Institute of Energy Materials and Devices - Materials Synthesis and Processing (IMD-2)
The Institute of Energy Materials and Devices – Materials Synthesis and Processing (IMD-2) conducts research on the development of materials and components for their deployment in complex energy systems. The focus lies in their targeted design to perform defined functions in energy conversion or energy storage systems and simultaneously optimizing them in respect to their manufacturability and scalability. As such IMD-2 addresses the entire development chain, ranging from basic materials science research through process-oriented development to component scaling. Thus, enabling the transfer of individual components from nano into macro scale and their integration into larger technical systems.
IMD-2 focuses on high-performance ceramics as a key material component for the transition to renewable energy. The institute possesses long-standing expertise in synthesizing novel ceramic materials and ceramic processing, using a wide range manufacturing methods, including various gas-phase-based coating techniques. This broad capability is supported by a wide range of state-of-the-art machinery and facilities at its disposal.
Research at IMD-2 is primarily concentrated on high-temperature technologies, solid oxide fuel and electrolysis cells, gas separation membranes as well as electrochemical storage devices, such as solid-state batteries. However, the institute’s core competence lies in the development, combination and interdisciplinary application of a wide variety of processing and manufacturing technologies. Only this approach, enables the realization of custom tuned layered ceramic systems and composite materials for demanding energy technologies.
As part of the PHOENIX joint project IMD-2 is responsible for the further development of high-temperature solid oxide cells. Here two different cell concepts are being pursued: oxygen ion-conducting as well as proton conducting electrolysis cells. In the context of high-temperature electrolysis for Power-to-X-Applications (P2X) IMD-2 focuses on improving the mechanical integrity and stability of the cells in order to enable their handling in automated manufacturing processes and thus allow further upscaling to a cost-effective industrial scale. A central goal of this endeavor is optimizing the trade-off between high mechanical strength and sufficient gas permeability. To this end, a novel cell concept based on a fiber-reinforced substrate is being developed as part of this project.
