging. 

Photocatalytically active coatings

Photocatalytically active coatings are used to functionalize surfaces. Areas of application include facade paints for air purification and/or self-cleaning of the surface. UV light is used to activate the photocatalysts contained in the coating, which initiate the degradation reaction of pollutants or soiling.

PhotoCatalysis

In its "Nanoparticle Kitchen", the Fraunhofer ISC develops tailor-made particles for a wide variety of applications. The particles are used, for example, in the manufacture of functional coatings. For this purpose, the size of the particles is used to generate a micro/nanostructuring with adjustable porosity on the substrate to be coated. In addition, the functionality of the particles can be enhanced by incorporating them into paints, plastics or other matrices.

Functional top coating

Nanoporous membranes are characterized by pores with diameters in the range of nanometers and sub nanometers which are able to separate liquid or gaseous mixtures. The separation of the fluids bases on the different size of the components (mole sieving), different adsorption (adsorption selectivity), wetting or steric hindrance. Ceramic nanoporous membranes are distinguished by high thermal, chemical and mechanical stability. Most interesting selective materials are amorphous metal oxides (sol-gel synthesis), zeolites and carbon.

Nanoporous Membranes

Membranes are now widely used in the purification of water. In particular, filtration membranes (micro-, ultra-, nanofiltration) are used to separate different particles (bacteria, viruses) and substances by size exclusion. Fraunhofer IGB is working on the development of new, green manufacturing processes for filtration membranes (Green Membranes).

Green Membranes

The scalable fabrication of electronics and sensors in the context of Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things and for flexible/wearable electronics requires innovative approaches for the integration of new materials. One of these approaches is the integration of functional nanomaterials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs).

Carbon nanotube

Sensor technology for rapid electronic detection of nitrate concentrations in soil samples

Fraunhofer IISB in Erlangen is leading the way in the production and use of cost-effective ion sensors in the FutureIOT project. The screen-printed components can be used to measure the nitrate concentration in soil samples and thus control the use of fertilizers in agriculture. As part of the project, the sensors will be further optimized and networked with cloud applications. FutureIOT is funded by the Bavarian Research Foundation (BFS).

Future IOT

Non-stick coatings keep surfaces clean

Clean surfaces are essential in the processing industry. Plasma polymer easy-to-clean coatings offer ideal conditions for significantly reducing contamination on surfaces and facilitating their cleaning. In addition to their outstanding non-stick properties, the coatings are characterized by their low thickness, transparency and excellent adhesion to a wide range of substrate materials.

Easy-to-clean Coatings

A wide variety of requirements are placed on adhesive bonds, some of which are not only high but also contradictory. One wish for adhesive bonding technology, often still unfulfilled, is a controlled and residue-free release of the bonded joint. Particularly in the context of a desired circular economy, the call for a detachable bonded joint is becoming louder since this is advantageous both in the case of repair and for recycling after the product service life has expired. Another application for a releasable adhesive bond is a temporal fixation of workpieces, for example for machining.

Debonding on demand

Separation of dissolved substances from fluids, such as selective phosphate recovery from waste water, detection and/or removal of organic trace substances from fluids. The magnetic carrier particles can be adapted for a variety of tasks. These projects focus on the selective recovery of phosphates from wastewater, the removal of organic trace substances and the detection of very small amounts of water in solvents.

Magnetical carrier particles

The potential of nanotechnology for a sustainable and efficient energy future
 

Nanotechnology will fundamentally change the energy sector. By manipulating matter on the nanoscale, we will develop innovative materials and devices that enable more efficient energy storage, conversion, and use. Nanotechnology will be used in the solar industry to develop more efficient solar cells, and in battery technology to produce more powerful and longer-lasting batteries. In addition, nanotechnology will enable the development of energy-efficient building materials and improved energy transmission technologies. Integrating nanotechnology into the energy sector will create a more sustainable and cleaner energy future.
 

In times of global efforts to reduce climate-damaging CO₂ emissions, the issue of friction often plays an underestimated role. After all, up to 20 percent of the primary energy used in a wide variety of vehicles, machines and systems is unnecessarily lost due to friction. In addition, there is the problem of tribological wear of tools and components, which limits the service life of systems in many applications or causes downtimes and maintenance times and results in high resource consumption.
 

Tribology Innovation Center Dresden

Technology Tribology

The smart shading solutions developed by the Fraunhofer R&D Center for Electromobility Bavaria (FZEB) as part of the Fraunhofer ISC can be applied in particular in the aircraft, automotive and architectural sectors and offer many advantages such as glare protection, control of lighting conditions and interior temperature, as well as energy savings for air conditioning.

Electrochromic Systems

High-performance lithium-ion batteries are increasingly used in everything from computers, cell phones, multimedia devices, small electrical appliances, small tools, bicycles and electric vehicles to battery storage power plants. With our know-how and our material and process development we support, e.g. automotive suppliers, battery or cell manufacturers and material developers.

Battery Materials

Germany has rediscovered the battery as a key technology – especially since realizing that many major German automotive manufacturers will take phase out internal combustion engines and focus to a large extent on battery-electric powered concepts. A race to catch up has been underway ever since in order to make up for the recently obvious capacity and technology lead of Asian and U.S. corporations.

Storage energy transition

In addition to the development of novel battery technologies, the continuous reduction of manufacturing costs is a necessary prerequisite for the future dissemination of lithium-ion batteries for mobile or stationary energy storage. Technology development and upscaling represent a crucial link between basic research and concept development in the laboratory and industrial process development in serial production.

Battery technology

Key enabling technologies such as nanotechnology, advanced materials, nano- and microelectronics, photonics or advanced manufacturing are considered to have strong impact on the current and future competitiveness of important industrial sectors. The Business Unit Industrial Technologies analyzes the emergence and development of these technologies, related process issues, market entry and market diffusion in different application areas. The range of service includes analyses of technological potentials, economic analyses and the investigation of societal and political framework conditions.

Today electronic applications have become ubiquitous and can be found in all areas of our daily life. This requires matching energy sources with high flexibility in regard to thickness, geometrical shape, voltage, capacity and weight. Applying the appropriate functional materials to flexible substrates using mass printing technologies will open new opportunities to integrate batteries into ductile products.

Printed thin film battery

With the new project "RoSiLIB", the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Dresden is making a decisive contribution towards a CO₂-neutral energy supply in mobility. To this end, new high-energy anodes for lithium-ion batteries are being developed together with partners from the Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf e. V., E-Lyte Innovations GmbH, NANOVAL GmbH & Co. KG, VON ARDENNE GmbH and Custom Cells Itzehoe GmbH.

Project RoSiLIB

Surfaces are getting smarter. They gain new properties by integrating functional materials into their coating. They change according to our needs and desires, guide us, protect us and trigger actions. The spectrum ranges from electrically conductive coatings, electrical resistance heaters, and printed large-area sensors to technologies for true human-machine interaction using printed actuators.

Functional Materials

Lightweight structures, consisting of fiber composite materials and tailor-designed part geometries can excellently meet the demanding requirements to cost and energy-saving products. To reduce the costs for these structures, the scientists of the Fraunhofer IWS Dresden focus their work to optimize this manufacturing process chain.

Modern lighweight construction

The building materials industry is the world's biggest CO₂ emitter. It is therefore clear that material and process innovations in construction are an important lever for achieving climate targets. The Fraunhofer ISC is working with European research institutions and industrial companies on a technological revolution for lightweight concrete construction through the use of nanomaterials.

Saving concrete

Once cured, the nanocomposites for stone coating are a predominantly silicate material that provides excellent adhesion to the cast stone and is highly resistant to acids.

Coatings artificial/natural stones